For the previous a number of CESes, Qualcomm’s large bulletins have largely revolved round automotive information. There’ll possible nonetheless be a good bit of that this week, as nicely, however the firm simply introduced an upcoming cell characteristic on this down time between the Snapdragon Summit and MWC.

The Southern California chipmaker is partnering with Iridium to convey satellite tv for pc messaging to pick Android gadgets, beginning with these operating its new flagship SoC, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. The expertise makes use of the 5G Modem-RF Techniques on the Qualcomm {hardware}, coupled with Iridium’s satellite tv for pc constellation to ship emergency messaging, following within the current footsteps of Apple and T-Cellular.

Garmin is within the combine right here, as nicely, including help by the use of its Response characteristic constructed atop the Iridium community for emergency messages in distant places the place no provider protection exists. That expertise was constructed with hikers in thoughts, although definitely there are many different eventualities during which such SOS options might show a literal life saver.

“Garmin Response helps hundreds of SOS incidents every year and has possible saved many lives within the course of,” Garmin VP Brad Trenkle says in a launch, “and we’re trying ahead to collaborating with Qualcomm Applied sciences and Iridium to assist folks connect with emergency providers regardless of the place life takes them.”

Purposes embrace two-way emergency texting and messaging functions past SMS, utilizing Iridium’s L-band. With right now’s information, Qualcomm is opening entry to the characteristic as much as OEMs. The primary batch of smartphones to get the characteristic shall be arriving this 12 months. I’d anticipate some extra concrete bulletins on that entrance proper round MWC.