The English manufacturer Bullitt wants to make satellite communication accessible to as many people as possible.
We generally take for granted the ability to stay in touch through various means of communication, no matter where we are. However, when venturing into remote wilderness, taking long hikes in the mountains, or dealing with emergency situations, mobile networks can quickly become unreachable. In such cases, the only option to send an SOS or communicate with the outside world is through a connection to satellites.
A Bluetooth device as big as a credit card
The devices that allow it can be expensive to buy and use, and their ecosystems do not necessarily correspond to our uses, which have changed drastically with the democratization of smartphones. Bullitt, which has been working with Motorola since 2021 to bring rugged smartphones to market, intends to change that with the Defy Satellite Link.
The size of a credit card, shockproof and waterproof (IP 68), the device connects to an Android or iOS smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth. It uses an application, Bullitt Satellite Messenger, to allow communication by SMS with anyone in the world. A button on the side gives the possibility of sending an SOS alert with location without the need for a Bluetooth connection.
The device will be available without a subscription from April for £99 (about €111), and for €169 with a subscription including 30 free messages per month and one year of FocusPoint SOS support.
Satellites for everyone
In 2022, Apple introduced the possibility of communicating via satellite with the iPhone 14, and of course Android devices will follow suit. Qualcomm very recently announced that its next smartphone modem, the Snapdragon X75, will offer similar functionality for high-end phones from the second half of 2023. However, both of these options require the purchase of expensive new devices, which moreover cannot be shared within a group. Not very practical, when it’s the friend who has the brand new smartphone which is stuck at the bottom of a cave.
The Defy Satellite Link instead seeks inclusiveness, being accessible to a wider range of budgets, needs and device categories. Its ecosystem uses a new MediaTek chip to connect to geostationary satellites. It will also be integrated into the Cat S75 and the Motorola Defy 2, two robust smartphones which will be presented at MWC23 in Barcelona, alongside the Satellite Link.
Source : The Guardian
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