Texting via Satellites

[RoundTwo]

Here’s a great change for pilots. You can now text friends and family using satellites, and it’s not just for emergencies anymore. Here’s a support doc describing it. I tried it out on Thursday and it worked well.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/120930

[201er]

1 minute ago, RoundTwo said:

Here’s a great change for pilots. You can now text friends and family using satellites, and it’s not just for emergencies anymore. Here’s a support doc describing it. I tried it out on Thursday and it worked well.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/120930

How much are they charging for it?

[RoundTwo]

2 minutes ago, 201er said:

How much are they charging for it?

Nada, zilch, zero for two years.

[201er]

3 minutes ago, RoundTwo said:

Nada, zilch, zero for two years.

And after?

[RoundTwo]

4 minutes ago, 201er said:

And after?

The document with the details is in the first post.

[toto]

13 minutes ago, RoundTwo said:

Here’s a great change for pilots. You can now text friends and family using satellites, and it’s not just for emergencies anymore. Here’s a support doc describing it. I tried it out on Thursday and it worked well.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/120930

This is cool, thanks. Sounds like we can use it after iOS 18 is released.

I carry a Garmin InReach that works great, and I can text from my phone via Bluetooth - but it’s always inconvenient that it comes from a different number that no one recognizes. 

[RoundTwo]

8 minutes ago, toto said:

This is cool, thanks. Sounds like we can use it after iOS 18 is released.

I carry a Garmin InReach that works great, and I can text from my phone via Bluetooth - but it’s always inconvenient that it comes from a different number that no one recognizes. 

18 was officially released on September 16th.

[EricJ]

FWIW, I think that goes over the Iridium network, like the Garmin InReach.   Iridium also carries a lot of support for the ADS-B network.

[toto]

14 minutes ago, EricJ said:

FWIW, I think that goes over the Iridium network, like the Garmin InReach.   Iridium also carries a lot of support for the ADS-B network.

Yep, InReach uses Iridium and Apple uses Globalstar. Iridium is definitely the better network, but for doing the occasional text message while airborne, it’s better than nothing. Especially for zero dollars

I’ll keep the InReach for emergencies though  

 

[RoundTwo]

29 minutes ago, toto said:

Yep, InReach uses Iridium and Apple uses Globalstar. Iridium is definitely the better network, but for doing the occasional text message while airborne, it’s better than nothing. Especially for zero dollars

I’ll keep the InReach for emergencies though  

 

I’m wondering how precise they interpret US boundaries because this would be great for over-water flights to the Bahamas.

[Fly Boomer]

17 hours ago, RoundTwo said:

Here’s a great change for pilots. You can now text friends and family using satellites, and it’s not just for emergencies anymore. Here’s a support doc describing it. I tried it out on Thursday and it worked well.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/120930

You must have been in a pretty remote area -- these days, it's hard to find a place with no WiFi and no cellular.  After the free year, what is the cost?

[kortopates]

You must have been in a pretty remote area -- these days, it's hard to find a place with no WiFi and no cellular.  After the free year, what is the cost?

Or you’re not flying high enough!


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[Fly Boomer]

49 minutes ago, kortopates said:

Or you’re not flying high enough!


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I didn't think about that.  Above some altitude, you won't have to worry about the "no WiFi or cellular available" rule.  I would still be interested in knowing the cost,  I'm reluctant to sign up for things that start automatic billing after the introductory period.

[LANCECASPER]

Anyone running iOs 18 and higher has it free. Both the the sending and receiving phone have to run 18.0 or higher on an iPhone 14 or newer.

[RoundTwo]

39 minutes ago, Fly Boomer said:

I didn't think about that.  Above some altitude, you won't have to worry about the "no WiFi or cellular available" rule.  I would still be interested in knowing the cost,  I'm reluctant to sign up for things that start automatic billing after the introductory period.

There is no signing up. Load IOS 18 and get busy. Easy Peasey.

[kortopates]

You must have been in a pretty remote area -- these days, it's hard to find a place with no WiFi and no cellular.  After the free year, what is the cost?

i am with you there on free trials, but there is no sign up, just needs to be enabled. Apple hasn’t announced what they may charge after 2 years but you have to actively choose to send and receive them so should have any surprise fees.


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[Fly Boomer]

2 hours ago, LANCECASPER said:

Anyone running iOs 18 and higher has it free. Both the the sending and receiving phone have to run 18.0 or higher on an iPhone 14 or newer.

Document linked above says for two years (first time I read it, I thought it was one year).  I guess two years might be the same as forever for some.

[toto]

Interesting timing - Garmin announced today that they’re jacking up prices on their InReach subscriptions. They must not be concerned about Apple eating into their satellite messaging business. 

[DXB]

On 9/22/2024 at 8:19 PM, RoundTwo said:

Here’s a great change for pilots. You can now text friends and family using satellites, and it’s not just for emergencies anymore. Here’s a support doc describing it. I tried it out on Thursday and it worked well.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/120930

Um... that's  awesome.   Probably not a full replacement for Garmin - In Reach, but it still gives me pleasure not to pay Garmin for one more subscription.  I'll stick to my PLB and this for now...

[Will.iam]

It will probably go the way of the ATM. Free at first to get people used to it then later the fees will slowly roll in for convenience if you are not buying / upgrading to a new iphone every 2 years. 

[Pinecone]

And then the fees roll away again.  Sitting on the dock watching the fees.

ATMs were free, both your bank and the terminal owner.  Then both started charging.  Then the banks started competing with no ATM fees (cheaper for them than a teller).  Then the free ATMs.  And my bank reimburses terminal fees up to about $10 -15 per month.

And data on cell phones.  First unlimited data, then pay for data, then unlimited data.

But I would not mind a reasonable fee.  I am not going to be doing a lot of texting from the cockpit.

[exM20K]

This is a nifty way to drive an upgrade cycle.  My iPhone 11 works fine, has a good battery still, and is paid for, but I’d be lying if I said I’m not thinking about an upgrade.

-dan

[LANCECASPER]

13 hours ago, Will.iam said:

It will probably go the way of the ATM. Free at first to get people used to it then later the fees will slowly roll in for convenience if you are not buying / upgrading to a new iphone every 2 years. 

Over two years ago Apple introduced emergency satellite 911 texts with no fee - they promised two years free - still no fees charged even though that time period has passed. https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?fr=yhs-ima-remarklist&ei=UTF-8&hsimp=yhs-remarklist&hspart=ima&p=iphone+satellite+emergency+text+-saved+life+video+youtube+free&type=q3020_set_bcrq#id=2&vid=0df28e057dc49026fae739393d9c8639&action=click

https://support.apple.com/en-us/101573

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/11/15/apple-rolls-out-emergency-sos-via-satellite-heres-how-to-use-it.html

 - - - -

Then later emergency roadside assistance satellite texts, no fees - still none.

 - - - -

Now regular satellite texts, no fees. https://support.apple.com/en-us/105097

They have never said this would last forever, but haven't charged for any of this so far. Even if they did charge a nominal amount - big deal, you're outside of wifi and cell coverage and you need it, and it never was available and now it is. I don't think anyone is going to be texting up a storm if they're off the grid. 

[toto]

25 minutes ago, LANCECASPER said:

Over two years ago Apple introduced emergency satellite 911 texts with no fee - they promised two years free - still no fees charged even though that time period has passed. https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?fr=yhs-ima-remarklist&ei=UTF-8&hsimp=yhs-remarklist&hspart=ima&p=iphone+satellite+emergency+text+-saved+life+video+youtube+free&type=q3020_set_bcrq#id=2&vid=0df28e057dc49026fae739393d9c8639&action=click

https://support.apple.com/en-us/101573

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/11/15/apple-rolls-out-emergency-sos-via-satellite-heres-how-to-use-it.html

 - - - -

Then later emergency roadside assistance satellite texts, no fees - still none.

 - - - -

Now regular satellite texts, no fees. https://support.apple.com/en-us/105097

They have never said this would last forever, but haven't charged for any of this so far. Even if they did charge a nominal amount - big deal, you're outside of wifi and cell coverage and you need it, and it never was available and now it is. I don't think anyone is going to be texting up a storm if they're off the grid. 

The interesting thing about charging for this is that Apple has always given mobile carriers some freedom to determine their own fee schedule. But unless the individual carriers are going to work out their own agreements with Globalstar and charge for satellite messaging as part of a mobile service plan, this is going to be a service provided by Apple, with fees paid to Apple - and I could see carriers getting very nervous about that. 

[Hector]

Apple gave (or lent) Globestar $257 million for 17 new satellites which will have 85% of their capacity devoted to Apple. New Satellites will start launching by end of 2025. Not sure what that means in terms of future fees but Apple definitely making an investment in Globestar.


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