2025 is shaping as much as be the yr of satellite-to-phone emergency alerts, textual content messages, and, ultimately, video calls. Immediately, Verizon introduced an enormous growth of its satellite tv for pc texting capabilities, confirming that choose Android telephones can now ship textual content messages to every other buyer through satellite tv for pc.

Apple added satellite tv for pc emergency alerts to the iPhone in 2022 and has slowly improved the service. Sadly, Android gadgets have been gradual so as to add the power, however now it is lastly right here for anybody utilizing Verizon Wi-fi. Plus, we’re anticipating comparable rollouts from AT&T shortly, together with T-Mobile’s Starlink message service.

In partnership with Skylo, Verizon is bringing satellite-based emergency messaging and placement sharing to its subscribers beginning immediately, March nineteenth, 2025. In a press release, the corporate stated updates enabling satellite tv for pc messaging will begin rolling out immediately, and proceed over the following two weeks. Nevertheless, there’s one huge caveat: it solely works on the Samsung Galaxy S25 and Pixel 9 sequence of telephones.

Here is what Verizon needed to say about this important development: “We’re dedicated to powering the lives of our prospects. Verizon’s community is America’s largest and already covers 99% of the locations the place individuals dwell, work and play. This growth of satellite tv for pc texting capabilities is a testomony to our dedication to make sure prospects keep related wherever they’re,” stated Joe Russo, EVP & President, World Community and Know-how.

Clearly, the large query is how a lot it will price for these on Verizon Wi-fi. Properly, we’ve excellent news. For now, it appears just like the service shall be utterly free all through 2025. Extra importantly, as extra gadgets are launched all year long, it’s going to be supported on extra Verizon Android smartphones. Nevertheless, I extremely doubt it’s going to be free for very lengthy.

Earlier this yr, Verizon confirmed its satellite tv for pc textual content message service for Android telephones could be free, however we do not know the way lengthy that can final. There is a good likelihood it’s going to develop into an costly add-on possibility someday subsequent yr, however we’ll have to attend and see.

How Verizon’s Satellite tv for pc Texting Works?

Verizon is taking a totally completely different method than Apple or T-Cellular. Slightly than put money into a satellite tv for pc model or associate with an organization like Elon Musk’s Starlink, Verizon has teamed up with Skylo.

Customers with out a mobile phone sign (or in a useless zone) will be capable of faucet into a group of satellites in orbit, permitting choose Verizon Android telephones to ship a message and even their location. Skylo would not have its personal satellites, although. As a substitute, it is partnered with numerous suppliers, together with EchoStar, Inmarsat, ViaSat, and others, to benefit from their current satellites. That approach, regardless of the place you’re, a satellite tv for pc must be shut sufficient to transmit a message. Properly, so long as the particular person sending the message has a Galaxy S25 or Pixel 9 sequence cellphone. These messages can go to any buyer, not simply these with a Galaxy S25.

Certain, texting and placement sharing are nice, however that is not the place Verizon’s satellite tv for pc ambitions finish. Final month, Verizon (and AT&T) each efficiently examined satellite-powered video calls from cellphone to cellphone in separate bulletins. Clearly, that sort of bandwidth is harder than sending a fast textual content message, nevertheless it’s thrilling to see continued enhancements within the expertise.

Based on Skylo, considered one of Verizon’s companions, satellite tv for pc SMS is launching first this month, however extra cell providers will quickly observe. For now, Verizon prospects with an up to date Galaxy S25 or Pixel 9 can ship a textual content message to every other buyer through satellite tv for pc whereas exterior mobile service, and that is fairly neat.

Supply: Verizon