Satellite-Based Internet
Apple may already provide you with cloud storage, music, TV and even financial services, so why not add cellular connectivity to the list? That may sound far-fetched now, but a recent report suggests Apple may want to replace your carrier — or, at least, bypass it.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple has a dedicated team of researchers and engineers exploring different ways of beaming data to iPhones. That team includes “about a dozen engineers from the aerospace, satellite and antenna design industries.”
So yes, Apple may be developing its own fleet of satellites soon enough. In addition to mitigating coverage issues and reducing the reliance on wireless carriers, Apple could use these satellites to increase the precision of location tracking and even help link devices together over a greater distance.
It isn’t clear whether Apple is looking to deploy its own network of satellites, or simply use ground-based receiving mechanisms to link to existing satellite systems. In any case, an Apple satellite endeavor would likely have performance and privacy benefits for Apple users.