Just this week, Apple announced the expansion of its Emergency SOS via satellite feature for the iPhone 14 lineup to the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Ireland. In the press release announcing the launch of the feature in the above-mentioned European countries, Apple also revealed that it will be expanding the feature to additional regions next year.
Support for Apple’s Emergency SOS via satellite feature to be made more widely available by 2023
Apple’s iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro feature satellite connectivity which enables users to access Emergency SOS via satellite without cellular or Wi-Fi. This means that users can send messages and make phone calls without any signals present, allowing them to contact emergency responders as soon as possible.
When using the feature, your iPhone will front-load a few important questions to assess your situation. It will then show you when to point your device in order to connect to a satellite. If your situation is time-sensitive and you need to reach emergency-service providers as soon as possible, Apple says the “initial questionnaire and follow-up messages are then relayed to centers staffed by Apple‑trained specialists who can call for help on the user’s behalf.”
In addition to this, the connectivity also allows users to manually share their location with Apple’s Find My network without the requirement of cellular or Wi-Fi. This will especially prove useful for users who are hiking or camping in areas where cellular coverage is spotty due to a lack of cellular towers, allowing them to feel more secure.
Apple has previously said that the safety feature will be free for two years. It is unclear how much it will cost after the two years are up.
Learn how to use Emergency SOS via satellite on iPhone 14 here.
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