No Signal, No Problem: Apple Introduces 2-Way Satellite Messaging for iPhones

iPhone users will soon be able to stay a lot more connected in the backcountry. 

This week, Apple revealed that as part of the upcoming iOS 18 software update, iPhones 14 and newer will soon be able to send and receive text messages via satellite connection without needing access to a cellular network or wifi.

For thru-hikers and other backcountry enthusiasts, this means that checking in with family, friends, and even other iPhone users while on trail will soon be almost as easy as sending a normal text in town.

Like other GPS messaging devices, the new feature will still require open skies and longer wait times to send and receive messages. But it will allow users to send messages via both iMessage and SMS, including emojis and Tapback reactions. The new iOS is expected to be released in mid- to late September.

iPhone vs. Dedicated GPS Device

Photo by Iliya Jokic on Unsplash

Last year, Apple introduced a satellite-based SOS feature for the iPhone 14, enabling remote contact with emergency services even in areas with no cell service. This feature, once the exclusive domain of dedicated GPS devices like the Garmin inReach and ZOLEO Satellite Communicator, opened the door for the popular smartphone to someday compete with those devices in the satellite communication space.

Currently, the newest iPhone models promise around 20-25 hours of battery life with continual use. With the Garmin inReach Mini 2 offering up to three weeks of battery life, along with superior durability and specialty outdoor features like navigation and location-based weather forecasts, it’s unlikely that thru-hikers will be unclipping the iconic orange devices from their shoulder straps anytime soon. 

In the short term, iOS 18’s new feature could disrupt the pricing structure of GPS messaging plans currently offered by other companies.

With native satellite text messaging, hikers will now have the option to rely solely on their phone for basic communication without having to spring for an expensive GPS messaging plan.

Garmin inReach’s messaging and tracking plans start at $14.95 a month for ten messages and max out at $64.95 a month for unlimited messaging, while ZOLEO’s plans range from $20-50, not including activation or yearly fees.

Thru-hikes on the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and Continental Divide Trail typically last about five months, meaning a Garmin inReach user might end up paying over $300 in subscription fees for a messaging feature that requires smartphone pairing and a separate app for easier use while also dealing with Garmin’s 160-character messaging limit.

GPS devices require an active plan for most features to work, including SOS messaging, but iPhone users will likely increasingly choose the most basic plan as the iOS 18 update will largely replace the need for larger messaging plans.

Apple’s new feature provides hikers with a user- and budget-friendly option for satellite messaging provided they already own an iPhone.

The Backcountry Is Growing Increasingly Connected

Photo courtesy of SpiceRack

For many, the backcountry is a place to unplug, but soon it might be harder to resist the pull of the digital world, even on the most remote trails.

With consumer satellite technology and cellular networks expanding, the reality of a fully connected backcountry experience, including streaming and social media capabilities from the trail, could be just around the corner. 

Where escaping into the mountains once offered a clean break from digital addictions and everyday demands, soon hikers will have to exercise their own self-restraint in outdoor spaces.

Conversely, widespread connectivity increases hikers’ ability to access emergency services and inform their families of plans and delays, reducing unnecessary resource expenditures and ensuring more instant communication for outdoor recreationists — especially those who might not otherwise invest in a GPS device.

Although not yet officially announced, rumors suggest that Google has also been beta testing satellite messaging features for its upcoming Android 15, meaning 2025 could be the first thru-hiking season with widespread satellite messaging for hikers with newer phones.

Featured image: Photo by Jewel Mitchell on Unsplash