NEWS
How Satellite Messaging works on the Galaxy S25 on Verizon
Samsung worked with Qualcomm to bring satellite messaging to the Galaxy S25 series. In addition, the latest Galaxy S series phones that begin shipping today (February 7) will give Verizon customers free access to Skylo Technologies’ satellite messaging and location-sharing service.
Verizon has teamed up with Skylo to introduce satellite connectivity features on Samsung’s recently launched Galaxy S25 series and Google Pixel 9 series. Now, Skylo has explained how the Satellite Messaging feature works on Samsung Galaxy S25 phones and revealed the differences between satellite functionality on Galaxy and Pixel phones.
The Galaxy S25 models use the Snapdragon 8 Elite, which includes the Snapdragon X80 5G modem-RF system, while the Pixel 9 is equipped with the Samsung Exynos 5400 modem to support a Satellite Messaging system.
Skylo’s global marketing head Pete Saladino told Mobile World Live that both the Galaxy S25 and Pixel 9 phones will seek satellite connectivity through the firm’s software layer when they lose terrestrial reception.
Saladino explained that the emergency SOS service had three main features:
- The ability to connect with emergency services
- The ability to share the user’s locations with Garmin’s emergency response service
- The ability to send/receive texts with Garmin’s response service.
Specifically, the service will ask Galaxy S25 series owners to stand outside with a clear view of the sky to ensure proper satellite connectivity. Also, it will ask users about their emergency situation and request more information.
It is worth noting that the first message takes about three to four seconds to send, while subsequent responses from the provider should take five or six seconds.
According to a Qualcomm blog post during the launch, the Galaxy S25 series is the first Android device to feature Snapdragon Satellite Messaging, which allows consumers to send and receive messages via low-Earth orbit satellites (narrowband NTN), supported natively in the Android OS.
Samsung has begun rolling out the December 2025 security update for the Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23 Plus, and Galaxy S23 Ultra. Right now, the update is available for users in Korea, and it will soon be available in other countries as well.
Users of the Galaxy S23 series can verify the December 2025 security update via One UI build versions:
- Galaxy S23 – S911NKSS6EYL1
- Galaxy S23 Plus – S916NKSS6EYL1
- Galaxy S23 Ultra – S918NKSS6EYL1
The December 2025 security patch brings important security improvements to your device. A total of 68 security vulnerabilities discovered by Samsung and Google have been addressed. These improvements help protect your phone from potential threats and enhance your privacy.
Along with security improvements, this update also includes minor performance and stability enhancements. This will make your phone run more smoothly and reliably. The update is approximately 421 MB in size, so it’s recommended to download it over Wi-Fi to avoid excessive mobile data charges.
To download the December 2025 security update on your Galaxy S23 series device, go to your phone’s Settings >> tap on Software update >> select Download and install. Once the download is complete, tap Install now, and your phone will restart with the latest update.
This December 2025 security patch is based on Android 16 and One UI 8, but Samsung is also preparing the One UI 8.5 update, which will bring even more features to the Galaxy S23 series in the future. Stay tuned.
After releasing the One UI 8.5 beta program for the Galaxy S25 series today, the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE smartphone has now been added to the One UI 8.5 internal testing device group. Along with the One UI 8.5 beta program, the Korean tech giant is also working on preparing this major update for other Galaxy devices.
One UI 8.5 Beta introduces numerous new features, enhanced Galaxy AI tools, an improved user interface, and improved productivity, privacy, and performance across the Galaxy ecosystem. As you receive the Beta build, you may encounter bugs and battery-draining issues.
Tarun Vats has spotted a new One UI 8.5 testing firmware version, S731BXXU3BYLD, for the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE. The Galaxy S25 FE launched with One UI 8.0 pre-installed, and the One UI 8.5 update will be the minor One UI upgrade.
The One UI 8.5 beta update is currently available in only a few countries for the Samsung Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25 Plus, and Galaxy S25 Ultra. This lets users try out new features before the stable release. A new testing build suggests that Samsung Galaxy S25 FE users will receive this major update directly when the stable version is released.
In addition, Samsung has also confirmed that it will launch the Galaxy S26 series next year with the One UI 8.5 update Pre-installed. This means that Galaxy S25 FE users will receive this major update sometime afterward.
Samsung has begun rolling out the One UI 8 Watch update for the Galaxy Watch 4, Galaxy Watch 4 Classic, and Galaxy Watch 5 LTE. The One UI 8 Watch update is based on the Wear OS 6.
Note that the stable One UI 8 Watch update is currently available only to Galaxy Watch 4 users in South Korea. The company has not yet provided a timeline for when this update will be available in the global market.
However, the Galaxy Watch 5 LTE is already receiving the One UI 8 Watch update in India. Given the pace of the One UI 8 update rollout, it shouldn’t be long before it becomes widely available.
Galaxy Watch 4, Watch 4 Classic, and Galaxy Watch 5 LTE users can identify the latest software via the PDA build version ending with JYK4 and DYK4, respectively. The firmware also carries the October 2025 security patch. The stable update unlocks even better performance, power efficiency, and stability.
One UI 8 Watch brings a completely new tile system that improves accessibility. This update also optimizes overall performance and battery efficiency with app updates. You can look forward to a whole new world of smartwatch ventures.
To download the update, check for software updates. Your watch may already have an OTA update pending for your approval. Press the download and install button.
-
NEWS11 months agoAbout the Battery Health and performance of Galaxy S25
-
NEWS7 months agoJoin the One UI 8 Beta Program: Experience the latest One UI with Android 16
-
NEWS11 months agoSamsung Android 15 update: Which Galaxy devices will get One UI 7
-
ANDROID8 months agoSamsung Galaxy phones and tablets that should receive Android 16 and One UI 8 update
-
NEWS11 months agoGalaxy S25 to integrate Bixby and AI into camera app
-
NEWS11 months agoSamsung Galaxy S25 Ultra battery and Charging test: Upgrade results
-
NEWS11 months agoOne UI 7 battery icon to show charge levels with dynamic colors
-
NEWS12 months agoMore evidence suggests the Galaxy S25 Ultra may eventually adopt this Pixel security feature