Verizon has launched its satellite messaging service for select Android smartphones, allowing users to send and receive text messages via satellite when outside cellular range. This service is available at no additional charge for Verizon customers who own a Google Pixel 9 or Samsung Galaxy S25 series phone.
Verizon launches satellite messaging for select Android phones
The new feature enables users to message any device across different networks and platforms, distinguishing it from the satellite SOS features built into recent iPhones and the Pixel 9. Similar satellite messaging services are emerging; Apple incorporated satellite messaging for non-emergencies in iOS 18, and T-Mobile recently unveiled its Starlink-enabled messaging service that is currently available for free, though a subscription fee will launch later this summer.
Verizon’s rollout of the necessary upgrades for satellite messaging begins today and is expected to continue for the next two weeks. Joe Russo, EVP & President of Global Network and Technology at Verizon, stated, “We are committed to powering the lives of our customers. Verizon’s network is America’s largest and already covers 99% of the places where people live, work and play.” This service enhancement reinforces Verizon’s dedication to keeping its customers connected, regardless of location.
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Verizon’s strategic integration of satellite technology aims to extend beyond simple messaging, with ongoing testing for data services and video calls via satellite connections. The company also utilizes satellite technology for emergency services, providing reliable connections through portable assets and serving as temporary backhaul for new cell sites.
The addition of satellite texting aligns with broader advancements in satellite connectivity among mobile carriers; both Google and Samsung’s recent smartphone offerings support satellite features, although their capabilities have primarily focused on safety functions thus far. With satellite texting, the Pixel 9 and Galaxy S25 phones will allow sending messages when terrestrial cellular networks are inaccessible, dependent on user positioning for optimal satellite signal reception.
Verizon’s collaboration with AST SpaceMobile indicates further ambitions for enhanced satellite-connected services. This announcement follows T-Mobile’s beta testing of satellite messaging, showcasing the competitive landscape in the mobile telecommunications sector.
Featured image credit: José Matute/Unsplash
