Is Apple going to halt at Messaging via Satellite?

Through Messaging via Satellite, Apple’s space exploration ambitions are unveiled with the launch of iOS 18 — as the satellite network expands, the range of services Apple offers will widen.

Unveiled during WWDC, Apple Intelligence attracted massive attention, although the company’s ventures into outer space are equally significant. Now available in the US with iOS 18 on iPhone 14 and later versions, Messaging via Satellite enables users to exchange texts, emojis, and Tap Backs over iMessage and SMS even when there is no cellular or Wi-Fi connection.

Satellite connectivity and iPhone technology

Apple is essentially enriching the functionality that was first seen with the debut of SOS by Satellite (now accessible in various countries in 2022) to encompass all types of messaging. The functionality works in a similar way: “Messaging via Satellite automatically guides users to establish a connection with the nearest satellite directly from the Messages app to send and receive texts, emojis, and Tap Backs over iMessage and SMS,” as explained by Apple. “Given that iMessage was designed to safeguard user privacy, messages sent through satellites are end-to-end encrypted.”

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AndyC

Andy Curtis is an award-winning security consultant, researcher and public speaker. He has been working in the computer security industry since the early 1990s, having been employed by state and federal government, leading healthcare and banking providers across three continents. He has given talks about computer security for some of the world’s largest companies, worked with law enforcement agencies on investigations into hacking groups, and is a regular voice on TV and radio explaining IT security threats.

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