Bullitt announced on Tuesday that it is teaming up with MediaTek to launch the world’s first smartphone to feature two-way satellite messaging technology.
This mobile phone, which has not yet been revealed, will be released on the market in the first three months of 2023, Telegrafi reports.
The smartphone will be manufactured by Bullitt and will use MediaTek’s 3GPP non-terrestrial network (NTN) chip.
Unlike Apple’s satellite-based SOS emergency service, this new technology will enable users to send messages seamlessly to other handsets connected to regular networks.
Bullitt has not revealed the exact regions where these features will be available initially.
Bullitt made the announcement on Tuesday that the smartphone and satellite OTT service will be commercially available in the first three months of 2023.
The company has been working together with MediaTek for the past 18 months to develop this technology. Bullitt plans to use direct satellite communication technology with the next generation of 5G smartphones.
As the manufacturer reveals, a smartphone will only switch to satellite connection if there is no cellular or Wi-Fi connection.
Bullitt smartphone users will be able to send messages seamlessly to their saved contacts that are connected to regular mobile networks.
The company claims that it can take around 10 seconds to send a message through this service.
The OTT satellite service will include a satellite SOS feature, which will be offered free of charge for the first 12 months from the date of purchase. Bullitt has revealed that this offer will apply to purchases made before December 2023.
