Earlier this yr, Qualcomm introduced a partnership with satellite tv for pc connectivity supplier Iridium to create Snapdragon Satellite tv for pc, a proprietary know-how to attach smartphones to satellites with a purpose to present emergency and different providers. Ten months after the plan was introduced, the businesses are already calling it off.
As reported by CNBC, Qualcomm blames telephone makers for the demise of the characteristic, saying that there wasn’t a lot curiosity from manufacturers to incorporate the proprietary characteristic. Whereas the corporate says that they “efficiently developed and demonstrated the know-how,” telephone makers simply “haven’t included the know-how of their units.”
As a result of lack of curiosity, Qualcomm has ended its partnership with Iridium. The corporate says that the market is transferring in the direction of a standards-based answer relatively than a proprietary one, in order that shall be the place their focus goes in assist of satellite tv for pc connectivity going ahead.
Qualcomm stated in a press release smartphone makers have “indicated a choice in the direction of standards-based options” for satellite-to-phone connectivity….We count on to proceed to collaborate with Iridium on standards-based options whereas discontinuing efforts on the proprietary answer that was launched earlier this yr,” the corporate stated.
Iridium CEO Matt Desch stated in a press release, “Whereas I’m disenchanted that this partnership didn’t bear fast fruit, we consider the path of the business is evident towards elevated satellite tv for pc connectivity in client units.” It’s fascinating to see Qualcomm abandon a proprietary answer since Samsung introduced one thing related earlier this yr.
The characteristic would have competed with Apple’s Emergency SOS by way of Satellite tv for pc characteristic, which the corporate initially launched on the iPhone 14 lineup. With it, customers are capable of contact emergency providers — even when they don’t have a mobile connection. Up to now, Apple’s is the one broadly out there service for smartphone prospects.
Whereas Qualcomm has deserted its present plan, different corporations like SpaceX are transferring ahead with their very own. Starlink’s satellite tv for pc communication service is about to launch subsequent yr. Finally, the corporate needs to offer satellite tv for pc connectivity within the type of textual content, telephone, and even information to telephones with out the necessity for any particular {hardware}.
