Huawei Mate 50 Also Rumoured To Feature Satellite Communication Capabilities

It appears that the next generation iPhone may not be the only upcoming smartphone to come with satellite communication capabilities. Or at least according to a new rumour provided by a tipster on Weibo (via GizChina.it), who suggested that Chinese tech giant Huawei might also equip the feature on the Mate 50, its second flagship handset.

Much like the more recent report regarding the function on next-gen iPhones, it is said that the Mate 50’s satellite communications is intended for emergency use as well. Similarly, this enables the phone to send distress messages via SMS, independent of a cellular service connection.

The tipster claims that this feature is supported by China’s Beidou satellite system, which offers navigation and emergency SMS services. Beidou first launched in the country back in 2015 and eventually expanded its services across the globe last year, which places it alongside other satellite-based navigation systems such as the United States’ GPS, Russia’s GLONASS, and Europe’s Galileo.

Interestingly, the tipster added that the new satellite communications feature would also allow Huawei Mate 50 users to reach out to smartphones by other Chinese brands. This suggests that satellite communications might also be introduced to future devices from the likes of Xiaomi, Honor, Vivo, and so on.

If this rumour is to be believed, we might see more handsets to be equipped with this feature throughout 2022. On that note, it is also suggested that Huawei could launch the unannounced Mate 50 flagship series by early next year. Which is actually much later than the Mate series’ usual launch window, but expected nonetheless due the component shortages caused by the various US sanctions imposed on the company.

iPhone 13 To Support Satellite Communications, Claims Analyst

The iPhone is one of the most popular of phones for the general public. But its next iteration is about to come with something that’s not usually for mainstream use. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts that the iPhone 13 will come with, of all things, support for satellite communications.

AppleInsider reports that in a note to investors, Kuo says that this will be made possible thanks to a modified Qualcomm X60 modem chip. This prediction is based on the company’s work with Globestar, a provider of such a service. And by extension, the analyst also predicts that Apple will be working with Globestar for its satellite comms tech for the iPhone 13.

For now, it’s not stated what sort of modifications Apple will be doing to the Qualcomm X60 modem for this to work. Though if the company can do so without changing the expected look of the iPhone 13, it will be an impressive feat. At least when you consider most satellite phones look like feature phones. Kuo also notes that other phone makers looking to give their devices satellite communications will have to wait until next year, for the Qualcomm X65 chip.

Kuo claims that this will be just the first Apple product to use satellite comms. In the future, the analyst predicts that the iPhone maker will also be using said tech to supplement other products like Apple Car. But as for the iPhone itself, it remains to be seen if the tech will debut in this year’s series or the next. After all, it’s possible that this year’s batch will be called the iPhone 12s.