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Apple Extends Free Access to Satellite Features Across iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 Models

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Apple today announced it is providing existing iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 users with an additional year of free access to its suite of satellite features. The company revealed this extension in its press releases for the new iPhone 17 and iPhone Air models.

iPhone-Satellite-Feature.jpg

The free period will be extended for iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 users who activated their device in a country that supports Apple's satellite features prior to 12 a.m. Pacific Time today, according to Apple. That means the features will continue to work for free on devices that are already activated until at least mid-September of 2026.

Free access to the satellite features on iPhone 15 models was set to end this month, prior to this extension. For the iPhone 14 models, free access to the features should have initially ended in September 2024, but Apple has extended the trial period twice now for those devices. The implication is that Apple will eventually charge a fee for the features, but it has yet to confirm such a plan, and it is unclear what pricing would look like.

It is possible that Apple will eventually decide to keep the satellite features free forever, given the life-saving potential, but only time will tell.

Apple's satellite features include Emergency SOS via satellite, Messages via satellite, Find My via satellite, and Roadside Assistance via satellite, with availability varying by country. These features work when you are in a supported area without Wi-Fi or cellular connectivity. Apple's satellite partner is currently Globalstar.

Article Link: Apple Extends Free Access to Satellite Features Across iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 Models
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2025/09/09/apple-extends-free-satellite-features/
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I wonder if they are not told it's required to be free at some point. Phones without service plans are able to dial 911, maybe at some point this will be grouped into that category. I dont have an opinion about if it should be free but I do have one about if I would be willing to pay for the service.
 
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I assume they will keep the satellite SOS indefinitely and at some point charge users for FindMy or sending texts to your contacts via satellite.

There is no way Apple puts an emergency SOS behind a paywall. Imagine the backlash if someone was injured or died because they didn't pay for it. Also, having a button saying something like "subscribe now to use this feature" while you're in danger probably also is not the best idea
 
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I appreciate having the satellite service as a backup for emergencies. I don't think I would pay for it if it was a monthly subscription though. It's very rare that I move in areas without reception.

Maybe Apple could charge a price per message, even if it's high. This way you could still use it in an emergency situation.
 
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Macusercom said:
I assume they will keep the satellite SOS indefinitely and at some point charge users for FindMy or sending texts to your contacts via satellite.

There is no way Apple puts an emergency SOS behind a paywall. Imagine the backlash if someone was injured or died because they didn't pay for it. Also, having a button saying something like "subscribe now to use this feature" while you're in danger probably also is not the best idea
Click to expand...

I think, right now, the usage is so low it would be under the contract minimum Apple has with their satellite provider, Globalstar. I'm pretty sure their $1.5B investment in them contained some monthly/annual usage capacity that they haven't even come close to hitting yet. Apple paid to expand their capacity and in-turn was guaranteed 85% of it exclusively.
 
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This will have to be “free” indefinitely. Imagine the headlines:

“Hiker dies holding a fully charged iPhone 17 Pro but didn’t pay for Apple satellite access”.

I bet they monetize this eventually with paid satellite iMessage and certain data services like push notifications and use the paid services to fund free SOS satellite for everyone else.
 
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visualseed said:
I think, right now, the usage is so low it would be under the contract minimum Apple has with their satellite provider, Globalstar. I'm pretty sure their $1.5B investment in them contained some monthly/annual usage capacity that they haven't even come close to hitting yet. Apple paid to expand their capacity and in-turn was guaranteed 85% of it exclusively.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I suspect that the ongoing expense is low because its very rarely used (A good thing because we don't want people to have to be using emergency features like this).
I wouldn't be suprised if it ends up being 5 years or so for free because that's when most users have well and truely upgraded by then.
Another way is to make it free for the first owner for 5 years or 3 years. That way a 2nd owner has to chip in to cover the cost
 
They will keep Satellite until the iPhone 14 Pro Max, which is the first iphone with the satellite feature, will be marked as obsolete or vintage.
 
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I imagine Apple will keep satellite Emergency SOS and Roadside Assistance free forever for everyone. But anyone who buys a 14 to 16 on the secondhand market might have to eventually pay for non-essential services like Find My and Messages.
 
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