The Android 14 update brings many new features, including better font scaling, improved battery life, predictive back gestures, and better privacy for images and videos. It also brings native support for satellite connectivity for emergency communications, and this feature could come first to Google and Samsung phones.
Google proudly announced at the Google I/O 2023 event earlier this year that it has added support for satellite connectivity to Android 14. Now, the official Team Pixel FC account has announced through its Twitter account that satellite connectivity will be available first on Google and Samsung phones. Please note that Team Pixel FC is an official fan club account for Pixel devices and not a direct communication channel from Google. Still, it hints at what's about to come.
Native two-way satellite connectivity could come with Galaxy S24
Two-way satellite connectivity allows users to send SMS even when their phone is in an area without cellular connectivity. The message is relayed via a satellite to the network provider, which then sends the message to the intended contact. For this feature to work, a user must be outdoors with a clear view of the sky and a phone with native hardware support for two-way satellite connectivity. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip supports this feature, but it needs additional hardware, and the feature will be completely ready in the second half of this year.
It was rumored last year that Galaxy S23 could be the first Samsung smartphone with native satellite connectivity for emergency messaging. However, that didn't happen, and Samsung said it didn't bring the feature because the technology isn't ready for prime time yet. A few months later, it revealed its two-way satellite connectivity technology for smartphones. This feature is expected to be available on the Galaxy S24 series that will launch in early 2024.
