News Google Maps may soon use satellites even if your phone is offline

[AC News]

Google is steadily preparing satellite connectivity support in Android, and the latest implementation of it will make Google Maps location updates more reliable off-grid.

Google Maps may soon use satellites even if your phone is offline : Read more

 

[spARTacus]

In theory, location services should already be able to work with GPS without the need for the receiver (in this case a phone) to have to send anything to a satellite, a cell tower, or an otherwise network based server/service.

 

[Mooncatt]

In theory, location services should already be able to work with GPS without the need for the receiver (in this case a phone) to have to send anything to a satellite, a cell tower, or an otherwise network based server/service.

True, but apparently Google is considering the option of limited two way satellite based communication. The OP didn't do a good job explaining it, but the article itself mentions a satellite text option, and a potential new feature that lets you update your location every 15 min with a max of 5 updates per day via satellite communication.

This would be useful for people working, hiking, camping, etc in areas with zero cell signal and no Wi-Fi. If something bad happens requiring emergency services, the phone could transmit your location to the satellite and make it available to others in your family/group to see exactly where you are.

What I wonder is if my phone has enough power to send a signal into space, why doesn't it have the power to send a signal to my local cell tower?

 

[spARTacus]

...and a potential new feature that lets you update your location every 15 min with a max of 5 updates per day via satellite communication.

This would be useful for people working, hiking, camping, etc in areas with zero cell signal and no Wi-Fi. If something bad happens requiring emergency services, the phone could transmit your location to the satellite and make it available to others in your family/group to see exactly where you are....

Like some sort of manual ability to push one's location to something like a google equivalent of FindMyFriends? I guess I wasn't thinking of it like that, given the article's title about google maps. Yes, I did follow the other aspects about the intention for limited two way Android satellite communications, like Apple has.

 

[spARTacus]

...What I wonder is if my phone has enough power to send a signal into space, why doesn't it have the power to send a signal to my local cell tower?

Probably because the cell towers in such scenarios when one needs to depend on satellite communications, would be over the horizon, not within line of sight.

 

[mustang7757]

True, but apparently Google is considering the option of limited two way satellite based communication. The OP didn't do a good job explaining it, but the article itself mentions a satellite text option, and a potential new feature that lets you update your location every 15 min with a max of 5 updates per day via satellite communication.

This would be useful for people working, hiking, camping, etc in areas with zero cell signal and no Wi-Fi. If something bad happens requiring emergency services, the phone could transmit your location to the satellite and make it available to others in your family/group to see exactly where you are.

What I wonder is if my phone has enough power to send a signal into space, why doesn't it have the power to send a signal to my local cell tower?

I would think a device would need a chip in It that provides satellite service as other phones that don't can't communicate with a satellite.

 

[Mooncatt]

Probably because the cell towers in such scenarios when one needs to depend on satellite communications, would be over the horizon, not within line of sight.

I'm actually referring to my home where I'm within walking distance of an NFL stadium yet my neighborhood is basically a cellular dead zone.

I would think a device would need a chip in It that provides satellite service as other phones that don't can't communicate with a satellite.

True. I was working with the understanding that that's what the article was referring to. Not all phones would have the ability. I'm curious how having that ability will impact body size. Pretty sure it requires a fair bit of power to send up to space even just to transmit coordinates or a short text. Plus the extra radio equipment like the transmitter and antenna.

 

[mustang7757]

I'm actually referring to my home where I'm within walking distance of an NFL stadium yet my neighborhood is basically a cellular dead zone.True. I was working with the understanding that that's what the article was referring to. Not all phones would have the ability. I'm curious how having that ability will impact body size. Pretty sure it requires a fair bit of power to send up to space even just to transmit coordinates or a short text. Plus the extra radio equipment like the transmitter and antenna.

Yeah this is from the iPhone 14 , which I have , I'm sure it's very limited for what and how much it can do, then you have to say how useful is it? Because I'm sure you can't be making calls or texting/data for long time , maybe like you mentioned in remote areas just for emergency


"The iPhone 14 and 14 Pro models use an internal antenna to connect to a Globalstar satellite when outside of cell service. The phone's Qualcomm X65 cellular modem can send and receive data using Band 54, a frequency used by Globalstar. The iPhone 14 and 15 models come with satellite features for free for two years. To use satellite connectivity, you need to update to the latest version of iOS."

 

[spARTacus]

I'm actually referring to my home where I'm within walking distance of an NFL stadium yet my neighborhood is basically a cellular dead zone...

I think that has to do with where/how the carriers place/point their antennas in relation to combinations of such for other nearby antennas, in relation to where they are expecting massive amounts of customers, and perhaps also about physical obstructions. My guess is there's pretty good coverage inside the stadium when an event is scheduled, and they've not really focused on caring about the nearby neighbourhood.