You'll be able to send and receive messages via satellite in iOS 18. Photo: Apple
You will soon be able to send and receive texts via satellite, Apple said Monday.
In addition, the Messages app will also support message scheduling, plus reacting to texts with any emoji.
“Now you can use the satellite capabilities on iPhone 14 and later to connect to satellites hundreds of miles above the Earth to text your friends and family when you’re off the grid,” said Apple exec Ronak Shah during Monday’s WWDC24 keynote.
Send and receive text messages via satellite in iOS 18
Sending messages via satellite will look like this. Photo: AppleSatellite messaging will be included in iOS 18, due this fall. The sytem will allow you to send and receive text messages in the Messages app when off the grid, Apple said.
The system uses the same technology used by Apple’s Emergency SOS via satellite.
“We’re using the same groundbreaking technology that gave us Emergency SOS via satellite to bring you messages via satellite,” said Shah.
After connecting to a satellite, key iMessage features like sending and receiving messages, plus reacting to messages, will be available.
The system will be end-to-end encrypted, Shah said.
It’ll also work with SMS messaging, which is used to message people using Android phones and other devices not integrated in Apple’s iMessage system.
Messaging via satellite will require an iPhone 14 or later.
Apple didn’t say when the system will go live or if it will require extra fees. iOS 18 will be released as a beta today, and will be released to the public this fall.
Messages gets emoji Tapbacks Some of the Text Effects coming to Messages in iOS 18. Photo: Apple
Apple has also redesigned the popular Tapbacks feature in iOS 18, allowing users to react to texts with any emoji.
Shah said reacting to messages with emoji — rather than a limited set of reactions — was one of the most requested features from users.
“We’re giving you all new ways to express yourself and stay connected,” said Shah. “Tapbacks are one of the most popular ways to express yourself and messages, and people love them. This is a huge year for Tapbacks.”
Messages in iOS 18 will also allow users to schedule messages to be sent later.
“When you don’t want to forget to send that friendly reminder or birthday text in the morning,” Shah said.
In addition, iOS 18 will support text formatting. Text can be italicized, underlined or struck through.
Text will also get ‘text effects,’ which add eye-catching effects to text. Some words will be automatically recognized for text effect suggestion.
“Whether you want to emphasize some major news, bring your emoji to life, or you’re just blown away by a stunning photo, you can express yourself in all new ways with text effects,” Shah said.
Leander has been reporting about Apple and technology for nearly 30 years.
Before founding Cult of Mac as an independent publication, Leander was news editor at Wired.com, where he was responsible for the day-to-day running of the Wired.com website. He headed up a team of six section editors, a dozen reporters and a large pool of freelancers. Together the team produced a daily digest of stories about the impact of science and technology, and won several awards, including several Webby Awards, 2X Knight-Batten Awards for Innovation in Journalism and the 2010 MIN (Magazine Industry Newsletter) award for best blog, among others.
Before being promoted to news editor, Leander was Wired.com’s senior reporter, primarily covering Apple. During that time, Leander published a ton of scoops, including the first in-depth report about the development of the iPod. Leander attended almost every keynote speech and special product launch presented by Steve Jobs, including the historic launches of the iPhone and iPad. He also reported from almost every Macworld Expo in the late ’90s and early ‘2000s, including, sadly, the last shows in Boston, San Francisco and Tokyo. His reporting for Wired.com formed the basis of the first Cult of Mac book, and subsequently this website.
Before joining Wired, Leander was a senior reporter at the legendary MacWeek, the storied and long-running weekly that documented Apple and its community in the 1980s and ’90s.
Leander has written for Wired magazine (including the Issue 16.04 cover story about Steve Jobs’ leadership at Apple, entitled Evil/Genius), Scientific American, The Guardian, The Observer, The San Francisco Chronicle and many other publications.
Leander is an expert on:
Apple and Apple history
Steve Jobs, Jony Ive, Tim Cook and Apple leadership
Apple community
iPhone and iOS
iPad and iPadOS
Mac and macOS
Apple Watch and watchOS
Apple TV and tvOS
AirPods
He has a diploma in journalism from the UK’s National Council for the Training of Journalists.
Leander lives in San Francisco, California, and is married with four children. He’s an avid biker and has ridden in many long-distance bike events, including California’s legendary Death Ride.
Daily round-ups or a weekly refresher, straight from Cult of Mac to your inbox.
Cult of Mac Today
Our daily roundup of Apple news, reviews and how-tos. Plus the best Apple tweets, fun polls and inspiring Steve Jobs bons mots. Our readers say: "Love what you do" -- Christi Cardenas. "Absolutely love the content!" -- Harshita Arora. "Genuinely one of the highlights of my inbox" -- Lee Barnett.
The Weekender
The week's best Apple news, reviews and how-tos from Cult of Mac, every Saturday morning. Our readers say: "Thank you guys for always posting cool stuff" -- Vaughn Nevins. "Very informative" -- Kenly Xavier.
