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Apparently apple announced new iPhone on iOS 18 will be able to send satellite text messages (not just SOS messages) soon. Not a lot of detail about cost, length of message etc
https://youtu.be966F34ZeinQ?si=-T4wwxA-v4hLx2ZY
https://techcrunch.com/2024/06/10/ip...via-satellite/
And One NZ is introducing the same...assume Spark will follow....inhave a phone with duel sim so have one of each .... some areas pic up One NZ and some Spark better....hence duel sim
Hamish
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I imagine they are piggy backing off Elon's satellite constellation?? Apparently SMS connections work already, but you need a Starlink account.
Currently on a Starlink $79 monthly plan, 4 hundy for the gear, getting up to 2 hundy download and up to 120 upload (on the reduced speed plan:omg:). Carted it all around the South Island in the back of the truck. Was great for sending videos to UK/EU based family in a matter of seconds/minutes, vs the hour upon hour that our terrestial Vodofone connection used to give us.
The native iOS SOS to Satellite has been up and running for some time and by all accounts been pretty robust and accurate, so far the ones I’ve been privy to.
I’ve got the current iPhone and as soon as I’m out of coverage it shows a satellite image and prompts me too send a message if I want. I spend a heap of time out of coverage and in the back country. Haven’t tried it as thought it was through an emergency Center. I message the Mrs with the inreach if I’m staying out another night etc but it can be bloody slow.
Usual people are going to moan, but this is a good thing. Yes, carry your PLB as well and don't take extra risks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=966F...ChasetheSummit
Ill be the usual moaning one haha! As with all technology there are pros and cons. I for one am quite sad that the last bastions of freedom from the internet are slowly being gobbled up. Sure its only clunky messaging at this point, but its the beginning of the end. Especially sad for the young people who will never experience a place where you could go to genuinely get away from it all and have a genuine excuse for not being able to reply. Sure you can turn your phone off but we all know its not that simple. That little voice in the back of your head “I wonder who is trying to get hold of me”, you turn it on “just for a look” then you are sucked back into the void of stress and misery once more. Inreaches were peak backcountry technology in my mind. Expensive and painful enough to use that you never bother sending more than one message per night, but there if things go tits up.
Since its pretty much only the wife who regularly messages me, having my phone on aeroplane mode is great for the battery life and not an issue when away in the back blocks. I have a PLB, I don't have an InReach due to the extra plan costs.
2D and Spark are working on a similar deal with a different Sat company so will wait for that to assess but in the meantime Musk and One will not get any money from me. Ones a complete clown despite all his brains and the other I will never deal with again.
But for those who like to follow the trends like sheep go for it.