Apple has announced that the iPhone 14 series can now use the satellite SOS feature. The company revealed the feature during its iOS 16 launch event, but it wasn’t ready at the time.
SOS via satellite on iPhone 14
Emergency SOS is available in the US and Canada for iOS 16.1 users for this year’s iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max series. Even if your phone isn’t connected to a cellular or Wi-Fi connection, you can use it to connect to emergency services. This is somewhat similar to what you can do with a Garmin inReach device.
If someone gets lost on a hike, or gets stranded on an island without food and water, they’ll be left to their own devices without help. Mental health can also be a challenge in dire situations. This could also be useful in the case of natural disasters that could disrupt internet and mobile networks. That’s why I think Apple’s satellite SOS feature is great.
iPhone 14 phones also support crash detection. When it detects a serious car crash, the phone displays prompts on the screen, and if the user doesn’t respond to those prompts, it assumes the person is unconscious and automatically calls emergency services and provides information about the location of the accident.
How does Satellite SOS work on iPhone 14?
Apple recommends that users try calling emergency services first, even if your regular network is unavailable. If you can’t reach them, your phone will give you an option to use an SOS signal via satellite. This allows you to send text messages to rescue services.
You can try out a demo of the feature on iPhone 14 through the Settings app without actually affecting emergency services. Go to the Emergency SOS section and click the Demo option.
It will guide you how to use the service. You need to hold the phone as usual. The only thing you need to make sure is a clear view of the sky, i.e. the connection to the satellite should not be blocked by trees, mountains, canyons or tall buildings. When you choose to text emergency services, the app displays a questionnaire with a variety of options to choose from, describing the nature of your emergency, injuries, and more. Once you provide this information, the phone shares your location, emergency contact information, and medical ID information with the dispatcher or relay center that relays the message to responders.
Keep in mind that in real life, sending text messages via satellite communication will be slow. You must open the Messaging app to text 911 or SOS and tap Emergency Services to provide the above details. Your emergency contacts will also receive your location information, as well as a transcript of your conversations with rescue services.
Share your location with Find My in non-emergency situations
Users not experiencing emergencies can use the Find My app to share their location via satellite service. Even if you don’t have regular internet access, it’s a great way to tell your loved ones where you are.
Apple‘s press release mentions that the SOS satellite service will be available in France, Germany, Ireland and the UK in December. The article also points out that the first 2 years of service for the iPhone 14 series are free.
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