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Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the “iPhone 13” would have the ability to use satellite communications, thanks to a custom baseband chip.
In a note to investors, seen by Appleinsider Ming-Chi Kuo says that the Qualcomm X60 baseband chip that Apple is expected to use in the “iPhone 13” will support low-earth orbit satellite communications. He bases this on Qualcomm’s work with Globalstar, making the latter the most likely partner for the effort.
“There are many potential scenarios for Apple’s business model cooperation with Globalstar,” Kuo writes. “The simplest scenario is if the user’s operator has already partnered with Globalstar, the user can directly use Globalstar’s satellite communication service on the iPhone 13 through the operator’s service. . “
If the report is correct, it won’t be the first smartphone to support satellite communications, but it will be the first mainstream model to do so. Kuo says other vendors who want satellite communications capabilities will have to wait a year until 2022 and will need to use the next X65 baseband chip.
It is not currently known what Apple has done with the X60 to support satellite communications. It’s also unclear what Apple will need to implement for an antenna array required for the technology – and which differs from LTE or 5G antennas. Most satellite phones resemble the classic design of Nokia mobile phones, with a visible antenna and, in some cases, other external equipment to pick up and relay the satellite signal.
Kuo also believes this is just Apple’s first foray into the technology. The inclusion in “iPhone 13” is meant to be “innovative user experiences that can be incorporated into new products”. Specifically, Kuo notes that an Apple or Apple Car headset would be enhanced by the integration of satellite technology in conjunction with the 5G millimeter wave wireless network.
Apple is expected to introduce the “iPhone 13” line in the fall, as part of its annual product line renewal. Beyond Sunday’s satellite communications report, there were also rumors of various camera changes, including increased sensor resolution, larger lenses, and the addition of autofocus on Pro models. .
There was also some debate over whether Apple would stick with the existing 3-camera and 2-camera on the Pro and Standard models respectively, or whether it would switch to a 4-camera setup. Meanwhile, LiDAR would only remain on Pro models for another year.
Also according to Kuo, the “iPhone 13 Pro” models will add a new ultra-wide camera lens with autofocus, a feature that will apparently extend to non-Pro models released in 2022.
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