Google plans to introduce satellite messaging to Android 15

Google has released its second developer preview for Android 15, introducing highly anticipated satellite connectivity support along with enhancements to contactless payments, multi-language recognition, volume consistency, and PDF interaction within apps. These developer-focused betas serve as a testing ground for features likely to be included in the final public release later this year. Public beta releases are expected to be available for testing between April and July, according to Google. The latest developer preview addresses various issues and security concerns faced by Android users, such as improving app awareness regarding unavailable services when devices are connected via satellite. Additionally, this marks the first official confirmation of satellite messaging being included in Android 15, with Google's press release mentioning support for "preloaded RCS applications to use satellite connectivity for sending and receiving messages."

Apps will now have the capability to detect screen recording and notify users if their activities are being recorded. Additionally, enhancements are being made to improve the reliability of one-tap contactless payments for apps utilizing NFC. Furthermore, the multi-language audio recognition introduced in Android 14 is being refined to prevent words from being omitted when users switch between languages.

Developers will gain direct access to more interactions with small cover screens on flip phones, enhancing their functionality. Support for a new CTA-2075 loudness standard aims to ensure consistent volume levels when transitioning between content on Android devices. Moreover, Google is introducing significant improvements to PDF features in apps, including support for password-protected files, annotations, form editing, searching, and copy selection.