I received a demo of satellite texting from Samsung Galaxy S25, texting Verizon customers
Although iPhones have been able to send emergency messages via satellite for many years, consumers have lagged behind with only a few people (such as the recent Google Pixel 9 series) offering similar services. Now, Verizon also offers subscribers with a Samsung Galaxy S25 series phone connected to the satellite. I saw a demonstration of it in action.
2025 is shaping the year when satellite connections may expand significantly. Some phone manufacturers are trying to ensure connectivity for certain models, and operators are trying to serve most subscribers by working with satellite companies. While T-Mobile is testing its own system using SpaceX’s Starlink network, Verizon shows how its subscribers use their Galaxy S25 phone to send messages through satellites.
Verizon first announced a partnership with Skylo to provide its mobile users with satellite connectivity last August. In a recent video call, people from Verizon satellite partner Skylo showed how this would work for normal text messages. They used a Samsung reference device running an exynos 5400 modem (only using the phone), which is also used in the Google Pixel 9. It is set to not connect to the unit network, thus simulating how satellite connectivity works.
They asked for my personal cell phone number, sent a text message, and I received it – it took about 8 seconds at one time and 27 seconds the other time. I texted the response and it took 17 seconds to reach their device. Skylo demonstrates routing SMS text via satellite when setting up reference devices to contact their test servers rather than actual emergency responders.
Skylo’s service can also connect to emergency responders, similar to how iPhone owners use emergency SO for years. In the demo, I saw how a user would break down the details and severity of an emergency through a questionnaire, all resolved by the on-site staff and forwarded to emergency services in their area.
“What we are trying to show here is the production-level experience, and we work very hard to make it seamless,” said Pete Saladino, Global Marketing Director at Skylo. “Again, we are using existing satellites that are already in the sky.”
Read more: Send text messages from space: More phone calls may get satellite connectivity in 2025
Apple has made up satellites with satellites and made substantial financial investments to support its owners of satellite-connected iPhone 14, iPhone 15, iPhone 16 and iPhone 16E. Skylo, on the other hand, does not have its own satellites—instead, it works with six providers including Viasat, Echostar and Inmarsat to use its satellites. It runs as a signal manager to ensure that in this case, the Samsung Galaxy S25 owner with Verizon services covers a network of satellites that are already operating in orbit.
Skylo’s already-run satellite network is a plus for Verizon in satellite coverage, although currently only supports Galaxy S25 phones. The Pixel 9 phone has satellite connectivity through a separate protocol with Skylo. T-Mobile’s partnership with SpaceX launched a new phase last month when it launched a beta for connecting subscribers to Starlink satellites (also available for Verizon and AT&T users). Along with Verizon, AT&T still plans to connect its customers to AST Spacemobile’s satellite network, which has just received FCC approval to start testing such an arrangement.
Skylo’s advantage is to use an already deployed satellite network that currently covers 50 million square kilometers of territory (about five times the size of U.S. land). Although Skylo’s six network providers have satellites and capabilities in different sizes, the company aims to provide a unified experience and access, no matter where they are. For example, they do not want customers to be able to send photos in one part of the world, rather than in other services.
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Connections between phones are limited to SMS messages and small data (such as Apple’s iMessage), but beyond that, there is no more complex communication. Skylo is working hard to make voice calls, hoping to arrive by the end of 2025.
