Apple reportedly shelves iPhone walkie-talkie project
It would have allowed iPhone owners to send messages without cell coverage, a report says.
- I've been covering technology and mobile for 12 years, first as a telecommunications reporter and assistant editor at ZDNet in Australia, then as CNET's West Coast head of breaking news, and now in the Thought Leadership team.
A walkie-talkie feature could have allowed nearby iPhone owners to send messages without cell coverage.
Apple has reportedly put a stop to its walkie-talkie project for the iPhone, which would have allowed people in the same area to send messages without cell coverage. The reasons for shelving the project aren't yet known, The Information reported Monday, citing two sources.
The company already has a Walkie-Talkie app for the Apple Watch . It launched with 2018's WatchOS 5, letting users press a button on their smartwatch to talk and then hear another person's voice come back.
Apple had been working with Intel on the project, The Information said Monday. Apple didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
The tech giant was forced to suspend the Walkie-Talkie watch app last month after being alerted to a bug that could have let eavesdroppers listen in on iPhones .
