Skylo Technologies has announced the next phase of the firm’s technology collaboration with Garmin, enabling satellite-powered messaging1 and SOS messaging directly from the new fēnix® 8 Pro multisport smartwatches — no smartphone required.
This marks a breakthrough in satellite connectivity: users can stay connected from their wrist — whether they’re deep in the back country or on a neighborhood trail with a spotty signal. With Skylo’s standards-based satellite network integrated directly into fēnix 8 Pro smartwatches, users in the non-contiguous U.S., Canada and Europe can send and receive text messages and share live GPS coordinates.
The Garmin fēnix 8 Pro will be powered by Skylo’s commercially available satellite network service that allows users to connect with Garmin Response(SM) emergency coordination center to send and receive text messages about the nature of the emergency, and automatically share GPS location data to assist in the response effort.
Garmin Response will coordinate with the appropriate emergency services team once an SOS message is received. Users can also send text messages to friends, family, and other contacts directly from their fēnix 8 Pro, or alternatively, via the Garmin Messenger application running on a paired smartphone.
This launch builds on the existing strategic collaboration between Garmin and Skylo which has utilized Garmin Response emergency coordination services to connect users of select Skylo connected devices to the help they need through a vast global network of law enforcement agencies, emergency services providers, search and rescue professionals, embassies, coast guards, and more.
This 24/7-staffed emergency monitoring and global rescue coordination service routes messages worldwide, helping people in need reach emergency services nearly every day. From hikers lost in the wilderness to travelers involved in car accidents on isolated roads and people with health issues in suburban areas without terrestrial coverage, this collaboration has meaningfully impacted people’s lives when they needed it most.
With this collaboration, Garmin becomes one of the first major smartwatch brands to adopt open standards-based satellite connectivity — a shift that underscores a broader trend away from proprietary satellite hardware toward scalable, integrated experiences. Now, with fēnix® 8 Pro, the peace of mind previously available only with handheld satellite communicators is built into the watch you wear every day.
Skylo’s service requires no additional antennas or external hardware, leveraging chipsets already found in today’s leading consumer devices. It’s part of Skylo’s broader mission to bring direct-to-device connectivity to a billion devices — not in some far-off future, but today.
Shipping September 8, fēnix 8 Pro smartwatches from Garmin will be available at select Garmin retailers and online at www.garmin.com.
Skylo’s embrace of 3GPP standards-based protocols allows connected products to incorporate satellite technology using the economies of scale available in the broader cellular industry. Skylo’s satellite connectivity is available in 36 countries around the world and spans 60 million sq. km. of coverage.
This is what satellite connectivity should feel like — seamless, invisible, available when you need it,” said Tarun Gupta, Co-founder and Chief Product Officer of Skylo Technologies. “We’re proud to help Garmin unlock a new category of devices that are lighter, smarter, and connected when it matters most. Whether you’re scaling peaks or hiking on trails, Skylo helps keep Garmin customers connected – even far from cellular coverage.”
Garmin is proud to team up with Skylo to deliver our proven SOS service to the fēnix 8 Pro smartwatch. Our professionally trained Garmin Response emergency response coordinators have supported thousands of SOS incidents across every continent for almost two decades, helping connect adventurers and their loved ones to potentially life-saving help when they need it the most,” said Brad Trenkle, Garmin co-Chief Operating Officer.