Apple's iPhone satellite service kicks off smartphone space race

Fleets of satellites in orbits near Earth can provide mobile-phone users with basic service options when they are out of reach of cell towers, companies and executives say. — Image by snowing on Freepik

Apple Inc's new emergency-text feature on its latest iPhones makes it a first-mover in a budding market for low-cost satellite phone connections.

The Cupertino, California-based tech giant last week said its new iPhone 14s will be able to beam short distress messages and location data from places off the cellular grid as soon as November.