Apple to Invest up to $1.5 Bln in Globalstar for Satellite Coverage Expansion

 30 October 2024, US, New York: The Apple store is pictured on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. (dpa)
30 October 2024, US, New York: The Apple store is pictured on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. (dpa)
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Apple to Invest up to $1.5 Bln in Globalstar for Satellite Coverage Expansion

 30 October 2024, US, New York: The Apple store is pictured on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. (dpa)
30 October 2024, US, New York: The Apple store is pictured on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. (dpa)

Apple will invest up to $1.5 billion in Globalstar to fund the expansion of its iPhone communication services, the satellite provider said in a regulatory filing on Friday.

Shares of Globalstar jumped over 30%, while Apple was down around 1.4% a day after it forecast tepid quarterly revenue growth.

Under the funding agreement, Apple will commit $1.1 billion in cash and also purchase 20% equity in Globalstar for $400 million. The satellite company said it will use a portion of the funds to pay down debt.

The move is another in a line of partnerships between space firms and mobile service providers looking to provide satellite-based connectivity to customers in regions with limited network access.

Globalstar also said it will allocate 85% of its network capacity to Apple. The deal is expected to close on Tuesday.

The iPhone maker partnered with Globalstar in 2022 for a feature that would allow Apple users to send emergency messages from remote areas.



Apple's iPhone Sales Capture Top Spot in Chinese Market in May, Counterpoint Research Says

FILE PHOTO: Signage is seen at the Apple Fifth Avenue store for the release of the Apple iPhone 14 range in Manhattan, New York City, US, September 16, 2022. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Signage is seen at the Apple Fifth Avenue store for the release of the Apple iPhone 14 range in Manhattan, New York City, US, September 16, 2022. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo
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Apple's iPhone Sales Capture Top Spot in Chinese Market in May, Counterpoint Research Says

FILE PHOTO: Signage is seen at the Apple Fifth Avenue store for the release of the Apple iPhone 14 range in Manhattan, New York City, US, September 16, 2022. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Signage is seen at the Apple Fifth Avenue store for the release of the Apple iPhone 14 range in Manhattan, New York City, US, September 16, 2022. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo

Apple's iPhone sales rose to the top spot in China in May, with global sales growing 15% year-on-year during April and May in the tech giant's strongest performance for the two-month period since the COVID-19 pandemic, data from Counterpoint Research showed.

The increase in global sales was primarily driven by a return to growth in Apple's two largest markets, China and the United States, preliminary data from Counterpoint Research showed.

The company was aided in part by tariff dodgers and also saw double-digit increases in Japan, India and the Middle Eastern markets, Reuters quoted Counterpoint as saying.

"Q2 iPhone performance looks promising at the moment, but as always, swings either way are dictated by two markets - the US and China," Ivan Lam, Senior Analyst at Counterpoint Research said.

Calculations based on data from the government-affiliated China Academy of Information and Communications Technology showed that April shipments of foreign-branded phones in China rose to 3.52 million units from 3.50 million a year earlier.

Apple has faced increased competition from domestic rivals in China and has resorted to price cuts to stay competitive.

Chinese e-commerce platforms were offering discounts of up to 2,530 yuan ($351) on Apple's latest iPhone 16 models in May.