APPLE is handing iPhone owners a significant mobile signal boost, allowing customers to send text messages via satellite connection.
At the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) today, the tech giant announced a host of new iMessage and SMS features.
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The most notable is iMessage and SMS via satellite.
Apple already offers owners of the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 models emergency SOS via satellite.
However, the company has gone a step further, now allowing iPhone owners to text family or reply to groupchats atop mountains and other signal-free rural areas.
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Once connected to iMessage via satellite, iPhone owners will be able to use key features like emoji and tapbacks - a new feature that allows for quick replies.
Apple was also quick to note that all conversations over iMessage via satellite are protected by end to end encryption.
According to Apple, "To connect to a satellite, you need to be outside with a clear view of the sky and horizon.
"When you use a satellite connection, the experience is different than sending or receiving a message via mobile connection."
Google is also rumoured to be rolling out satellite-powered text messaging with its Android 15 update, due later this year.
New text effects
New text effects are also on the way, allowing iPhone owners to emphasise texts or bring emojis to life with new movements.
Apple is adding to its iMessage animations with text effects.
Unlike animations - which shower confetti on your screen or make an entire message bubble multiply - text effects can be placed on specific words in a message.
iPhone owners will be able to make words - and emoji - buzz and shake in iMessage.
RCS Support
After years of waiting, iPhone owners will also be able to enjoy RCS support.
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RCS, or Rich Communication Services, is the successor to SMS and MMS.
It will essentially make iPhone-to-Android texting much more like iPhone-to-iPhone texting via iMessage.
RCS support is set to bring eight iMessage-style features to texts between iPhone and Android users, including:
- Higher-resolution photos and videos
- Audio messages
- Typing indicators
- Read receipts
- Wi-Fi messaging between iPhones and Android devices
- Improved group chats, including the ability for iPhone users to leave a conversation that includes Android users
- Improved encryption compared to SMS
- Share location with people inside text threads
No more missed birthdays
Apple is also adding a nifty Reminders features to iMessage.
The long-awaited feature reminds iPhones owners to send messages later - and even allows you to schedule them.
It's perfect if for notorious birthday-forgettors.
Make bold statements
There are also new text formatting options coming.
It can be tricky to convey tone via text.
And Apple is attempting to put a stop to unnecessary arguments by giving people to option to use italics, bold font, and even underscores to emphasise certain words.