Dec 10 (Reuters) - Apple ( AAPL ) plans to bring satellite connections to its smartwatch

in 2025 and is ramping up work on a blood-pressure feature for the device, Bloomberg News

reported on Tuesday.

The satellite feature is expected to come to next year's version of the iPhone maker's Apple

Watch Ultra, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter. The feature will allow

users to send messages without cellular or internet connection.

Apple ( AAPL ) began to offer satellite communication through its iPhones in 2022. In November, it

invested $1.5 billion into satellite provider Globalstar ( GSAT ) to fund the expansion of

iPhone communication services.

The other medical feature, which would allow users to monitor their blood pressure levels,

may also arrive in 2025, the report said.

Apple ( AAPL ) has been working to add more health-focused capabilities to its products. In

September, the company unveiled a new smartwatch, which could discover longer-term health

conditions such as sleep apnea, and respond to emergencies.

Apple ( AAPL ) did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.