Indian Navigation System NavIC integration in Apple iPhone 15 Smartphones?
14 Sep 2023 17:31:12
Apple has expanded its support for NavIC, India's in-house navigation satellite system, to select variants of the new iPhone 15. This advancement is consistent with New Delhi's desire to promote its indigenous alternative to the global GPS navigation system.Apple's iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max tech specifications website now proudly mentions that these handsets feature NavIC.
This is the first time Apple has included NavIC support in its iPhone series. The actual level of NavIC integration inside these models, however, has not been released. Apple has yet to respond to this news.
It's worth mentioning that, according to their official technical specs, the basic iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus models do not enable NavIC.NavIC, or Navigation with Indian Constellation, was declared operational in India in 2018. This ambitious project is India's attempt to develop a self-sufficient navigation satellite system.
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) developed NavIC, which provides exact location and timing information for not just India but also the adjacent regions. NavIC's coverage spans the whole Indian subcontinent, thanks to a network of over a half-dozen satellites. Its applications are numerous and include a wide range of fields., including:
1. Transportation: NavIC benefits terrestrial, aerial, and marine transportation systems.
2. Location-Based Services: It serves as a foundation for location-based services.
3. Personal Mobility: Enhancing personal mobility solutions.
4. Resource Monitoring: Supporting resource monitoring and management.
5. Surveying and Geodesy: Aiding in surveying and geodetic applications.
6. Scientific Research: Facilitating scientific research endeavours.
7. Time Dissemination: Providing accurate time dissemination and synchronization.
8. Safety-of-Life Alerts: Ensuring the dissemination of critical safety alerts.
India began attempts to persuade smartphone makers to include NavIC functionality in their smartphones. Last year, rumours surfaced that the Indian government was pressing for this integration within the next few quarters, despite manufacturers' reservations about potential hardware cost hikes.