Verizon VZ -0.51%↓ has partnered with Skylo Technologies for an emergency messaging and location-sharing service on select Google Pixel and Samsung phones this fall. Next year, Verizon said it would offer text via satellite for select devices.
In addition to Verizon, Apple AAPL 1.93%↑ rolled out Emergency SOS in 2022 with its iPhone 14. Apple, with iOS 18, is planning to add satellite capabilities to iMessage on iPhone 14 smartphones.
Interestingly, Google GOOG 0.15%↑ is also working with Skylo for satellite connectivity. The internet giant has partnered with Garmin GRMN 0.29%↑ to operate Satellite SOS on the Pixel 9 series. Garmin said in a press release that it handles thousands of SOS activations.
What hasn’t been written about much in the consumer business press is that Verizon really is hitting the enterprise satellite IoT market hard with announcements like the one with Skylo.
“Verizon’s network boasts an exceptionally large terrestrial cellular network and covers more than 99 percent of the population in the United States. However, there are occasional enterprise needs for IoT devices in places where people don’t live or regularly visit,” said Srini Kalapala, Verizon’s senior vice president of fechnology and product development, in a statement. “Satellite IoT in combination with Verizon’s terrestrial assets creates the perfect combination for IoT solutions in the most remote parts of the country and over land, air and sea without having to use a separate physical device.”
Verizon cited IoT roaming capability that is critical for transportation, agriculture, maritime, environmental monitoring, and asset tracking. The company cited agriculture and asset tracking for the ability to roam on satellite networks—even in the ocean.
