BULLITT

UK company wants to launch satellite-enabled smartphones

UK-based Bullitt plans to launch satellite-enabled smartphones next year. If there is no mobile network or Wi-Fi signal, your Bullitt phone will automatically connect to one of two global satellite networks.

The Bullitt satellite service is expected to start operating in February 2023. At first, users will only be able to use it to send and receive text messages. To use the SMS messaging feature, you will need to download the Bullitt app. Sending and receiving SMS messages will be free, but the user will have to pay a monthly subscription to the service.

The company declined to disclose the cost of the subscription, noting that it would be at the level of existing mobile rates. The service fee will be paid in addition to the standard contract for the use of mobile communications. It is currently unknown what Bullitt's future phone will look like.

Unlike Apple, which reportedly plans to add satellite communications to the iPhone 14 for North America-only emergency calling, Bullitt claims that your phone will automatically switch to satellite communications worldwide in the absence of a cellular signal.

“What we have is a smartphone, due out in February, that will support two-way satellite messaging with global coverage,” said Richard Wharton, co-founder of Bullitt.

According to him, the phone requires a special chipset, which took a year and a half to develop by the Asian manufacturer. Wharton added that battery consumption will be kept to a minimum, as the device will only search for a satellite to connect to when there is no signal from other networks. He also said that thanks to agreements with two global satellite networks, the wait for a connection will be no more than a few seconds.

Recall that the head of SpaceX, Elon Musk, intends to connect ordinary smartphones to satellite communications. Initially, the service will appear in the United States with the support of T-Mobile, but SpaceX is ready to work with any mobile operator in the world to make the service global.

Source: mundophone