Google has started rolling out a new interface to Google Messages, the default messaging app on most Android devices, to support emergency SOS chats via satellite.
The layout of the SOS message thread in Google Messages will remain the same as standard text, but will have the “satellite message” label added. This means that users will be able to create personalized messages when communicating via emergency services, unlike on Apple, which can only use sample messages.
However, satellite messages may have a character limit, unlike normal SMS. The message counter is mounted on the text input frame.
When the signal is not enough to make a satellite call, the user will be instructed to switch to satellite messaging.
Apple introduced the ability to send emergency SOS messages via satellite on the iPhone 14 series last year. This feature allows users in areas with no cell signal to contact emergency services. According to statistics, this feature has helped many people escape dangerous situations such as forest fires, car accidents, etc.
It is not clear at this time how Google will roll out the emergency SOS messaging feature via satellite and to which devices. But can confirm, this interesting feature on Android will depend on the modem hardware on the device and the country that allows it.