iPhone 13 satellite features will only be available in certain markets

The editors of gg have already told that the iPhone 13 may have the ability to use satellite communications in the absence of cellular coverage. This information is still unconfirmed by Apple itself and it would be foolish to expect the company to make such a move before the official presentation.

However, analysts and publications close to Apple continue to share various details. While Apple's fairly reliable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo previously stated that the iPhone 13 will support LEO satellite communications, now Bloomberg's Mark Gurman in his newsletter gives more details about the feature and its implementation. 

"The emergency features will only work in areas without cellular coverage and only in certain markets. Apple plans to eventually deploy its own array of satellites to transmit data to devices, but that plan is probably years away from being realized."

He also claims that Apple will not allow iPhone users to make calls in areas without cellular coverage.

"Some have asked me if these new features mean that the iPhone can be used as a satellite phone and be able to make calls anywhere in the world without cellular coverage. The answer is no. It's not going to happen now, next year, or in the near future."

In other words, users of iPhone 13 (and most likely future generations of these smartphones) will only be able to send an emergency message and only under certain conditions. Which, from the looks of it, it's best not to get into in principle.

Source: 9to5mac