Android 14 is going to be equipped with the capability for users to send satellite SMS. It is a technology that is already in use by iPhones. More specifically, it is enabled for iPhone 14 and can't be done for the previous generation iPhones due to hardware limitations. Satellite SMS does take a lot of time to be delivered, but they don't require mobile networks to be present; that's what makes them useful. It is proper for people who are stuck in areas with no mobile network, such as forests or deeply rural towns.
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Pixel Phones to Become the First in Android to Get Satellite SMS
Satellite SMS will arrive first for the Google Pixel phones. This has been confirmed by the Google Pixel team. Note that the feature would arrive with the update of Android 14. But not every device running on Android 14 would be able to support the satellite SMS feature. This is again due to hardware limitations.
To add the appropriate hardware for enabling satellite SMS, smartphone manufacturers would have to increase the cost. Thus, we are unlikely to see the feature being supported or mid-range or low-end devices. But the flagship phones in the coming year should all have the support for this feature. It is not something that is exclusively reserved for Pixel devices.
If a smartphone has the appropriate hardware, then whenever it receives Android 14, the smartphone maker can enable the feature for the customers. How exactly the pricing of such a feature would work in developing markets is something we will have to wait and watch. It is worth noting that Apple is offering a satellite SMS feature for free at the moment in select countries.
But eventually, the company plans to start charging customers for the feature, and that is likely the way other OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) are going to work as well.
