Apple Announces New Roadside Assistance via Satellite Feature for iPhone 14 and iPhone 15

[MacRumors]

At today's iPhone 15 event, Apple introduced an add-on feature to Emergency SOS via Satellite called Roadside Assistance via Satellite. The feature is similar to Emergency SOS, but it allows iPhone users to contact roadside assistance if they have car trouble in an area without cellular or Wi-Fi connectivity.

Roadside Assistance via Satellite is available for the iPhone 15 models, but it is also a feature that is retroactively available for the iPhone 14 lineup. Available in the United States, roadside assistance is being offered through a partnership with AAA.

The functionality is included in an AAA membership, but Apple said that iPhone users can also get access separately. The company did not provide details on what it would cost without an AAA membership, but AAA is priced starting at $65 per year.

As with Emergency SOS via Satellite, you can text roadside assistance and choose what you need help with. Options demonstrated at the event included flat tire, no fuel, locked out, vehicle stuck, and vehicle does not start.

Apple includes two years of Emergency SOS via Satellite and Roadside Assistance via Satellite connectivity for free with the purchase of an iPhone 14 or iPhone 15. Note that in the case of Roadside Assistance, you need the satellite connectivity and to pay the additional fee to AAA.

Article Link: Apple Announces New Roadside Assistance via Satellite Feature for iPhone 14 and iPhone 15

 

[t0rqx]

Excellent news!

I assume Apple will charge extra for additional helplines in the future.

 

[zach-coleman]

I wonder how they’ll fit a ”Apple saved me when my car broke down” into next year‘s keynote without it seeming silly in comparison to the ones who almost died.

 

[fatTribble]

I think this a great bonus feature!

As long as I can get assistance I’m happy to pay for it myself. I’d rather not pay AAA just so I don’t have to pay out of pocket once a decade or less.

 

[sherwinzadeh]

I wonder if you can still use it if you *DO* have cellular service... but I guess you'd just get AAA.

 

[poorcody]

I don't understand... can you just pay for Roadside Assistance on an as-needed basis, or do you have to have a subscription to something, whether AAA or through Apple?

 

[surfzen21]

Cool addition that I can see an actual use for.

A number of years ago I saw a car in a snow ditch on the side of the road when I was on my way to go snowboarding.

The passenger, who was still in the car, said the driver when to go get help or to where a cell signal could be acquired.

 

[JPack]

When it's paid service, you can be sure those will be available on older models.

 

[t0rqx]

I wonder how they’ll fit a ”Apple saved me when my car broke down” into next year‘s keynote without it seeming silly in comparison to the ones who almost died.

I saw the playbooks already for next year. Here's a glimpse. They already have some stories lined up. For example:

1. a soon to be father whos driving the soon to be mother to the hospital ready to welcome a baby on time due to this new feature.

2. Student driving to University to attend exams, but car broke down. Due to her Apple Watch she was able to arrive on time and graduated with honours.

3. Self-Employed delivery guy who specialises in certain goods with a contract for delivering certain products on time, whol almost came late, but luckily just bought the new iPhone 15 Pro.

 

[t0rqx]

When it's paid service, you can be sure those will be available on older models.

Yep. No need for A18 or extra neural engines. Just your wallet.

 

[TheColtr]

I have had AAA roadside since I started driving, and my parents and grandparents have had it for decades. I love AAA and I am so happy Apple partnered with them on this.

 

[poorcody]

I don't understand... can you just pay for Roadside Assistance on an as-needed basis, or do you have to have a subscription to something, whether AAA or through Apple?

Okay, TechCrunch and The Verge are saying if you don't have AAA, it's "available on a pay-per-use basis for non-AAA members".

 

[Johnny907]

Wonder if this will make its way to other providers. I have roadside assistance through USAA and would appreciate being able to go through them instead of AAA.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

This is an excellent news. Even better there's no subscription service from Apple involved.

 

[MrRom92]

It’d be nice to have some easy built-in way to connect to roadside service even when you do have a connection, no satellite necessary… and offer the service with more insurance providers.

I can say definitively, first hand, that the geico app is beyond useless. It’s faster and easier for me to fish the paper with their phone number out of my wallet than it is to get anything done on the iPhone, as it currently exists.

 

[jimothyGator]

I was hoping Apple would announce a different sort of non-emergency messaging: Periodic check-in messages along with location. This would be useful lessen my wife's worries when I go backpacking, where I'll be away from a cell signal for days at a time.

While you can share your location via satellite, you can't send a short message. Something like, "I'm doing okay," "Camping here for the night," or even "I twisted my ankle. I'm okay, but I'm not able to hike as quickly…".

Perhaps as satellite capacity expands, Apple will add this feature. Standalone satellite messengers already have this ability, but plans can be expensive, and it's one more device to carry. Of course, they don't have billions of users, so they wouldn't tax the satellite network like iPhones could.

 

[solq]

I love it when they push these US features (where you don't have mobile coverage) to the rest of the world (where you basically have 100% mobile coverage) and they think it's cool.

If my car breaks down, I just use my phone to call roadside assistance. That's it, I don't need any special satellite coverage.

 

[JML5150]

My parents had AAA as long as I can remember, they gifted me AAA when I started driving. I’ve used AAA towing numerous times in the past so this is a cool addon, for me. This was the only thing that made me look up and pay attention.

 

[sherwinzadeh]

I love it when they push these US features (where you don't have mobile coverage) to the rest of the world (where you basically have 100% mobile coverage) and they think it's cool.

If my car breaks down, I just use my phone to call roadside assistance. That's it, I don't need any special satellite coverage.

Well I think that's the whole point... when you *DON'T* have cellular connection. They probably needed to recap how satellite connectivity works. It just sends a short text message to a dispatching service that then calls AAA for you.

 

[solq]

Well I think that's the whole point... when you *DON'T* have cellular connection. They probably needed to recap how satellite connectivity works. It just sends a short text message to a dispatching service that then calls AAA for you.

The only time I didn't have cellular connection in the past 10 years happened in the US. Sorry, it just doesn't happen in Europe, at least not on roads. Here in Switzerland where I live, not even on mountain peaks.

 

[levis7878]

Yep. No need for A18 or extra neural engines. Just your wallet.

Maintaining satellites and rockets don't come cheap!!! A great service and idea by Apple.

 

[DotCom2]

Well this is a nice perk.

 

[poseidondev]

This might be the first step towards a value add before they start charging for the Emergency SOS service.

It would make sense they expand on capability and services before they start hitting users with, what presumably will be, a rather pricey satellite connectivity subscription.

 

[TechnoMonk]

I wonder how they’ll fit a ”Apple saved me when my car broke down” into next year‘s keynote without it seeming silly in comparison to the ones who almost died.

Why does it matter. I will take any help I can get with roadside assistance in middle of nowhere with out cell coverage. No different than some one stuck in a car or on foot.

 

[fwmireault]

I still don’t know what to expect price-wise for the satellite connectivity, hopefully apple will provide this information soon. It would be great if it could be bundled with Apple One, but I doubt it will be the case