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

[burgman]

It’s not an apple service. I am curious if Apple will negotiate with providers or makes the users subscribe directly with providers.

Why would you think it's not an Apple service? They created it, financed the network infrastructure buildout, and run the backend to their operation centers.

 

[filmantopia]

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.

Say your car breaks down with your small kids in the car in 100+ degree heat and no cell service. That’s an emergency.

 

[svish]

Good. But will take a long time for this feature to be available in other countries

 

[robgendreau]

Good. But will take a long time for this feature to be available in other countries

And because it uses Globalstar, there are many many countries that will never get this coverage. https://www.bluecosmo.com/globalstar-spot

 

[ksnell]

Well considering that the US is 27,723% larger than Switzerland that really isn't surprising that you don't understand how much area we have to cover.

Well said. You could fit 16 Switzerlands inside of Texas alone. It would rank...42nd largest against US States.

 

[LlamaLarry]

Well said. You could fit 16 Switzerlands inside of Texas alone. It would rank...42nd largest against US States.

Indeed, even my comparatively small Virginia is 2.5 Switzerlands, although their highest mountain is about 2.5x taller than the highest one in Virginia.

 

[nateo200]

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.

I really hate how people in Europe laugh at Americans for not having passports or knowing geography but then say things like this. The US is more or less 50 seperate but very similar countries. Of course Switzerland has better coverage...not much to cover.

And I'm sure there are areas of Europe with poor service, no service or just unreliable service. Russia is part of Europee (at least in part we can debate what part of it is Asia) and I promise there are sections there that probably have horrific service. Some countries will have 3G or LTE but it will be so slow as to render it useless.....

 

[_Spinn_]

This is a great addition to the Satellite feature!

 

[redbeard331]

This is great for those of us on AT$T for those times you’re in the middle of a huge city and have zero reception.

 

[webkit]

This is great for those of us on AT$T for those times you’re in the middle of a huge city and have zero reception.

You're holding the phone the wrong way.

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

How do you text "Roadside Assistance" when you don't have signal? Does the iPhone just present you with that option automatically?

 

[poorcody]

How do you text "Roadside Assistance" when you don't have signal? Does the iPhone just present you with that option automatically?

Use Roadside Assistance via satellite on your iPhone - Apple Support

With iPhone 14 or later, you can text for roadside assistance when you're off the grid with no cellular and Wi-Fi coverage.

support.apple.com