MCLEAN, Va., Jan. 5, 2023 /CNW/ – Iridium Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: IRDM) today announced that it has entered into an agreement with Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. to enable satellite messaging and emergency services in smartphones powered by Snapdragon ® Mobile platforms. Qualcomm Technologies’ new Snapdragon® Satellite solution is supported by the fully operational Iridium® satellite constellation. Emergency messaging using Snapdragon Satellite is expected to debut from the second half of 2023 on premium Android smartphones launched in select regions.
Unlike choosing a single smartphone manufacturer, Iridium’s collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies aims to support satellite services across various smartphone brands and has the potential to expand to other consumer devices in the future.
“While some expected that we would integrate our system into a specific smartphone, what we have done is much bigger,” said Matt Desch, CEO of Iridium. “Working with a mobile technology leader like Qualcomm Technologies and their powerful Snapdragon platforms allows Iridium to serve the smartphone industry horizontally – and offers us the opportunity to enable other consumer and automotive applications in the future.” This supports our broader vision of connecting people and things on the go, everywhere!”
In addition to smartphones, Iridium® satellite connections can enable similar applications for vehicles and other personal consumer and IoT devices.
“Qualcomm Technologies is rooted in a vision to engineer human progress and push the boundaries of what’s possible with premium smartphones and the next generation of connected smart devices across industries,” said Durga Maladi, senior vice president and general manager, cellular modems and infrastructure, Qualcomm Technologies. Inc. “Snapdragon Satellite is another step in achieving our vision by enabling OEMs and other service providers with global coverage and satellite communications capabilities.”
With approximately 85% of the world’s land surface without cellular coverage, Snapdragon Satellite-equipped smartphones will be able to access global coverage, send emergency messages and text messages with friends and family from anywhere on the planet with a view of the open sky.
Iridium operates the world’s only truly global, weatherproof satellite constellation, ensuring users can stay connected even in the most adverse conditions. The company goes to market through an ecosystem of more than 450 partners who build Iridium Connected® products and provide services to approximately two million customers worldwide.
For more information about Iridium, visit: www.iridium.com
Iridium Communications Inc. Iridium® is the only mobile satellite voice and data communications network that spans the globe. Iridium enables connections between people, organizations and assets to and from anywhere, in real time. Together with its ecosystem of partner companies, Iridium provides an innovative and rich portfolio of reliable solutions for markets that require truly global communications. In 2019, the company completed a generation upgrade of its satellite network and launched its new Iridium Certus® dedicated broadband service. Iridium Communications Inc. is headquartered in McLean, Virginia, USA and its common stock trades on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol IRDM. For more information on Iridium products, services and partner solutions, visit www.iridium.com.
Statements in this press release that are not purely historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding Iridium’s expectations regarding on the timing and capabilities of Snapdragon Satellite and related services. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the words “anticipates,” “may,” “may,” “believes,” “expects,” “projects,” “intends,” “probably,” “will,” “will” and other expressions that are predictions or indicate future events, trends or prospects. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause Iridium’s actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, uncertainties regarding Iridium’s ability to maintain the health, capacity and content of its satellite constellation, as well as the development and market of Iridium and Iridium Connected products and services, and general industry and economic conditions and competitive, legal, governmental and technological factors. Other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include those factors listed under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 ., filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 17, 2022, and the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2022, filed with the SEC on October 20, 2022, and other filings that Iridium makes with the SEC from time to time. There can be no assurance that Iridium’s expectations will be realized. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if Iridium’s underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from those expected, estimated or projected. Iridium’s forward-looking statements are based on information available to it as of the date of this press release and speak only as of the date of this press release, and Iridium undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements.
Snapdragon is a product of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its affiliates. Snapdragon is a trademark or registered trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated.
Media contact:
Investor contact:
Jordan Hasin
Kenneth Levy
Iridium Communications Inc.
Iridium Communications Inc.
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Twitter: @Iridiumcomm
SOURCE Iridium Communications Inc.
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