News We didn't really want satellite phones after all, did we?

[AC News]

Just because a feature is possible doesn't mean we'll ever actually see it. We have more control than we realize.

We didn't really want satellite phones after all, did we? : Read more

 

[Village_Idiot]

For the vast majority of users, this is a solution in search of a problem. Why would people want to pay extra for a feature they would rarely (if ever) use? This is a solution for remote areas that can't be served by any other means. Areas where there are very few people to begin with and no infrastructure.

 

[fuzzylumpkin]

For the vast majority of users, this is a solution in search of a problem. Why would people want to pay extra for a feature they would rarely (if ever) use? This is a solution for remote areas that can't be served by any other means. Areas where there are very few people to begin with and no infrastructure.

I kind of look at it the same way I look at things like blood pressure monitoring and electrocardiogram in smart watches. If you actually need them, the watered down version that's in the smartwatch probably isn't good enough.

 

[Village_Idiot]

I kind of look at it the same way I look at things like blood pressure monitoring and electrocardiogram and smart watches. If you actually need them, the watered down version that's in the smartwatch probably isn't good enough.

That also applies to areas with reliable 4G and 5G service. People don't NEED to be connected round the clock. People WANT to be connected round the clock.

 

[LkMichigan24]

For the vast majority of users, this is a solution in search of a problem. Why would people want to pay extra for a feature they would rarely (if ever) use? This is a solution for remote areas that can't be served by any other means. Areas where there are very few people to begin with and no infrastructure.

I'm not sure your concept of "remote areas" matches my reality. I was pretty happy with my Moto 4G phone at my residence in 2020, using TMO 4G. I bought an iPhone 12 mini in January 2021, that used 5G. I fell back to using mostly 4G for the first several months, it had better service. Then TMO re-tuned their antennas for 5G (I assume), my house then had crappy 4G and 5G service. Like it would only work upstairs, near a 4G booster. Or maybe place a call outdoors, then it would drop after a minute or two. This is in in the greater Lansing area, 540,000 people in the MSA, 4 county area.

Since the phone supports two lines, I switched to using Ting (TMO service still) for ~$15 month (data extra), and Visible (Verizon service) for $25/month, unlimited everything. So now I have dual service, still finding lots of areas with no service. There is a nice state park north of Lansing, Sleepy Hollow. Lots of areas there with no TMO or VZW service. Not exactly remote, probably not dangerous, I could hike to a high spot in ten minutes, maybe.

Then I started spending more time in Northern Michigan. North Country Trail in Emmet county near Wilderness State Park- very limited service. Now I'm living part time in Antrim county, paying for the two lines still, generally have crappy service in the rural areas. Turns out maybe AT&T has better service here, going to drop the Ting/TMO and switch to that. But also Apple has come out with satellite service for two years free, on all their iPhone 14 and 15 models. Hoping to switch to a 15 next year. Hopefully I can drop one line and pay $25 per month for phone service.

I've been watching the satellite communicators for several years. The Moto one seems like a good solution, might get one as a backup. I doubt Apple pays more than $5 in the phone for satellite support? Not sure how much they are paying the satellite company, but didn't they buy 50% interest in it? They must think it is a good feature.

Hopefully the TMO + Starlink service will work too. I imagine in a few years it might serve as emergency backup, and only people that need it will be able to pay $20 for an emergency 911 type satellite call.

Finally, I just want to say the cell companies service maps are crap. Drastically over estimate service areas. If the map says "fair", it is crap. If it says "good", maybe fair, one bar in some spots. I had high hopes a few years back for TMO 700MHz service, hasn't really panned out.

 

[Village_Idiot]

I'm not sure your concept of "remote areas" matches my reality. I was pretty happy with my Moto 4G phone at my residence in 2020, using TMO 4G. I bought an iPhone 12 mini in January 2021, that used 5G. I fell back to using mostly 4G for the first several months, it had better service. Then TMO re-tuned their antennas for 5G (I assume), my house then had crappy 4G and 5G service. Like it would only work upstairs, near a 4G booster. Or maybe place a call outdoors, then it would drop after a minute or two. This is in in the greater Lansing area, 540,000 people in the MSA, 4 county area.

Since the phone supports two lines, I switched to using Ting (TMO service still) for ~$15 month (data extra), and Visible (Verizon service) for $25/month, unlimited everything. So now I have dual service, still finding lots of areas with no service. There is a nice state park north of Lansing, Sleepy Hollow. Lots of areas there with no TMO or VZW service. Not exactly remote, probably not dangerous, I could hike to a high spot in ten minutes, maybe.

Then I started spending more time in Northern Michigan. North Country Trail in Emmet county near Wilderness State Park- very limited service. Now I'm living part time in Antrim county, paying for the two lines still, generally have crappy service in the rural areas. Turns out maybe AT&T has better service here, going to drop the Ting/TMO and switch to that. But also Apple has come out with satellite service for two years free, on all their iPhone 14 and 15 models. Hoping to switch to a 15 next year. Hopefully I can drop one line and pay $25 per month for phone service.

I've been watching the satellite communicators for several years. The Moto one seems like a good solution, might get one as a backup. I doubt Apple pays more than $5 in the phone for satellite support? Not sure how much they are paying the satellite company, but didn't they buy 50% interest in it? They must think it is a good feature.

Hopefully the TMO + Starlink service will work too. I imagine in a few years it might serve as emergency backup, and only people that need it will be able to pay $20 for an emergency 911 type satellite call.

Finally, I just want to say the cell companies service maps are crap. Drastically over estimate service areas. If the map says "fair", it is crap. If it says "good", maybe fair, one bar in some spots. I had high hopes a few years back for TMO 700MHz service, hasn't really panned out.

Your long spiel just proved my point. You don't live in a remote area that requires you to have a satellite connected phone.

 

[cribble2k]

Yeah, this was Apple trying to be "innovate".

Personally, I'd never pay for this service, nor do I care if my phone supports this or not.

¯⁠\⁠_⁠ʘ⁠‿⁠ʘ⁠_⁠/⁠¯

 

[gd761]

There are a LOT of Dead Spots that there's No Cell Service at all and in those areas either People Travel Through them or People Travel Through there as well as People LIVE there with NO Service at all for one reason or another. There's also People who have a Signal but it's not always good or sometimes the siganl goes from Good to Roaming to also no Siganl while they are in the same Spot. Having Satellite Service would Help at first for those that are in NEED of Emergency Service. Eventually More and More People WIll want to have an Always On Signal whereever they go without interuption. I Cell Provider will Not put Cell Service in an area that is NOT Financially Benificial to them due to a lack of potential customers in that area which is just a fact. But if there's Satellite Service, then People can Connect even if it's just through Text for now before the Service Matures to Carry a LOT more Traffic for Phone Calls then Web Serfing and Video later. There are a bunch of stuff Included with Peoples Cell Plans that some take advantage of and some do NOT. How Many Freebies do You have in Your Plan that You do NOT take advantage of? Netflix, Apple TV, AAA, Travel Perks. All of these I do NOT and will NOT be using. for the Price of this How Much has My Provider Paid for it to be included with My Service? What if they did NOT have to Pay for that for ME but Paid for the Satellite Service that I could Choose instead of Netflix, Apple TV, AAA and Travel Perks? I would Choose the Option of Satellite Service over that I do NOT EVER use or Ever Will use. For the very little amount of time that I would take advantage of using the Satellite Service would be a LOT more than what i Ever will for Netflix, Apple TV, AAA and Travel Perks that My Service Provider is just wasting their Money on.

 

[Village_Idiot]

There are a LOT of Dead Spots that there's No Cell Service at all and in those areas either People Travel Through them or People Travel Through there as well as People LIVE there with NO Service at all for one reason or another. There's also People who have a Signal but it's not always good or sometimes the siganl goes from Good to Roaming to also no Siganl while they are in the same Spot. Having Satellite Service would Help at first for those that are in NEED of Emergency Service. Eventually More and More People WIll want to have an Always On Signal whereever they go without interuption. I Cell Provider will Not put Cell Service in an area that is NOT Financially Benificial to them due to a lack of potential customers in that area which is just a fact. But if there's Satellite Service, then People can Connect even if it's just through Text for now before the Service Matures to Carry a LOT more Traffic for Phone Calls then Web Serfing and Video later. There are a bunch of stuff Included with Peoples Cell Plans that some take advantage of and some do NOT. How Many Freebies do You have in Your Plan that You do NOT take advantage of? Netflix, Apple TV, AAA, Travel Perks. All of these I do NOT and will NOT be using. for the Price of this How Much has My Provider Paid for it to be included with My Service? What if they did NOT have to Pay for that for ME but Paid for the Satellite Service that I could Choose instead of Netflix, Apple TV, AAA and Travel Perks? I would Choose the Option of Satellite Service over that I do NOT EVER use or Ever Will use. For the very little amount of time that I would take advantage of using the Satellite Service would be a LOT more than what i Ever will for Netflix, Apple TV, AAA and Travel Perks that My Service Provider is just wasting their Money on.

People have been living there a LOT longer than cell phones and satellites existed. Have you considered that there are other ways to get internet without a cell phone? Or have you considered that the people that live there don't care? If the demand was there, the cell phone carriers would provide it. Just because YOU want it, doesn't mean everybody else there wants it.