The iPhone 13 is rumored to have a feature for satellite calls. But apparently this feature will only be used for emergency conditions.
The presence of the satellite phone feature in the iPhone 13 was first reported by specialist Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. But based on a recent report from Bloomberg, this feature will initially be limited to calling emergency services or contacts in areas that don't have a signal.
One of the features developed is Emergency Message via Satellite. This feature allows users to send short messages to emergency services or contacts using the satellite network if the user is in an area that does not have a signal.
Message length will be limited and will be displayed in a gray chat bubble, to distinguish green SMS messages and green iMessage messages.
If the user sends this emergency message to an emergency contact, the recipient of the message will still see the incoming notification even if they enable Do Not Disturb mode, to ensure the emergency message can be seen by the recipient.
Other features allow users to report emergencies, for example those involving cars, planes, ships or fire. Users will be able to send information such as location and Medical ID which can be obtained by registering in the Health application. Users can also call emergency contacts while reporting an emergency.
Bloomberg reports that the iPhone 13 will likely have hardware that supports making satellite calls. But their source said this feature might not be ready next year, so it can't be used immediately once the iPhone 13 is launched, as quoted from The Verge, Wednesday (1/9/2021).
Apple itself is expected to release the iPhone 13 lineup this September. The phone is expected to have the same appearance as the iPhone 12, such as size and shape.
Additional capabilities are expected to be in the capabilities of the camera system, a screen with a high refresh rate for the Pro model and also a smaller notch.