$99 Bluetooth: Satellites will play an important role in future smartphones, especially when it comes to safety. Qualcomm confirmed that it will soon bring an Emergency SOS via satellite feature to Android flagships.
What if your phone isn’t the most recent and greatest? The Motorola Defy Satellite Link will be making its debut at MWC 2023 next Wednesday. This gizmo offers a satellite-based SOS function and connects via Bluetooth to your smartphone for two-way satellite messaging.
The Motorola Defy Satellite Link is compatible with the Bullitt Satellite Messaging (opens in new window) service, which was announced earlier this year at CES 2023. It’s a way to communicate with family and friends even if there is no cell signal. But, it is crucial that only one person actually requires the satellite-capable device.
It works as follows: The Bullitt Satellite Messenger app sends you a message, and the Defy Satellite Link forwards it to the appropriate satellites. The message is sent to the recipient using Wi-Fi or ordinary cellular networks.
The Bullitt Satellite Messenger App will not be available to recipients who do not have the app. However, they will receive the message by SMS. They will need to download it if they wish to reply. It works in reverse and sends your replies back to you. This doesn’t cost any money for the recipient. Everything is taken from your subscription, which costs $4.99 per month.
The Defy Satellite Link has dedicated SOS and check-in features. It can also function without a smartphone connection. There are many more things you can do with the satellite link if your phone is connected. Bullitt subscribers connect you to FocusPoint International, an international SOS provider that can answer your distress calls and get you connected with emergency services.
The Defy Satellite Link cannot send your last known location without this connection. This will come in handy if your phone has gone bad, is broken, or you forgot to bring it.
Motorola Defy Satellite Link has been built with durability in mind. It offers IP68 water and dust resistance and can withstand temperatures of -22 to 131 degrees Fahrenheit. The 600 mAh battery should last several days on a single charge and weighs only 2.4 ounces.
The Motorola Defy Satellite Link will be available in April and will retail for $99 A $149 bundle is also available that includes the Defy Satellite link and a year’s subscription of Bullitt’s Satellite Messenger.
The plan includes 30 two-way messages per month and unlimited SOS support. Although more expensive plans include more messaging, U.S. pricing is still unknown.
