The million dollar question: new Messenger app compatibility?

There ya go lowering the bar for the flagship product. Expectations aren’t off, those features are core features. If it lacks synchronized messaging it lacks current messaging functionality.

 This device is antiquated compared to the zoleo in terms of messaging capabilities that’s a fair statement that was addressed by creating a new software called garmin messenger.

Some hard questions.

Why make messenger at all, why not just add to explore? 

Why did Garmin cannibalize it’s other inreach devices including the 66i?

Why not roll out syncro messaging as an update? 

Garmin has a new device slotted to be a flagship device?

Why is Garmin gps handset compared to an iPhone release cadence?

BstyleKILLA said:

There ya go lowering the bar for the flagship product. Expectations aren’t off, those features are core features. If it lacks synchronized messaging it lacks current messaging functionality.

Nobody is lowering the bar for anything. The GPSMAP 66i was the Bar when it was released! The concepts you refer to didn't even exist when the 66i was conceptualized, developed and produced. Only just recently have they become reality on NEW products.

BstyleKILLA said:

This device is antiquated compared to the zoleo in terms of messaging capabilities that’s a fair statement that was addressed by creating a new software called garmin messenger.

Oh wow, you really got us there! Geez, A new product has one feature a 7 year old product does not. What were those engineers even thinking about back then??

BstyleKILLA said:

Why make messenger at all, why not just add to explore?

Gosh, again, just need to do minimum research here to determine the core difference between the two apps. One is only used for messaging while the other is used for messaging and navigation related activities (if you need help figuring out which one is which, here's a hint: It's in the NAME).

Since Garmin now have products that are inly used for messaging, and do not provide and navigation features, they needed a specific app just for those products (again, it's in the name).

BstyleKILLA said:

Why did Garmin cannibalize it’s other inreach devices including the 66i?

Have no idea what you are referring to here. None.

BstyleKILLA said:

Garmin has a new device slotted to be a flagship device?

Always! 

Usually by the time one product is released to the public, the same team is already working on the next version to replace it (in concept only of course).

BstyleKILLA said:

The Garmin Explore app does not do synchronous messaging

BstyleKILLA said:

It feels like sending a message is a chore basically impossible because this sync feature is missing.

You say “If it lacks synchronized messaging it lacks current messaging functionality.”

What is synchronized or synchronous messaging?

How does it work on an inReach device with Iridium connection?

I could not find any reference about this on Garmin.com or via forum search.

I'm not sure what the question is.

For simplicity, let's concentrate on sending messages. Similar considerations apply to receiving messages.

In a pure Iridium environment (iR device only, don't drag an app into it), messages are sent/received via the Iridium satellite network. A message is sent from the device as soon as possible given the sky view at the time. Once actually sent, the message will then arrive  at the Garmin servers. Actual delivery time to the recipient (email address, phone via SMS, or whatever) depends on factors outside of the Garmin eco-system.  For example, an SMS message travels to an SMS gateway, from the gateway to the recipient's cell provider, from the cell provider to the phone. When the phone is next connected. Lots of moving parts and no real control.

The presence of the Explore app in this scenario has no effect on anything. The Explore app has no special messaging features.

The Messenger device with the Messenger app is fundamentally different IF YOU HAVE CELL PHONE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY when the message is sent. In this situation, a message will travel via the Internet instead of (or in addition to) the Iridium network. This gets the message to the Garmin servers in more or less real time - regardless of whether or not the device itself can connect to the Iridium network. If the recipient has connectivity at the time, the message will appear to the recipient in more or less real time as well. 

This scenario applies to the Messenger device and to other iR devices which have firmware which is capable of pairing with the Messenger app. To be clear, the "special sauce" is in the app - and in the fact that the app has cell/Internet connectivity at the time.

twolpert said:

I'm not sure what the question is.

Are you unable to read the previous post?

What is synchronized or synchronous messaging?

How does it work on an inReach device with Iridium connection?

I could not find any reference about this on Garmin.com or via forum search.

Synchronous messaging is a two-way mode of communication. This means that both conversation parties are chatting at the same time, or synchronously.  Garmin is only using the term „two way messaging“.

I understand how messaging via inReach Iridium works. BstyleKILLA is describing synchronized messaging as an important, lacking feature – so I am wondering what that is. Evidently, I do not have access to it via the Garmin Explore app.

So, what am I missing with the inReach Mini 2 and Garmin Explore – that can be done via the Iridium network?

The question was not posed to you or twolpert

This type of conversation is not - and never will be - a feature of pure Iridium satellite messaging.

It is - sort of - a feature of the Messenger app (with paired Messenger or other compatible Garmin inReach device). I say "sort of" because a true two-way real-time conversation requires that both parties be using the Messenger app AND that they both have cell Internet connectivity at the time. In that situation, nothing at all travels via the Iridium satellite network. ALL messages travel via the Internet. The Messenger app is just a chat app which happens to have a paired iR device.

If at least one of the parties lacks cell data (Internet) access, that party will have messages delivered via the Iridium network. In that situation, the real-time two-way conversation degenerates into the standard iR experience.

Perhaps coincident messaging would describe it better. 

Definition as intended: The sat device and the sat app work together choosing the fastest network wifi-cell-sat and failing back to sat when no faster network is available. 

Note: The recipient of the message can be sms. (non-app) IE. (its not a wifi chat app) 





*Assuming how it works with "Garmin messeger" here but requesting it would be similar for a 66i and explore app.

Workflow something like...

An sms message is sent TO the sat number goes to the registered astrix or tdm switch or however garmin messenger server gets sms first. Then garmin messenger service makes a choice where to send the message based on its subscribers options.

When the app can provide a health-check / ping reply, and can receive messages on wifi or cell those messages are sent, a delivery confirmation is received, and messages leave the servers message queue.

If there is no app connection via cell or wifi (the ping fails) messages are sent on the iridium network and leave the servers message queue. 

An sms message is sent FROM the sat device, sat device checks for app connection, app attempts message and gives a success or fail. On failure sat sends message on iridium network. 

A sms message is sent FROM the app, app attempts to deliver message to Garmin server on wifi and cell data, if it fails, sends message on iridium network.