Google might be working on a beta version of its Google Messages app that supports satellite messaging, following in the footsteps of Apple, which already has a similar feature.
Within the beta version of Google Messages, version 20240329_01_RC00, 9to5Google pointed toward the following strings of text that indicate a forthcoming emergency messaging feature:
"To send and receive, stay outside with a clear view of the sky"
"Satellite messaging may take longer and can’t include photos & videos"
"You can message with anyone, including emergency services"
Apple's version of satellite messaging, called Emergency SOS via satellite, lets you text emergency services or roadside assistance when you don't have cellular or wifi coverage or can't dial 911. It seems like Google's implementation may work similarly to Apple's.
The one thing that makes Google's version of satellite messaging distinct, if the above strings do actually pan out, is that it seems like you can message other people in your contacts, not just emergency services. In theory, in an emergency, you could send a message via satellite to emergency services and also to your friends and family, so they know what's going on.
We'll learn more about this potential new feature in the coming months as Android 15 will most likely be released in the fall, sometime around the Google Pixel 9 series launch.
