Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority
TL;DR
- Google gives its personal satellite tv for pc SOS characteristic on the Pixel 9 collection.
- Carriers like T-Cell have additionally begun providing their satellite tv for pc messaging characteristic on the Pixel 9 collection.
- Code inside a Google app means that Google is engaged on a brand new Settings web page to accommodate carrier-driven satellite tv for pc SOS performance.
Apple set the benchmark for satellite tv for pc SOS options with the launch of the iPhone 14 collection. Sadly, Android flagships have needed to play catch-up, and it’s solely now that we’re seeing broader adoption of such a crucial characteristic. However as with the whole lot on the Android platform, we’re seeing fairly some fragmentation in adopting the satellite tv for pc SOS options, too. OEMs like Google baked in assist on the Pixel 9 collection, however now carriers additionally wish to provide their satellite tv for pc SOS options on these flagships. Consequently, Google has needed to work on a means for peaceable co-existence, and we’ve noticed clues of it doing so.
An APK teardown helps predict options that will arrive on a service sooner or later based mostly on work-in-progress code. Nonetheless, it’s doable that such predicted options might not make it to a public launch.
On the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Professional, Pixel 9 Professional XL, and the Pixel 9 Professional Fold, you should utilize Google’s personal Satellite tv for pc SOS options powered by Skylo’s satellites to attach with Garmin Response’s emergency monitoring and incident response providers.
Past Google’s providers, carriers are additionally implementing Satellite tv for pc SOS on Android gadgets. Final week, T-Cell began accepting the Pixel 9 collection in its satellite tv for pc messaging program (which is wider than simply SOS as you possibly can ship non-emergency texts, too) in collaboration with SpaceX’s Starlink. Verizon has additionally teamed up with Skylo to supply satellite tv for pc SOS options, however solely with the Galaxy S25 collection for now.
It’s clear that carriers additionally wish to provide a service on this space. The newest Adaptive Connectivity Companies v2025.01 consists of strings that construct up on the satellite tv for pc connectivity options already provided by some Pixel gadgets. These new strings develop the scope of satellite tv for pc SOS options to the service’s choices.
Code
<string identify="carrier_available_notification_title">Use satellite tv for pc messaging</string>
<string identify="carrier_satellite_enabled_warning">Satellite tv for pc SOS is enabled by your service, study extra out of your service’s satellite tv for pc SOS settings</string>
<string identify="carrier_satellite_settings_button_text">View service settings</string>
<string identify="carrier_specific_feature_description">You may message with emergency providers and share your location when you possibly can’t hook up with a cell or Wi-Fi community. This service will not be obtainable always in all areas or circumstances.</string>
<string identify="category_of_satellite_sos_description_for_carrier">About Satellite tv for pc SOS</string>
<string identify="satellite_sos_footer_text_for_carrier">Whenever you join with emergency providers by satellite tv for pc, your identify, e mail, cellphone quantity, location, gadget data (IMEI, language, mannequin, battery degree), and emergency contact data are shared with emergency providers and satellite tv for pc service suppliers. To make use of Satellite tv for pc SOS, Google Messages have to be your default SMS app. If automated community choice is off, it is going to be turned on, and your gadget will robotically hook up with any community.</string>
<string identify="sharing_preferences_description_for_carrier">Assessment or replace information that will probably be shared with emergency providers</string>These strings don’t point out the Pixel-exclusive satellite tv for pc SOS performance, indicating that Google sees a future the place shoppers can entry a number of satellite-SOS choices, like from Google and the service. We’re already seeing that come to life for T-Cell Pixel 9 customers within the beta who ought to have entry to each choices, and these strings are Google enjoying catch-up. It may be a believable indication that different carriers, like Verizon, may additionally be planning for satellite tv for pc providers on the Pixel 9 collection and future Pixels (as older Pixels lack the requisite {hardware}).
All of those strings are managed by the next flag:
Code
Satellite__enable_esos_settings_ui_for_carriersThis means that emergency SOS options from the OEM and carriers might co-exist on supported Pixel gadgets. Nonetheless, there’s a risk you might need to decide on one over the opposite. We’ll maintain you up to date once we study extra about this.
