(Credit: Skylo)
Following Apple, Verizon is preparing to offer its own satellite-based messaging service so customers can reach emergency services when in cellular dead zones.
“Starting this fall, customers on qualifying smartphones have access to emergency messaging and location sharing in the limited cases when a terrestrial cellular network is not available,” the carrier announced on Wednesday.
Verizon says the service is designed to “complement” Apple's existing Emergency SOS feature, which taps orbiting satellites to connect to iPhones in remote areas. One key difference is that Verizon’s system will also work on Android devices.
Verizon is partnering with California-based Skylo to enable satellite connectivity. Skylo has been harnessing existing satellites from providers—including Viasat, Echostar, and Terrestar Solutions—to deliver data and communications to smartphones and IoT devices. Earlier this month, Skylo struck a similar deal with Google to offer emergency satellite connectivity for its new Pixel 9 phones.
Skylo added: “Verizon is the first mobile carrier worldwide to commercially launch supplemental smartphone connectivity on Skylo’s non-terrestrial satellite network.”
The companies didn’t say how much the satellite feature might cost or which customers will be eligible. However, Verizon will initially only allow customers to message emergency services through Skylo's satellite network. Starting next year, the carrier plans to expand the feature so that users can “text anywhere via satellite” so long as they own an eligible smartphone.
The announcement is a little surprising since Verizon is already investing $100 million to support AST SpaceMobile, which is preparing to launch a more powerful satellite internet service. However, AST SpaceMobile still needs time and regulatory approval to launch and operate dozens of commercial satellites before it can offer full US coverage.
Hence, it looks like Verizon has decided to tap Skylo in the interim. Rival AT&T also plans on enlisting AST SpaceMobile to bring satellite connectivity to its phones. However, T-Mobile is partnering with SpaceX, which is preparing to launch its own cellular Starlink service this fall, pending regulatory approval.