Qualcomm has partnered with Iridium for a new service announced at CES 2023, dubbed Qualcomm Snapdragon Satellite, which will add new functionality to Android smartphones.

As the name itself indicates, it brings support for satellite communication during emergencies, a feature similar to what Apple recently introduced as Emergency SOS via Satellite.

The Snapdragon Satellite feature will be available in smartphones that pack Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor and the Snapdragon X70 modem system, along with some additional radios.

The company says that smartphones with support for this new feature should be launched in select regions starting in the second half of this year. It added that there are several manufacturers working on adding this feature to their devices.

It’s likely that Snapdragon Satellite will be limited to premium flagship smartphones as the company is only supporting its flagship processor and modem for now. Companies that want to add it to their phones will work directly with Qualcomm without having to build new relationships with Iridium.

Initially, the feature will be limited to use in emergency situations, allowing users to contact someone for help even in a remote area without cell service. When the user sends an SOS, “response coordinators immediately see the customer’s Latitude/Longitude in their proprietary mapping and response coordination software to determine the appropriate agency to coordinate the rescue.”

Qualcomm says that it will eventually support “premium messaging,” which will likely cost extra and will have to be implemented by OEMs, cell carriers, or other over-the-top service providers.

When it’s available, users will be able to use the service with the existing phone numbers. The company says that the emergency service will be free or very cheap, but it hasn’t provided any details about the pricing.

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