Satellite connectivity is going to become a big thing on all devices going forward, and Google is making sure that it happens. The feature has become a core part of Android 15 as the support is added in the SMS apps as well as RCS apps. Now, strings of code have appeared in the Google Maps app, showing that the satellite-based features might also find their way to navigation, and if that happens, you will no longer have to face dead zones when navigating.
Google Maps' satellite navigation will be an excellent feature for places without an active internet connection
An APK teardown of Google Maps' beta version reveals that there are strings of code that mention satellite-based navigating. If this is indeed true, then once the feature is out, users will be able to update their location once every 15 minutes, extending to up to five times a day. This is an interesting addition, and I am really looking forward to seeing how this feature works once it is rolled out.
This feature coming to Google Maps also means that you will not need a cellular or Wi-Fi connection to update your locations in maps; this is definitely a handy feature if you are ever in a location where you do not have access to offline maps, cellular data, or Wi-Fi, for that matter. I do believe that this feature should have come out some time ago.
Now, I don't think I need to mention this, but you are absolutely going to need a phone that supports satellite connectivity for this feature to work. It should work on most modern Android devices that support satellite connectivity, as well as upcoming phones that will have 5G non-terrestrial networks, like the Pixel 9 series or the Galaxy S25 series that is due for next year. Regardless of the supported devices, this feature is definitely going to make Google Maps a lot more powerful than before, and I am all for it.
At the time of writing, we are not sure when Google Maps is going to get satellite features, but it is safe to say that the company is indeed working on it, and we should soon start seeing more evidence. With Android 15's official announcement just a month away at Google I/O 2024, there is a lot of information that I expect to come forward. We are surely going to get a full rundown of all the features, and we will be sure to let you know everything that Google has planned.
I think the satellite connectivity feature on Google Maps is essential for many people. As someone who frequently travels via the underground, I often find myself in places where there are dead zones, and even the available internet connection does not work as intended. A satellite feature could be a godsend in such situations or in any situation where there is no internet connection, and I am glad that Google is working on bringing this functionality to maps.
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