Qualcomm partners with Oppo, Vivo, Xiaomi and more to develop Android phones with satellite-based messaging

Qualcomm on Monday said it is working with a group of Android smartphone companies to add satellite-based messaging capabilities to their devices.

The San Diego, California-based company, the world’s largest supplier of chips that connect cell phones to wireless data networks, says it is working with Respectowned by Lenovo Motorola, Nothing, oppo, viviAnd Xiaomi to develop devices.

Satellite-based communications can send and receive data in remote areas or rural areas where other telecommunications networks are not available. Qualcomm announced that it was adding capabilities to its chips earlier this year.

Qualcomm works with Android equipment manufacturers are likely to intensify competition between those brands and Applelast year unveiled the ability to send emergency satellite messages as one of the top features of its latest product. Iphone line up. Those new iPhones contain a chip from Qualcommalthough Apple told Reuters they also contain custom hardware and software owned by Apple.

Qualcomm did not say when the new satellite messaging features from the Android smartphone brands named on Monday will be available. Earlier this year, Qualcomm said that some Android phones will have the feature in the second half of the year.

Last week, chip maker MediaTek announced that its demonstrations at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2023 will include enabling satellite connectivity on Android smartphones.

Mediatek also confirmed that Bullit will be the first brand to feature the company’s satellite-connected hardware. Mediatek mentioned in a press release that Bullit will launch the technology on the CAT S75 smartphone as well as the Motorola Defy 2 smartphone.

© Thomson Reuters 2023