Qualcomm is developing Snapdragon Satellite, an emergency satellite feature for Android phones, that will be operational as early as 2023

Following the new iPhones, the emergency satellite function comes to Android phones.

On Thursday, Qualcomm announced that it will partner with Iridium to develop satellite messaging capability on premium smartphones running Google’s Android operating system. The new service will be available in select regions from the second half of 2023, starting with devices using the second generation Snapdragon 8 mobile platform.

Snapdragon Satellite can also be enabled on other devices, including laptops and tablets, but it’s not clear if these will require additional hardware.

Messages sent through the Qualcomm feature will land on the Iridium satellite network. They will then be shared with the emergency services or the selected contact.

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The news comes a few months after Apple unveiled Emergency SOS, a similar feature that allows iPhone 14 models to send emergency messages via satellite in select countries such as the US, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, and the UK. These phones also contain a Qualcomm chip that can “talk” to satellites when there is no Wi-Fi or cellular coverage.

Emergency SOS – emergency satellite communication function for iPhone 14 – already available in Europe (not yet in Ukraine)

Qualcomm added during the partnership announcement that Garmin would coordinate emergency response services for users. This is a company that represents a line of its own satellite communicators that allow you to send and receive text messages outside the cellular coverage area. For the most part, all the functions of such devices are paid. The cheapest monthly subscription is $15, however the price can be as high as $65 if you want unlimited text messages and very short tracking intervals (2+ minutes).