Amazon wants to acquire Apple’s 20% Globalstar stake
Amazon has filed an FCC application for permission to acquire Apple’s satellite partner, Globalstar, revealing some big news for iPhone users following news of the deal last month:
- Amazon will take over Apple’s billion-dollar 20% stake in Globalstar.
- Amazon also says it remains committed to supplying satellite services for iPhones and improving them in future.
“While Globalstar already provides MSS connectivity for Apple’s consumer devices, Amazon anticipates providing services for iPhone users and others with more features and better service reliability,” the filing, available here, states.
Amazon also says its investment in extending its constellation expansion will strengthen the 1.6/2.4 Ghz MSS frequency Apple’s iPhone customers now use. It states its intent is to extend support for Apple’s own emergency services considerably within the FCC documents. I still think there will be more to learn on all of this.
Amazon is creating a subsidiary, “Grapefruit Acquisition Sub II,” to conduct the transaction, including purchase of Apple’s 20% equity and voting interests in Globalstar.
You can follow me on social media! Join me on BlueSky, LinkedIn, and Mastodon.
