Apple’s ‘secret team’ working on satellite tech to beam data to devices
Monday, December 23, 2019 IST
Potential success will signal end of dependence on wireless carriers
Apple Inc has a secret team working on satellites and related wireless technology, striving to find new ways to beam data such as internet connectivity directly to its devices, according to people familiar with the work.
The California-based iPhone maker has about a dozen engineers from the aerospace, satellite and antenna design industries working on the project with the goal of deploying their results within five years, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing internal company efforts.
Work on the project is still early and could be abandoned, the people said, and a clear direction and use for satellites hasn’t been finalised. Still, Apple’s Chief Executive Officer, Tim Cook, has shown interest in the project, indicating it’s a company priority. Apple’s work on communications satellites and next-generation wireless technology means the aim is likely to beam data to a user’s device, potentially mitigating the dependence on wireless carriers, or for linking devices together without a traditional network.
Location tracking
Apple could also be exploring satellites for more precise location tracking for its devices, enabling improved maps and new features.
It is not clear if Apple intends to pursue the costly development of a satellite constellation itself or simply harness on-the-ground equipment that would take data from existing satellites and send it to mobile devices. Northrop Grumman Corp, Lockheed Martin Corp and Boeing Co are some of the biggest satellite makers. An Apple spokeswoman declined to comment.
Amazon.com Inc plans to deploy over 3,000 satellites as part of a future constellation. However, the industry is littered with failures. Newer efforts from Facebook, SpaceX and Amazon are a long way from generating revenue, and Apple rarely enters new categories without a clear way to make money.
Related Topics
Trending News & Articles
ALMATY: Hour upon hour, day upon day, Omir Bekali and other detainees in far western China's new indoctrination camps had to disavow the...
Recently posted . 223K views . 1 min read
If you have payed attention to the belly buttons of people on the beach or the members of your family, you have probably noticed that they have different shapes and...
Recently posted . 10K views . 2 min read
The Langya henipavirus has a place with a similar group of infections, including Nipah, which is known to kill up to 3/4 of people in extreme cases.
Recently posted . 6K views . 1 min read
Queen's death: The eldest of her four children, Charles, Prince of Wales, who at 73 was the oldest heir apparent in British history, became king immediately...
Recently posted . 6K views . 1 min read
More in Global
There’re only three persons in your life that you fall in love with. You fall in love with each of them for a reason.
T...
Recently posted. 837 views . 2 min read
HIGHLIGHTS
*Russia will respond to any deployment of intermediate-range nuclear weapons in ...
Recently posted. 922 views . 3 min read
Commuters in the national capital can now view "auto-rickshaw" routes as well as fares on Google Maps app, tech giant Google Monday said.
Recently posted. 908 views . 1 min read
Recently posted . 1K views
Recently posted . 1K views
Recently posted . 2K views
Recently posted . 2K views
Recently posted . 4K views . 140 min read
Recently posted . 1K views . 49 min read
Interstitium would be the 80th organ in the human body and probably the biggest one as it is a part of the entire body.
Recently posted. 942 views . 0 min read
Mattis, who left the Trump administration in January, also slammed Pakistan’s obsession with India, saying it “views all geopolitics through the prism o...
Recently posted. 798 views . 1 min read