Qualcomm Working With Oppo, Vivo, Xiaomi and More to Develop Android Phones With Satellite-Based Messaging

Qualcomm on Monday mentioned it was working with a bunch of Android smartphone firms so as to add satellite-based messaging capabilities to their gadgets.

The San Diego, California-based firm, which is the world’s greatest provider of chips that join cell phones to wi-fi information networks, mentioned it’s working with Honor, Lenovo-owned Motorola, Nothing, Oppo, Vivo, and Xiaomi to develop the gadgets. .

Satellite tv for pc-based communications can ship and obtain information in distant or rural areas the place different telecommunications networks usually are not out there. Qualcomm introduced that it was including the capabilities to its chips earlier this 12 months.

Qualcomm’s work with Android machine makers is more likely to intensify competitors between these manufacturers and Apple, which final 12 months unveiled the power to ship emergency satellite tv for pc messages as one of many flagship options of its latest iPhone lineup. These new iPhones comprise a chip from Qualcomm, although Apple informed Reuters that in addition they comprise customized {hardware} and software program which can be proprietary to Apple.

Qualcomm didn’t say when the brand new satellite tv for pc messaging options from the Android smartphone manufacturers named on Monday would grow to be out there. Earlier this 12 months, Qualcomm mentioned that some Android telephones would have the characteristic by the second half of this 12 months.

Final week, chip maker MediaTek introduced that its demonstrations at Cellular World Congress (MWC) 2023 will embrace its personal tackle enabling satellite tv for pc connectivity on Android smartphones.

MediaTek additionally confirmed that Bullit could be the primary model to characteristic the corporate’s satellite tv for pc connectivity {hardware}. MediaTek talked about in a press launch that Bullit will debut the expertise on its CAT S75 smartphone in addition to the Motorola Defy 2 smartphone.

© Thomson Reuters 2023