Everything Apple iOS 18 Will Do, Android Already Does

jeffw@lemmy.world to Technology@lemmy.world – 283 points –
Everything Apple iOS 18 Will Do, Android Already Does
gizmodo.com
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I didn’t realise android did free SMS over satellite when there is no cellular connection

Looks like it's been available on some android devices for at least a month. I don't know about free though, I think it depends on your carrier. I know T-Mobile has been talking about supporting it using Starlink satellites.

https://www.reddit.com/r/tmobile/comments/1ct1no1/satellite_messaging_option_appeared_on_my_pixel_7/ https://www.t-mobile.com/news/un-carrier/first-spacex-satellites-launch-for-breakthrough-direct-to-cell-service-with-t-mobile

But with the iPhone it’s free, and not carrier dependent and works outside of the United States for those of us in the rest of the world….

For me the importance is that it’s free - I wouldn’t even pay $5 a month for a service that I’d use in very unlikely situations probably once or twice a year.

Isn't the satellite thing just free temporarily?

They said it’s free for 2 years with any new purchase of iPhone since iPhone 14; and now they’ve extended it for 1 more year. No one has had to pay for any of it yet - and it’s unknown if/when/how it’ll be a paid service