With the launch of the iPhone 13 coming later this month, the rumored assembly line was sending out a steady stream of factory photos and analyst speculation. Primarily, the rumors point to a device that is not much different from the iPhone 12 in terms of design and specifications - until recent rumors emerged that the iPhone 13 will feature satellite communications.

Apple's top analyst Ming-Chi Kuo's report, as reported by MacRumors, was further corroborated by a Bloomberg report that left Apple observers flat-footed. Most of us are familiar with the standard suite of rumored camera and display upgrades. But LEO (Low Earth Orbit) satellite communications are primarily for off-grid dwellers, scientists, survivalists, and journalists exploring remote parts of the world. Why would Apple, of all people, try to compete in a space crowded with $800 feature phones with huge antennas?

According to Bloomberg, the iPhone 13's satellite communications capabilities are limited to emergency calling and texting when there is no cellular signal. It is unclear exactly how it will work with carriers and other satellite carriers, or if there will be any additional associated costs. But this option could be useful. And whenever Apple does something like remove the charger from the box, other cell phone manufacturers tend to follow suit.

Note that the feature may not actually take effect until next year; according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the hardware will be built into the iPhone 13, but the feature will need to be enabled in a future software update (probably in 2022) He also said that the feature will be removed altogether. It is also possible that this feature will be removed altogether.

In any case, here is what we know about the iPhone 13's supposed satellite communication capabilities.

Before discussing the possibility of satellite communication capabilities in the iPhone 13, let us explain what a satellite phone is.

Unlike the cell phones that most of us carry around, satellite phones connect via orbiting satellites. For this reason, satellite phones have distinct advantages over cell phones. Satellite phones can essentially connect from anywhere on earth and are not dependent on cell towers. This is useful not only when crossing the Gobi Desert, but also in the event of a natural disaster that would destroy cell phone towers. [Unlike cell phones, satellite phones are affiliated with specific satellite companies. The major ones are Iridium, Inmarsat, and Globalstar. Each company has different coverage depending on the number of satellite orbits, called "constellations." For example, Iridium has 75 satellites at 780 km above the earth orbiting the earth and covering as far as the North Pole. Globalstar, on the other hand, has 48 satellites at 1,414 km above the earth, and its communication speed is slower than Iridium's due to the longer distance. Globalstar's coverage is also not completely global, but it covers most of the Americas, Europe, North Asia, Russia, and Australia.

Inmarsat has a completely different satellite system than Iridium and Globalstar. Inmarsat has only 13 satellites, the fewest of the three companies. However, the satellites orbit 35,405 km above the Earth, allowing each satellite to have a wider view of the Earth. In addition, the satellites are in geosynchronous orbit (GEO), which means they follow the Earth's rotation. Once locked in to an INMARSAT satellite, it is unlikely to lose connection. However, if there is a large obstruction, the Inmarsat satellite phone will not be able to easily connect to other satellites, requiring the user to move to a location with good visibility.

The iPhone 13 does not have a huge antenna on top, so the quality of satellite communication is unknown. However, common sense suggests that it will not be as good as a dedicated satellite phone.

According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple will reportedly use Globalstar's satellite constellation. This would allow emergency calls and e-mails from many parts of the world, including the Americas, Europe, northern Asia, the Korean Peninsula, Japan, parts of Russia, and all of Australia. Unfortunately, Africa, South and Southeast Asia, and much of the Northern Hemisphere will have weak or no signal at all.

The iPhone 13 is likely to use an improved Qualcomm X60 baseband chip. Call quality is unknown at this time.

Call quality and coverage may also be hampered by the iPhone's lack of an external antenna, but companies may make accessories to enhance the signal.

Satellite data speeds tend to be incredibly slow, so do not expect to watch Netflix in remote areas of China. In fact, the speeds are so slow that loading a simple Word document may be impossible; with the Globalstar GSP-1700 satellite phone, the transmission speed is 9.6 kbps. This is slower than dial-up.

Satellite phone plans are not cheap. The cheapest plan starts at $35 per month, but only offers 15 minutes of talk time in North America. Global plans start at $52.95/month and only allow 10 minutes of talk time, with each additional minute costing $1.29 more. There is also an emergency plan that does not include minutes and charges based on the number of minutes used. However, it can cost several hundred dollars per year to keep this plan active.

Some cell phone companies automatically block calls to satellite phones unless the user requests that the block be removed. Calls to satellite phones are considered international calls and cost several dollars per minute.

It remains to be seen how cellular carriers will integrate the iPhone 13 satellite system. It is not known whether all plans will include emergency satellite calling and texting or whether it will be an add-on requirement. It is also unclear whether all iPhone 13 models will include satellite calling or only premium models.

The possibility of satellite connectivity in the iPhone 13 could shift virtually all phone development. According to Kuo, Apple is betting on LEO satellite connectivity as the future for "delivering innovative experiences." It is not clear what Kuo means, but reports suggest that Apple is tinkering with mixed reality headsets, Apple cars, and other Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

In 2019, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that Apple had hired a "top-secret team" of software, hardware, and aerospace engineers to innovate in satellite data transfer, with results expected in five years. What that team has developed is still unknown. Large companies like Apple can hire engineers for concepts that are unlikely to make it to market.

And according to Garman's sources, Apple may not allow satellite connectivity until next year, or may even cancel the plan altogether.

Apple may be eyeing Elon Musk's satellite Internet company, Starlink, which plans to launch thousands of small LEO satellites to provide high-speed Internet to everyone in the world. Already, users in remote areas of the US, UK, and Canada report that the experience has been life-changing.

If Apple introduces satellite communications with the iPhone 13, it will at least encourage other cell phone manufacturers to add remote safety features. And if the iPhone 13's satellite connectivity helps even one person lost in the woods, Apple's efforts will have been worthwhile.