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Apple Confirms Emergency SOS via Satellite Launching on iPhone Later This Month

Some of y'all need to get out of the city once and a while. I live in Utah, there are plenty of off-grid locations where this is going to be a life saver many times over. Every county has a Search and Rescue team that gets called out regularly, and most of those rescues happen outside the reach of cell phones, and all they have is "He's missing, was hiking here, haven't heard back yet". This is going to make their job a lot easier because it puts emergency relay information in the hands of far more people.

I jumped on this phone launch day because I go camping with my kids several times throughout the summer and are usually off grid, so for me having the peace of mind knowing that if we're in a bind and I need help I can get it is a huge weight off my shoulders.

I *love* that Apple is investing so much time, money, and research in to emergency uses for their products.
 
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I do a lot of hiking in the wilderness and I have been using a Zoleo Satellite Communicator. The two main devices that people use are the Zoleo and the Garmin inReach. Zoleo is 200 dollars plus 20/30$ a month, for basic messaging, weather reports, and sos service. Garmin is considerably more expensive 400+$ and up to 75$ a month for a better-but very similar-experience.
Every time I use it, I always think I can't wait for this to be integrated with the phone for a seamless pipeline, less weight and more freedom. I really hope this is the first step towards that. Having SOS feature is big, but next step would be to have general satellite connectivity (see Starlink+T-mobile).
 
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zYxMa said:
Forgot to pay SOS subscription? Sorry, you’re dead 🤣🤣🤣
Click to expand...
Do you really think this is even a remote possibility? There is NO way Apple will ever let this happen. Aside from the possible loss of life, this would be a huge PR disaster for Apple. At worst you could send your message and get charged on a per usage basis.
 
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We hike and kayak where no cellphone signal whatsoever. The limited option for emergencies has been a big concern. We go days without seeing anyone. This will be perfect hopefully never used application. Good move Apple.
 
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BobSc said:
Do you really think this is even a remote possibility? There is NO way Apple will ever let this happen. Aside from the possible loss of life, this would be a huge PR disaster for Apple. At worst you could send your message and get charged on a per usage basis.
Click to expand...
If the phone isn’t registered to be able to connect to the satellite network AND there’s no cellular network that can be used to make a purchase, how would that even work? I don’t think Garmin has ever had a PR problem from someone who had a device but didn’t pay for the service, have they?
 
I also think this is going to be perpetually free with every new iPhone purchase like ATV+ is. If you're regularly buying hardware in the ecosystem, the services will just be included.
 
I’m glad I live a life exciting enough to be excited for this feature. You can tell the ones stuck in the city on their couch all day. Adventure awaits!
 
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This is a stepping stone to 5G over Sattelite

10 - 20 years from now Apple will purchase Globalstar

Cell will be over satellite instead of ground towers

And then instantly Apple will have their own satellite cell network and will become a cell provider like Verizon / AT&T

Invest in Globalstar - GSAT!
 
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unculturedswine said:
I also think this is going to be perpetually free with every new iPhone purchase like ATV+ is. If you're regularly buying hardware in the ecosystem, the services will just be included.
Click to expand...
I just bought a new iPad that came with three months of AppleTV+. Who buys a new Apple device every three months?
 
Toratek said:
Certainly a reasonable point of view, considering that in some circumstances, an actual rescue could cost north of $6000 [typical air ambulance ride] to over $20,000 (full SAR crew and extraction). In some places, the rescued party won’t be stuck with the majority of the bill, but in others…

So, a hundred dollar charge for an emergency message might well be a drop in the bucket compared to the resulting rescue effort. Of course bills don’t matter much if one is dead.
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I see your point but I meant that every message doesn't necessarily result in a rescue. I was thinking more of a non-emergency use where someone could just say they're OK. Checking in, as it were.
 
Crowbot said:
I see your point but I meant that every message doesn't necessarily result in a rescue. I was thinking more of a non-emergency use where someone could just say they're OK. Checking in, as it were.
Click to expand...

Obviously there are already other products for that use case. Equally obviously, this will eventually become an available option from successor iPhones in the next five years or so.
 
I keep wondering how they will implement it when it isn't dealing with two of the largest countries on the planet, but a mosaic of smaller ones. Like Europe. It's quite easy not to know which country you are in!

Obviously the satellite will be able to locate you quite precisely. But Apple won't really be able to push this if they have to explain it works in Spain but not Andorra. Italy but not Vatican City. EU countries but not Switzerland, Norway, UK, and a host of tiny places.

(Sure, Vatican City probably has plenty of mobile coverage. It is used to make a point using a place which might be familiar to a lot of people.)
 
BobSc said:
"there are already working solutions out there already." Can you tell us what those working solutions are? Thanks.

"that probably means there is no electricity, which means your phone will likely be dead before you realize that you would need to send an emergency message." This is so incredibly far-fetched and unlikely as to defy credibility.

"push forward with solar charging screens". Is this even scientifically possible: display and solar charging? I doubt it. If you go into the wilderness without a full charge and don't carry a external power source, you are just asking for trouble.
Click to expand...
.

Working solutions- If you've even thought of doing a medium risk adventure, you would know about these. They have been in regular use long before smart phones and cellular were a thing. Skiers, back country snowmobilers, hiking, etc.

www.outdoorgearlab.com

The 5 Best Satellite Communicators of 2025

If you need to communicate from beyond cell signal, we've tested the products and services and report back on equipment from Motorola, Garmin, SPOT, ACR...
www.outdoorgearlab.com www.outdoorgearlab.com

Amazon.com: Satellite Emergency Device

Amazon.com: satellite emergency device
www.amazon.com

"This is so incredibly far-fetched and unlikely as to defy credibility."
In your not so humble opinion. Sounds like someone that has not ever had the opportunity to leave their armchair quarterbacking position. Iphones last a day at best on a full charge, and that's in the best case. Cold weather drops that significantly. If it in fact IS an emergency, one that you had not expected, it is likely that you may not have a powerbank with you. I don't know many people that carry a fully charged power bank with them all the time. Not so unlikely. Fortunatly my travels don't often take me to off grid areas, but if it did on a regular basis I sure wouldn't be counting on my phone to help, I'd be carrying around a much more tired and true solution that has been around and proven.

"push forward with solar charging screens". Apparently very much so. Apple has done more with less mature technology before.

www.pocket-lint.com

Transparent solar panel display charges your phone through the screen

www.pocket-lint.com www.pocket-lint.com

www.smithsonianmag.com

Solar Panels in the Screens of Smartphones Could Power the Devices

Kyocera unveils a prototype for a phone with a layer of transparent crystals in its screen that helps to charge it both indoors and outside
www.smithsonianmag.com www.smithsonianmag.com

www.independent.co.uk

Phones could be charged by invisible solar panels hidden in screen

Titanium oxide and nickel oxide could be the key to unlocking transparent solar panels
www.independent.co.uk www.independent.co.uk

www.androidauthority.com

Solar-charging screen could augment your phone’s battery life

SunPartner Group hopes to push out a new transparent panel that will allow your screen to give your charge your phone, using the power of the sun.
www.androidauthority.com www.androidauthority.com
 
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fmillion said:
Except you never know when you might suddenly need it. You might spend 99% of the time in the big city, but once a year or even less often you head out on a road trip, passing through some areas with no coverage.
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Yep. I remember being in the parking lot of a welcome center of some park in the mountains of NC. I had zero cell reception.
 
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orbital~debris said:
I'm curious to know if this functionality will be available to Apple customers bringing devices from their home countries to the USA/Canada (e.g. while on holiday/vacation), or is availability dependant on iPhone hardware sold only in certain regions of Earth.

Has anyone seen clarification on this aspect?
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Yes, confirmed.


I checked it out days ago. Sorry if someone beat me to it but busy and don’t have time time to read all the replies.


The only phone that won’t work is the Chinese version.
 
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zYxMa said:
Forgot to pay SOS subscription? Sorry, you’re dead 🤣🤣🤣
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Probably will send the message and charge you through Apple Pay at “extra expense”. 🤣


Also, in two years the messaging may not be just for SOS with the subscription…
 
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