• Apple plans to introduce satellite connectivity to its smartwatch lineup in 2025.
• The feature will allow users to send messages without a cellular or internet connection.
• Apple's partnership with Globalstar allows smartwatch users to send off-the-grid text messages.
• Apple's move to introduce satellite connectivity is a significant step in expanding the capabilities of its wearable devices.

Apple Inc., the multinational technology company, is set to revolutionize the wearable device industry. According to a report by Bloomberg News, the company plans to introduce satellite connectivity to its smartwatch lineup in 2025. This move is part of Apple's commitment to expanding the capabilities of its wearable devices, aiming to cater to health-conscious consumers and outdoor enthusiasts.

The satellite feature is expected to be incorporated into next year's version of the iPhone maker's Apple Watch Ultra. This feature will allow users to send messages without the need for a cellular or internet connection. Apple began to offer satellite communication through its iPhones in 2022. In November, it invested $1.5 billion into satellite provider Globalstar to fund the expansion of iPhone communication services.

The other medical feature, which would allow users to monitor their blood pressure levels, may also arrive in 2025. Apple has been working to add more health-focused capabilities to its products. In September, the company unveiled a new smartwatch, which could discover longer-term health conditions such as sleep apnea, and respond to emergencies.

Apple's Partnership with Globalstar and Impact on the Market

The technology will let smartwatch users send off-the-grid text messages via Globalstar Inc.'s fleet of satellites when they don't have a cellular or Wi-Fi connection. The other feature, which would monitor whether Apple Watch users have high blood pressure, may arrive as soon as 2025. But it's been delayed before, with Apple previously aiming to release the tool last year. The company first launched a satellite communication feature with the iPhone 14 in 2022. It let users stay in contact with emergency services while off the grid. The capability was expanded last year to allow for contact with roadside assistance providers. Apple then upgraded the feature again this year to let people use it to text anyone via iMessage. But that meant hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts still had to carry their iPhone to use the technology. Now they'll only need their watch.

Shares of satellite provider Globalstar surged about 15% to $2.43 as of 2:26 p.m. in New York after Bloomberg News reported on Apple's plans. Apple gained less than 1% to $247.53. Apple and Globalstar have expanded their partnership over the past few years. In November, the iPhone maker invested about $1.5 billion in GlobalStar to beef up the infrastructure. Apple took a 20% stake in the company as part of the deal.

Apple's Ambitious Projects and the Future of Technology

In the realm of artificial intelligence, a burgeoning South Korean startup, Spaid, introduced its cutting-edge AI-based mapping solutions designed to reduce the time required to model entire geographical areas significantly. By seamlessly integrating physical environments with digital insights, Spaid aspires to provide customers with a more intuitive understanding and practical application of geospatial information.

Apple Inc. is preparing to finally bring one of its most ambitious projects to market: a series of cellular modem chips that will replace components from longtime partner - and adversary - Qualcomm Inc. More than half a decade in the making, Apple's in-house modem system will debut next spring, according to people familiar with the matter. The technology is slated to be part of the iPhone SE, the company's entry-level smartphone, which will be updated next year for the first time since 2022.

A modem is a critical piece of any mobile phone, letting the device connect to cell towers in order to make calls and link up with the internet. Apple's first version of the component will be followed by further generations that become increasingly more advanced. The company aims to ultimately overtake Qualcomm's technology by 2027.