Most of the iPhone 13 rumors point to fairly typical upgrades, such as a camera and a new A15 Bionic chip. However, new reports suggest that Apple will adopt an unexpected feature that the likes of Samsung cannot currently match: satellite communications.

This is a very left-field suggestion for the new iPhone, and it would be hard to take seriously without a source: Apple analyst Minqi Kuo, who has one of the best track records in predicting what the company will do when.

After the initial Kuo report was published today (August 30), Bloomberg ran its own report, suggesting that satellite connectivity will be used to send messages to emergency services and contacts when cellular connectivity is unavailable. While the hardware may be ready for the iPhone 13 launch, the feature itself may not be available until next year, Bloomberg said.

As for Kuo's note, discovered by MacRumors, it states that the feature will be enabled by customizing the Qualcomm X60 baseband chip in the iPhone 13. If this feature is enabled in software, the iPhone 13 will be able to make calls and send messages without a 4G or 5G Internet connection, which could be a lifesaver for those who often travel to places without cell phone reception.

Kuo said that Globalstar is the LEO (low earth orbit) satellite communications service provider "most likely to work with Apple in terms of technology and service coverage" thanks to its existing relationship with Qualcomm.

According to Kuo, the "simplest scenario" would be for the network operator to work directly with Globalstar and have the capabilities included in the bill. However, given the historically high price of satellite service, this might entail an unwelcome price increase for those who are not expected to use the feature. There is also the question of how such a feature would affect battery life - something Apple is said to be working on with the iPhone 13 after it proved to be a major weakness in the iPhone 12.

Nonetheless, Apple apparently sees LEO satellite communications as the future, according to the report, and plans to push the technology into more devices to "deliver an innovative experience." According to Kuo, this could include electric cars, mixed reality devices, and other Internet of Things (IoT) accessories.

Regardless of the source of the rumors, there is reason to remain skeptical about this, or more precisely its timeline: in 2019, Bloomberg reported that Apple recruited a "top-secret team" of software, hardware, and aerospace engineers to work on satellite data transfer, but reported that results are not expected for five years.

If this new report is accurate, the R&D involved must have gone much more smoothly than the company expected. iPhones typically adopt new features once they reach a certain maturity level on other devices. If this is confirmed, Apple may find itself in the unusual position of being a trendsetter.