As the Federal Communications Commission considers GPS alternatives, SpaceX says its Starlink satellites are already up for the task.The company made its pitch in a Wednesday letter to the FCC after the commission kicked off a public inquiry about developing alternatives to GPS, which has long been run through a single provider, the US Defense Department.  The FCC’s goal is to usher in Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) solutions to complement GPS. In response, SpaceX sent a five-page letter that noted: "One opportunity stands out as a particularly ripe, low-hanging fruit: facilitating the rapid deployment of next-generation low-Earth orbit ('LEO') satellite constellations that can deliver PNT as a service alongside high-speed, low-latency broadband and ubiquitous mobile connectivity.”The letter says SpaceX has already been working on a PNT system for its cellular Starlink service, which is in public beta and will launch through T-Mobile in July. “SpaceX has also been actively working to integrate PNT solutions into its direct-to-device commercial service offerings,” the company wrote. “In so doing, SpaceX can advance the Commission’s goal in this proceeding to maintain American leadership in next-generation PNT services both here at home and in over 130 countries it serves around the world.”SpaceX didn't say how it would offer the PNT system for public use, writing only that “SpaceX looks forward to playing an integral role in creating a more robust, resilient, and secure PNT ecosystem for Americans and people around the world.”Recommended by Our EditorsThe letter also notes that Starlink satellites can already operate independent of GPS. “This capability not only allows those systems to operate unhindered even if GPS is unavailable, it also sets the foundation for future solutions that can use any authorized frequency to deliver accurate, reliable, and resilient PNT to any end user device," it says.SpaceX previously told the FCC it's advocating for a “technology-neutral approach” with GPS alternatives. Wednesday’s letter reiterates the point, preaching for the development of a “diversified and robust” PNT ecosystem. That said, SpaceX took some shots at Hughesnet’s parent EchoStar, alleging the company’s control of the 2GHz radio spectrum for a mobile satellite service (MSS) remains unused. The FCC might agree. On Monday, the agency began soliciting public comment about whether EchoStar is utilizing the 2GHz band for MSS consistent with the terms of its authorizations and the Commission’s rules and policies governing the expectation of robust MSS.”In the meantime, SpaceX isn’t alone in trying to pitch its satellite services as a backup to GPS. Apple satellite provider Globalstar also sent a letter to the FCC about how its services “can function as either an alternative or a complement to GPS.”“Notably, Globalstar’s satellites transmit outside of the L-band, which provides PNT users with added immunity from GPS jamming and spoofing,” the company said. “In addition, Globalstar’s satellite transmissions at 2.4GHz are stronger than GPS signals, bolstering resilience, performance, and reliability.”

Nintendo president reiterates US tariffs did not affect Switch 2 price Shuntaro Furukawa said higher price was due to manufacturing costs, consumer impressions, market conditions, and exchange rates Image credit: Nintendo News by Sophie McEvoy Staff Writer Published on May 13, 2025 Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa has made it clear that the US tariffs did not factor into the Switch 2's higher price point. In an earnings call Q&A published yesterday, Furukawa said the ¥49,980/$499.99/£395.99 price was determined by manufacturing costs, consumer impressions, market conditions, and exchange rates. "For software, in addition to the same factors, we also take into account rises in costs, due to aspects such as increased game file size and extended development periods, when determining price," he said. "Going forward, we will continue to consider appropriate prices for each title when it comes to software prices." "Hardware involves special factors such as tariffs, and we will take into account factors like those we just described, while conducting careful and repeated deliberations when determining price." Speaking of tariffs, Furukawa explained why they did not affect the base price of the Switch 2. "Our basic policy is that for any country or region, if tariffs are imposed, we recognise them as part of the cost and incorporate them into the price," he explained. "However, this year marks our first new dedicated video game system launch in eight years, so given our unique situation, our priority is to maintain the momentum of our platforms, which is extremely important for our dedicated video game platform business. "Consequently, if the assumptions on tariffs change, we will consider what kind of price adjustments would be appropriate, taking into account various factors such as the market conditions." The higher price of the Nintendo Switch 2 also factored into the firm's sales forecast for the console. As highlighted in its financial results for the full year, it expects hardware sales of 15 million and software sales of 45 million. Furukawa said the 15 million figure was set in an attempt to meet the "same level of sales" as the Switch did in its first ten months of sale (that being between March 2017 and December 2017), which was 10 million units. "The Switch 2 is priced relatively high compared to the Switch, so we recognise that there are corresponding challenges to early adoption," he noted. "That being said, the Switch 2 can play compatible Switch software, so there is continuity between the platforms. "We are taking steps like building software with the hardware to accelerate adoption in the first fiscal year, aiming to get off to the same start we did with the Switch." Image credit: Nintendo Last month, Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser said "longevity" was also a factor for the Switch 2's higher price point. "We want to make sure that this is a device that is approachable, that consumers will see as part of their overall entertainment experience and will understand that it has longevity to it," Bowser said. "And all of those factors really go into the consideration of the price." Furukawa emphasised that its "hardware production capacity" did not affect its forecast, and neither did "the tariff situation in the US or a possibility of a recession." "In order to achieve sales of 15 million units, we will need to manufacture the hardware in quantities greater than that," he reiterated. "Our first goal is to get off to the same start we did with the Switch, and we are working to strengthen our production capacity so we can respond flexibly to demand." When asked whether limits to production capacity affected the forecast, Furukawa confirmed there was no limit and that Nintendo continues "to strengthen [its] production capability." "Our plan is to continually produce and ship significant numbers of Switch 2 units going forward," he explained. "To achieve a certain level of sales, we believe it is necessary to maintain momentum throughout the year, not just at the start, so we set this figure as the number of our initial plan." As for its software forecast, Furukawa highlighted the "robust lineup" of titles from software publishers this time around compared to the Switch launch, and Switch 2 editions of Switch games. "This fiscal year, we will aim for the target we have set as the sales volume forecast, strengthen our production capacity to respond to recent increased demand, and focus on promoting sales in an effort to exceed our forecast," he added. "The momentum we have immediately after the Switch 2 launch is important, of course, but the challenge we face is how to sustain that momentum and carry it into the holiday season."

Image: Damien McFerran / Nintendo LifeNintendo has shared the official English translation for its recent end-of-year financial Q&A, in which the board of directors was asked to clarify a couple of details regarding the Switch 2 sales forecast. In case you missed it, Nintendo last week shared that it is expecting to shift 15 million Switch 2 units in the console's first fiscal year. This number is a marginal increase from what Switch 1 managed back in 2017, but perhaps isn't the open-floodgate rush that many expected — particularly given its impressive pre-order interest numbers in Japan. In the Q&A accompanying this announcement, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa was asked to explain the company's thought process behind this "conservative" figure, and he rather candidly said that the console's much-discussed price was a factor in its calculation. "Nintendo Switch 2 is priced relatively high compared to Nintendo Switch, so we recognise that there are corresponding challenges to early adoption," Furukawa stated. "That being said," he continued, "Nintendo Switch 2 can play compatible Nintendo Switch software, so there is continuity between the platforms". Furukawa points to the Mario Kart World Switch 2 bundle as one of the ways that the company is aiming to "accelerate adoption in the first fiscal year," all in the hopes of Nintendo achieving "the same start we did with Nintendo Switch". While these solutions may help with early adoption, Furukawa mentions later in the Q&A that the console price also runs the risk of damaging sales in the long run. "Even if there is momentum around the launch," he states, "we know it will not be easy to keep that momentum going over the long term through the holiday season and beyond". The momentum we have immediately after the Nintendo Switch 2 launch is important, of course, but the first challenge we face is how to sustain that momentum and carry it into the holiday season Furukawa doesn't specify any other reasons for the 15 million sales forecast, though he reiterates that neither production issues nor US tariffs influenced the prediction. "In order to achieve sales of 15 million units, we will need to manufacture the hardware in quantities greater than that," he noted, "we are working to strengthen our production capacity so we can respond flexibly to demand". Look, we know that at least *counts* eight consoles exist — Image: Nintendo The rest of the Q&A focuses on similar topics, with everyone clearly after more info on Switch 2 sales. Throughout, Furukawa reaffirms that Nintendo will "continually produce and ship significant numbers of Nintendo Switch 2 units going forward," and that the company will make an effort "to exceed our forecast". Discussion of anything else is pretty scarce, though Furukawa does take the opportunity to once again speak to the Switch 2's perceived lack of inventiveness in a late question: It may appear that there is not a major change between Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch. However, we have created new hardware and accessories from the ground up, and these are products very characteristic of Nintendo, packed full of our development team's dedication to quality through various creative efforts and integrated hardware-software development Switch 2 is the "new standard for Nintendo Switch," according to Furukawa, so don't expect to see the company turn its back on this format any time soon. Console price remains unchanged for now As Switch 1, predictably, grinds to a halt Do you think Switch 2 will meet Nintendo's forecasted sales or fall short because of the price? Let us know in the comments. [source nintendo.co.jp] See Also Share:0 0 Jim came to Nintendo Life in 2022 and, despite his insistence that The Minish Cap is the best Zelda game and his unwavering love for the Star Wars prequels (yes, really), he has continued to write news and features on the site ever since. Comments have been disabled for this article. Related Articles Nintendo Updates Its User Agreement To Crack Down On Emulation Offenders may find their Switch bricked PSA: My Nintendo Store Switch 2 Invites Are Starting To Roll Out Refresh that inbox Palworld Dev Announces "Disappointing" Game Changes Resulting From Nintendo's Lawsuit "We have had to make certain compromises" Nintendo Reconfirms Release Windows For Major Switch 2 Games And original Switch, of course Nintendo Defends Switch 2's Perceived Lack Of Innovation "we feel that it is a very Nintendo-like product"

Microsoft revealed earlier this year that it was planning to stop supporting Office apps (Microsoft 365) on Windows 10 after the October 14th end of support cutoff. Now, Microsoft is performing a U-turn and has pledged to continue providing security updates for Office apps on Windows 10 for an additional three years. “To help maintain security while you transition to Windows 11, Microsoft will continue providing security updates for Microsoft 365 Apps on Windows 10 for three years after Windows 10 reaches end of support,” says Microsoft in an updated support article published last week. “These updates will be delivered through the standard update channels, ending on October 10, 2028.” Microsoft quietly announced this three-year extension in late April in a separate support article for IT admins, and it reiterates that the Microsoft 365 apps will “continue to function as before,” but that businesses should upgrade to Windows 11 “to avoid performance and reliability issues over time.” This latest language is a lot different to the blog post Microsoft issued in January that warned businesses that Office apps would no longer be supported on Windows 10 later this year. “To use Microsoft 365 Applications on your device, you will need to upgrade to Windows 11,” said Microsoft at the time. Microsoft has been pushing consumers and businesses to upgrade to Windows 11 ahead of the end of support for Windows 10 on October 14th. The company declared at CES earlier this year that 2025 would be “the year of the Windows 11 PC refresh,” despite Windows 11 adoption lagging behind Windows 10. Microsoft has also been trying to convince Windows 10 users to buy a new PC with full-screen prompts over the past year. Consumers who don’t want to buy a new PC or upgrade to Windows 11 will also be able to purchase Extended Security Updates for the first time. You’ll have to pay $30 for an extra year of updates, while businesses will be able to purchase up to three years of extended updates.