Apple iPhone 13 to reportedly feature satellite connectivity

There are only a few days left until September, which is when Apple is expected to reveal its new iPhone 13 lineup. However, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has given us a sneak peek at what we can expect: texting and calling even when you don't have 4G and 5G coverage.

The feature is called Emergency Message via Satellite and will be added as a third protocol, alongside iMessage and SMS, to the Messages app. It's apparently codenamed Stewie inside the company and will allow users to text emergency services even when there's no signal, which sounds especially useful during emergencies in remote locations, such as mountains and forests.

It's not the first time that we've heard about Apple considering satellite technology for the iPhone, with Bloomberg reporting on the possibility in 2019. But it's the first time it's been mentioned in connection with the iPhone 13.

This technology isn't new, of course, but it isn't exactly easily available in the consumer market. Most satellite phones are large bricks with equally large antennas, so an iPhone 13 with similar functionality will be truly groundbreaking. Kuo does say, however, that such a function might be available in the Qualcomm Snapdragon X65 baseband chip next year.

The new iPhone is expected to debut in September, with rumored features such as an upgraded design with a smaller notch, thicker camera bump and a collection of nifty new color options like bubblegum pink, matte black and a bronzy sunset gold.

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