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> What surprises me more is that apple is even working with starlink considering they have a competing service together with globalstar Apple hates being depen
by Shank 2y ago
> What surprises me more is that apple is even working with starlink considering they have a competing service together with globalstar
Apple hates being dependent on one company. They always use competing suppliers in their chain because it gives them more leverage. SpaceX vs Globalstar is a good strategy if one or the other has a problem or wants to negotiate something crazy.
In the past they’ve even sourced iPhone processors from both TSMC and Samsung (albeit mixed results).
- teruakohatu 2y agoI am pretty sure Apple could buy Globalstar without even noticing the cash, and Globalstar might be dead if it wasn’t for Apple (Apple owns 20% of Globalstar). I don’t think Apple needs the financial leverage, I think they don’t want to put all their bets on a lame horse.
- karlgkk 2y agoGlobalstar fulfills the most crucial product requirement: emergency contact Starlink - by design - is not going to have as good coverage (at least, at a mass market consumer price). And that’s okay It’ll be interesting to see if Apple rolls out data via Starlink
- reaperducer 2y agoGlobalstar fulfills the most crucial product requirement: emergency contact I think people who don't go outside much underestimate how much this is used. Almost every week a hiker or tourist or someone is rescued in the wilds of California or Idaho or Nevada thanks to an iPhone SOS signal. You don't see it in the news much because it happens so often that it's not really news anymore. A friend recently joked that Apple is starving the coyotes of a regular food source.
- JumpCrisscross 2y ago> Apple could buy Globalstar without even noticing the cash They’d certainly notice the management headache.