It is reported that Apple is working on many satellite features for the iPhone

Your iPhone could soon be able to do more than call emergency services and send text messages via satellite, according to a recent power in the magazine. BloombergMark Gurman reported that Apple plans to expand the satellite features available in iPhones.

Apple introduced the ability to send and receive text messages via satellite fiel last year, but it is reported that it wants to improve this with the option to send photos. Aside from messaging, Apple wants to enable 5G NTN support on its iPhones, which would allow cell towers to tap into satellites, according to Gurman. For anyone who needs directions in the wilderness without a cellular or Wi-Fi connection, it is reported that it has plans to introduce a satellite connection to apple maps.

Along with these improvements, Gurman reported that Apple is looking at “environmental applications” where users won’t have to point their phones at the sky to connect to the satellite network. Instead, the iPhone can stay connected even when there is no clear view of the sky, such as indoors. On the developer side of things, Gurman said Apple is also working on an API that allows app developers to add satellite communications.

There is no time when these satellite features will go live, but apple waited a few years between introducing satellite emergency sos in 2022 and satellite messages with the release of iOS 18.