Lynk Global satellites produce a communications beam that sweeps over an area, offering coverage to mobile devices. In the image shown, each red dot represents a mobile phone on the U.S. East Coast connected with Lynk's fifth satellite launched.

Lynk Global satellites have connected with thousands of unmodified smartphones, tablets, internet-of-things devices and vehicles, the Fall Church, Virginia, startup announced Feb. 8.

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Debra Werner is a correspondent for SpaceNews based in San Francisco. Debra earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of California, Berkeley, and a master’s degree in Journalism from Northwestern University. She is a recipient...