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Where I live, there are many areas with no cell signal (mountainous region, no signal in many of the canyons). This is a feature that might have me updating my wife's phone two years earlier than planned (I already have a 14Pro, replacing my five-year-old X).
When it eventually arrives in the UK, assuming it does, it might help on the many parts of the coast where there is no signal. There are many parts which have mobile signal further out to sea, but right in by the cliffs, etc., nothing at all.
 
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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.



"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.




Regarding solar, the items you mentioned are in testing. And what do you expect people to do? Walk around in the wilderness with their iPhone turned toward the sun? Perhaps they could strap their phone to their forhead.

Existing satellite devices are expensive and you pay a monthly charge or a specific number of calls. People who may be in the wilderness 2 or 3 times a year aren't going to pay for a fully capable sat communicator. They would love what Apple is providing.

Backup batteries are a no brainer. Anyone who goes off grid and doesn't make sure their phone is fully charged and doesn't carry a backup battery is being very foolish and shouldn't be going off grid.

Your arguments against what Apple is providing are off base and not at all valid for reality and the majority of people who would like the capability of off grid communication in an emergency.
 
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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.
This. I can be 200 yards from my house and have no signal of any kind (no cell, no wi-fi). Say I'm cutting firewood, and despite wearing proper PPE, I get hurt. iPhone 14 Pro was a day one purchase for me.
 
Not sure what your point is, but the implication seems to be you don't think Apple should be bothering with this? 99.9% will also never use or need a fire extinguisher in their home (or fire insurance), yet it would be foolish not to have both.
By that argument, 98% would never sideload. So why isn't Apple looking out for the other 2%?

Hail, why doesn't Apple put a firewall in iOS. That would be useful for 100% of us🤨, although probably 10% would know how to set it up properly.😕
 
I haven’t read all five pages of posts, and this will be too late, but here goes my thought - Emergency SOS via Satellite remains a main feature, or perhaps you sign an agreement to be billed X amount if you do use it. The subscription comes in when you want to use it for the future feature where you’ll be able to send non-emergency texts, and real-life emergency use is covered in that subscription. Apple needs this first couple of years to proof the concept and develop monetizing extra uses.
 
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