A Bloomberg report indicates that Apple is bankrolling a secret project to improve connectivity between Apple devices through satellite communication. They plan to beam data directly to iPhones, iPads, MacBooks, and other devices. This rumor comes in the wake of reports that Amazon is building a satellite manufacturing facility to compete with SpaceX.
The key aim of the project appears to be finding a way to transmit high-speed data without the internet. This could reduce user dependency on service providers while giving Cupertino greater control over their products. It could also lead to a host of new features, such as better location tracking and mapping.
The project has reportedly been on since 2017, with "satellite executives" from Google having jumped ship. Talks with aerospace company Boeing had also reportedly taken place regarding low-earth satellite launches.
The project is currently in its early stages. There are still plenty of roadblocks that could derail it over the next half-decade, from political lobbying to diplomatic issues to a lack of mature tech. Historically, projects like Iridium and Teledesic that tried to bridge the gap between aerospace and the internet, didn't fared well. Apple may be set to shake things up once again.