At the beginning of last monthWe’ve heard that Google is working on bringing satellite connectivity to the future Pixel 9. At first it was suggested that its use would be limited, at least initially, to emergencies only, but later information told us that its scope could be wider, to the point of allowing the sending of general SMS messages, which can be very useful for many circumstances.

Since then, there have been rumors that the availability of this service will be limited, especially in its early days, since it is of course necessary to send SMS messages over a satellite connection, that we have contracted some type of service with operators who can offer it. So, the same thing that happens with mobile connectivity, that is, you need the services of some telecommunication operator.

In this case, and after the investigations that led to the first information about the matter, it appears that it is The first carrier to offer this service will be T-Mobile in the United Stateswhich in turn will offer a satellite connectivity service with Starlink infrastructure, which has been focusing on this type of connection for some time and which, thanks to its huge geographical reach, can be the ideal provider for this class of service.

Be that as it may, it’s leaked now a video that shows what the process of connecting the Google Pixel 9 to the satellite will be. As seen in it and as can be imagined, it will be necessary for the user to find the correct orientation in order to establish a line connection with the corresponding satellite based on their location. Additionally, during configuration, a message with the text «Get a clear view of the sky by avoiding buildings, trees and mountains«, that means you need a direct view, without obstacles between them.

With this move, Google is following the path Apple blazed with the iPhone 14’s satellite connection, intended exclusively for emergency situations, and its evolution in the iPhone 15 to cover other types of eventualities. Now, of course, we will have to see if the Pixel 9 “matches” what Apple offers (which, mind you, can be higher even with the iPhone 16), or if with the arrival of special plans from telecoms for this type of connection, they manage to expand their use for general message communication.

Source: Google News | EN (Telegram)