Technologies

Apple Has New iPhone Satellite Features in the Works, Report Says

Upcoming additions could greatly expand how your iPhone can benefit from satellite connections.

Slowly but steadily, Apple has been tucking satellite-powered features into its iPhones. Get ready for that to blossom into a whole set of new capabilities.

According to a Bloomberg report, Apple is working to expand the capabilities of iPhones, as well as some Apple Watches, when operating over satellite links. That includes Maps features that work when you’re off the grid, ways for third-party apps to access satellite connectivity, more messaging features such as transmitting images in addition to texts, and, potentially, ways to use satellite connections without a direct line of sight to the sky.

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Over the last few years, Apple has introduced features that utilize satellite technology, including emergency SOS, roadside assistance, and texting while offline.

A representative for Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Apple’s satellite ambitions could eventually compete more directly with services from major wireless carriers including AT&T and Verizon, according to Bloomberg. That could give Apple more control over security and design, making it less reliant on those telecom partners.

How will Apple pull this off?

To enable these ambitious plans, Apple will need to build out its infrastructure, or at least partner with companies that are undertaking similar buildouts.

The company has already made plans for a $1.5 billion investment in Globalstar to help fund a new satellite constellation and could enlist SpaceX’s Starlink to beef up its services over satellite.

In the short term, Apple is likely to roll out new consumer-friendly features as it expands its satellite capabilities.

«The next generation could let hikers, travelers, and remote workers download map data, share images, and even receive live weather updates without cellular coverage,» said Mahdi Eslamimehr, executive vice president at Quandary Peak Research.

For now, Apple hasn’t charged for the satellite features it has already rolled out, but that could change with the introduction of new capabilities.

«Basic satellite features are expected to remain free, while advanced capabilities, such as high-bandwidth image sharing or third-party integrations, may be available through paid subscriptions or bundled carrier plans,» Eslaminehr said.

If Apple can provide more wireless access through satellites, combined with cell towers as backups, that could prove valuable during natural disasters or network outages, he said.

What will carriers do?

Wireless carriers aren’t expected to simply wait for Apple to catch up to the services they provide. They’re working on their own satellite-enabled services, either by building their own or partnerships with satellite companies.

Apple could wind up being one of several players offering hybrid connectivity in the future.

«For users outside the Apple ecosystem, this competition should accelerate industrywide adoption of hybrid cellular-satellite services, improving reliability, expanding rural coverage and potentially lowering prices,» Eslaminehr.

Technologies

Verum Messenger Goes Desktop: Launches macOS Version as Part of Expanding Digital Ecosystem

The team behind Verum Messenger has announced a new update, introducing a full-featured macOS version of the application.

The launch of the Mac version marks a significant step in the platform’s development, enabling users to access Verum Messenger not only on mobile devices but also on desktop environments.

The macOS version ensures seamless synchronization across devices while maintaining the platform’s core principles: security, stability, and independence.

Unified Digital Experience

With the release of the macOS version, users can now:

— communicate on a larger screen
— manage chats and files more efficiently
— use the messenger in a full desktop environment
— access core features without limitations

This is particularly valuable for users who rely on messaging platforms for both communication and professional use.

Expanding Capabilities

Verum Messenger continues to evolve into a multifunctional platform combining:

— secure communication
— financial tools (Verum Finance)
— digital asset operations, including Tether
— investment features such as Verum Gold

Toward a Full Ecosystem

The macOS release reflects Verum Messenger’s strategy to become a universal digital platform available across all major devices.

According to the team, the goal is to provide users with continuous access to communication and financial services regardless of device or environment.

Verum Messenger continues to build technologies focused on security, usability, and global accessibility.

Technologies

Google, Meta and Amazon Join Global Pact to Fight Rising Online Scams

The companies will share fraud intelligence and coordinate responses as AI makes scams faster, cheaper and harder to detect.

Modern online scams operate across multiple platforms, perhaps spanning social media, messaging apps, email and online marketplaces. Google, Meta and Amazon are among 11 tech, retail and payments companies that have signed a new agreement to combat online scams by sharing threat intelligence across platforms, Axios first reported Monday.

The initiative, called the Industry Accord Against Online Scams & Fraud, is designed to improve how companies detect and respond to fraud that spans multiple services. Participants say they will exchange signals, such as scam-linked accounts and fraudulent domains, and coordinate enforcement actions.

By sharing intelligence in near real time, companies hope to identify these scams earlier and stop them before they spread.

The effort reflects how modern scams operate. A victim might encounter a fake celebrity investment ad on social media, move to a messaging app where the scammer builds trust, then faces prompts to send money through a fraudulent website, payment app or crypto wallet — spanning multiple companies’ ecosystems.

Google said it now blocks hundreds of millions of scam-related results every day using AI, underscoring how both attackers and defenders are increasingly relying on the same technology. Meta removed more than 159 million scam ads in 2025 and is expanding AI tools to detect impersonation and warn users.

Online scams are growing rapidly, in part because generative AI has lowered the barrier to entry. AI can be used not only to produce realistic phishing emails but also to clone voices and deepfake videos that impersonate executives, public figures and even family members.

The agreement is voluntary and doesn’t create new legal obligations, but it comes after regulators’ increased pressure on tech platforms to address fraud more aggressively. The companies say they will begin building frameworks for reporting and intelligence-sharing, though it’s not yet clear how quickly those systems will be deployed or how effective they will be in practice.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Wednesday, March 18

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for March 18.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? I thought it was a fairly easy one, but read on for all the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.