Pixel 9 units are the primary with Google’s Satellite tv for pc SOS, supported by Skylo
Satellite tv for pc direct-to-cellular supplier Skylo introduced that its Non-Terrestrial Community (NTN) connectivity is built-in into the brand new Google Pixel 9 smartphone sequence, to assist emergency communications when a terrestrial mobile community shouldn’t be accessible.
“This marks a brand new period of connectivity and peace of thoughts for Google Pixel customers. For the primary time, if you happen to don’t have mobile or Wi-Fi within the US, Pixel customers can strive to hook up with emergency companies by way of satellite tv for pc to get assist and share your location with contacts,” the corporate mentioned in an announcement.
In keeping with a Google weblog put up in regards to the units’ capabilities, the Pixel 9 sequence are the Android units first to assist its Satellite tv for pc SOS providing, which allows an “emergency questionnaire” describing the person’s scenario and site to be despatched to first responders, in addition to notifying their cellphone contacts of the emergency. That two-way texting service is simply accessible within the continental United States; it requires that customers have Google Message as their default messaging app, however is “accessible no matter you service plan,” per the put up.
An indication of the service can be accessible on the Pixel 9 to stroll customers by means of how Satellite tv for pc SOS works. The Satellite tv for pc SOS service is included totally free, for 2 years post-activation of a Pixel 9 machine, based on advantageous print from Google.
Skylo has a industrial NTN digital RAN and supplies narrowband NTN connectivity. “Two-way texting, truthfully, solves 80% of the use instances that we encounter,” Trivedi advised RCR Wi-fi Information earlier this 12 months. Shoppers typically favor texting to voice calls anyway, and Trivedi says that Skylo additionally sees NB-NTN as addressing 80% of IoT use instances.
“Our service has been meticulously developed with each the Pixel and Android groups at Google in addition to all our supporting ecosystem companions,” mentioned Parth Trivedi, co-founder and CEO of Skylo. (Entry an RCR Wi-fi Information webinar on NTN, that includes Trivedi, right here.)
In February of this 12 months, Skylo raised $37 million for its non-terrestrial mobile service, together with from the funding arms of Intel, BMW, and Samsung, amongst others.