Globalstar, best known as Apple’s satellite messaging partner, may be preparing to extend its reach beyond the iPhone. A new FCC application points to a possible arrangement with Skylo that would allow satellite messaging support on Android devices.
If that reading of the filing is correct, the move would mark an important shift for Globalstar. Until now, the company has been closely associated with Apple’s emergency and off-grid messaging features, but the new paperwork suggests its network could also be used for Android-based services.
Skylo is already known for working on direct-to-device satellite connectivity, so a link-up with Globalstar would fit a broader industry push to bring basic communications to phones when cellular coverage is unavailable. The focus appears to be on practical features such as text messaging and SOS support rather than full mobile broadband.
The report also notes that similar direct-to-device SMS and emergency services are already being tested in the UAE. That adds to the sense that satellite messaging is moving from a niche backup tool toward a more widely available feature across multiple smartphone platforms.
