Android users could soon get one of the iPhone's best security features

We probably all agree that staying somewhere in the wilderness without a signal is a real nightmare, right? In such and similar cases, Apple's iPhones have been able to connect to a satellite signal for quite some time, which enables emergency calls. According to the Tech Radar portal, Android users should soon get a similar feature.

The online technology portal Android Authority managed to get hold of the code that shows that Google is preparing satellite communication in an emergency. “Pixel Satellite SOS” was written in the Android 15 Beta version 4 code. The very naming of the matter confirms that it is a new security feature that could save Android users in crisis situations.

Of course, it is not a new thing on the mobile phone market, as already mentioned, iPhones already make it possible, but this is the first time that a name like "Pixel Satellite SOS" has appeared in the code in a very specific way. Research by the Android Authority portal also showed that Google could offer the new feature to users for free for the first two years after its introduction.

Perhaps interestingly, this two-year requirement can be changed. In fact, in the code discovered by Android Authority, this condition is written in parentheses, which can potentially mean that the era can change. On the other hand, it is worth noting that Apple "Emergency SOS" offers two years to all iPhone 14 users or newer, by equalizing the offer, Google would directly compete with the biggest rival in the field of mobile telephony.

A new feature already next month?

Given that the Google Pixel 9 is slated to launch on August 13th, and that the phone in question is expected to ship with Android 15, this device is a prime candidate for the announced security feature.

In addition, the code contains the following text: “Your Pixel has been updated to support satellite communications.” This suggests that older Pixel models might be able to get this feature, although satellite communications require special hardware, something that Android Authority doesn't believe is present in older models. Instead, the “updated” could refer to the upcoming “Pixel Feature Drop,” which would bring satellite communications to the Pixel 9 at some point in the future.

Of course, this is all assuming that Google actually decides to roll out this feature. Since it's only been spotted in beta code so far, there's a chance it won't make it to the final Android release. But given the success stories that have come from Apple's SOS feature, it makes sense that Google would want to offer Android fans something similar.