Ordinary smartphones can receive the texts, and reply via iOS or Android app
The trend of satellites to provide coverage in not-spots continues to gather pace. British mobile phone technology firm Bullitt Group announced a two-way satellite messaging service, Bullitt Satellite Connect, which will be commercially available this quarter.
Motorola and Bullitt say the next device in the defy range will be the first smartphone to support the messaging service. The companies have a brand partnership to develop rugged mobile phones under the Motorola brand.
There’s an app for that
Bullitt has developed proprietary software and service components to provide satellite text messaging via an app, Bullitt Satellite Messenger. According to the press release, the service is the culmination of two years’ collaboration “with the most advanced technology partners in the field of non-terrestrial network communications including…chipset supplier MediaTek…critical event response specialists FocusPoint International and Skylo, Bullitt’s satellite connectivity partner”.
Skylo built and operates the network to provide the always available messaging service. It also manages connections to devices over licensed GEO satellite constellations including Inmarsat.
Richard Wharton, Co-Founder of Bullitt Group explained, “Bullitt Satellite Connect solves a real connectivity problem. American’s send 6 billion SMS text messages each day* but…no single carrier covers more than 70% of the US land mass and around 60 million Americans lose coverage for up to 25% of each day**.”
Coverage blackspots persist to a greater and lesser extent the world over. “Bullitt Satellite Messenger provides…a connection wherever you have a clear view of the sky,” he added.
Send and receive via ordinary smartphone
Dave Carroll, Vice President of Strategic Brand Partnerships at Motorola, explains, “The service will first try to connect via Wi-Fi or cellular as normal, and if neither are available it will connect via satellite. Anyone can receive a message as a simple SMS to their existing phone and can respond by downloading the associated Android or iOS app,” although not via satellite.
The cost of the messages will be deducted from the satellite messaging subscriber’s plan with no cost to the recipient. SOS Assistance is free for the first year and subscription plans start from as $4.99/ month.
*Source: CTIA
**Source: https://www.opensignal.com/2019/09/24/mobile-experience-in-rural-usa-an-operator-comparison