Pixel 9 gadgets 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 collection, to help emergency communications when a terrestrial mobile community isn’t out there.
“This marks a brand new period of connectivity and peace of thoughts for Google Pixel customers. For the primary time, in the event you don’t have mobile or Wi-Fi within the US, Pixel customers can strive to connect 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 line with a Google weblog submit concerning the gadgets’ capabilities, the Pixel 9 collection are the Android gadgets first to help its Satellite tv for pc SOS providing, which permits an “emergency questionnaire” describing the person’s state of affairs and site to be despatched to first responders, in addition to notifying their cellphone contacts of the emergency. That two-way texting service is barely out there within the continental United States; it requires that customers have Google Message as their default messaging app, however is “out there no matter you provider plan,” per the submit.
An indication of the service can be out there on the Pixel 9 to stroll customers via how Satellite tv for pc SOS works. The Satellite tv for pc SOS service is included without spending a dime, for 2 years post-activation of a Pixel 9 system, in line with tremendous print from Google.
Skylo has a business NTN digital RAN and gives narrowband NTN connectivity. “Two-way texting, truthfully, solves 80% of the use circumstances that we encounter,” Trivedi informed RCR Wi-fi Information earlier this 12 months. Customers usually want texting to voice calls anyway, and Trivedi says that Skylo additionally sees NB-NTN as addressing 80% of IoT use circumstances.
“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.
