Apple Extends Free Satellite Access for iPhone 14, 15, and 16 Users

[MacRumors]

Apple today announced it is extending free access to satellite features for an additional year for existing iPhone 14, iPhone 15, and iPhone 16 users.

The extension applies to devices activated in a country that supports Apple's satellite features prior to midnight Pacific Time on September 9. Apple revealed the update in its press release for the new iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.

This marks at least the third time Apple has extended free access to the features for iPhone 14 users, whose satellite trial was originally set to run for two years from the phone's launch in November 2022 before Apple pushed the expiration date back in 2025 and again this year. Free access for iPhone 15 users, whose trial was set to expire this year, has similarly been extended, and iPhone 16 owners are now covered by the same rolling extension for the first time.

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. The features rely on Apple's satellite partner Globalstar and let users reach emergency services, share their location, or send messages when they have no cellular or Wi-Fi signal.

Apple has not confirmed what, if anything, it plans to charge for the features once free access eventually ends. For now, the practical effect is that iPhone 14, iPhone 15, and iPhone 16 owners who activated their devices before today's cutoff can keep using the features at no cost for at least another year.

Article Link: Apple Extends Free Satellite Access for iPhone 14, 15, and 16 Users

 

[jb510]

When are they going to realize nobody is willing to pay extra for satellite features?

 

[I7guy]

When are they going to realize nobody is willing to pay extra for satellite features?

Apple could ave money by cutting off the free service then.

 

[matthew12]

Apple at this point should just announce it's free. I think they just really don't want the bad PR of "this person's life only could have been saved if they paid for the satellite SOS feature".

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Apple at this point should just announce it's free. I think they just really don't want the bad PR of "this person's life only could have been saved if they paid for the satellite SOS feature".

There would be no bad PR. People forget to pre-pay for Garmin before they head out and it’s not Garmin’s fault that they didn’t. 🙂 Garmin DOES have an SOS service for folks that don’t pay, but that doesn’t cover tracking your location live online or downloading weather forecasts. I’ve yet to hear of any bad PR for Garmin not alerting users about weather that caused their demise.

 

[JosephAW]

Still rocking with a 14 Pro. 😛📱

 

[WilliApple]

lol they probably can’t anymore. Not only will they have bad PR it’s apparently illegal to charge to call / text 911.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

The upshot is that there’s very few people with those phones (or any phones) that are using the service, so it’s “free” because Globalstar/Amazon isn’t hitting them up for millions of satellite connections a month. As the number of iPhone 15’s and older dwindle, leaving it available for 4+ years old phones becomes less and less of a problem over time.

 

[pbau]

Still not even SOS messages via Satellite in Poland?!

 

[Astuces iOS]

They will never charge

 

[DanneP]

So what about the rumored 5G via satellite? I guess no?

 

[obviouslogic]

When are they going to realize nobody is willing to pay extra for satellite features?

I’m sure quite a few people who spend time in remote areas would be more than happy to pay for the service. (Current market revenue for satellite service is US$1B.)

Apple’s decision to continue to offer the service for free, might be because it is used much less than they predicted. Meaning it is not cost prohibitive to continue to offer it for free at current usage rates. I have only seen it pop up twice on my iPhone, and that was when we were driving through the backroads in northern Wyoming after visiting Devil’s Tower and through several spots in Idaho on the way to Spokane. (and I did send a text to test it out - it worked!)

 

[aliensporebomb]

"but you terrible iPhone 17 users, well, you will be 50 foot off a cliff and we won't send help!"

 

[svish]

Good to hear about this. Unfortunately it is still not available in my country yet and not sure when it will be available.

 

[Macusercom]

I’m sure quite a few people who spend time in remote areas would be more than happy to pay for the service. (Current market revenue for satellite service is US$1B.)

Apple’s decision to continue to offer the service for free, might be because it is used much less than they predicted. Meaning it is not cost prohibitive to continue to offer it for free at current usage rates. I have only seen it pop up twice on my iPhone, and that was when we were driving through the backroads in northern Wyoming after visiting Devil’s Tower and through several spots in Idaho on the way to Spokane. (and I did send a text to test it out - it worked!)

I think emergency services will remain free or else it could end in a bad PR disaster. But other non emergency festures like Find My or messages will eventually be paywalled I assume

 

[I7guy]

Apple at this point should just announce it's free. I think they just really don't want the bad PR of "this person's life only could have been saved if they paid for the satellite SOS feature".

You have agency in your life, right? Apple is not responsible for your bills or subscriptions.

 

[Trizzle]

I think emergency services will remain free or else it could end in a bad PR disaster. But other non emergency festures like Find My or messages will eventually be paywalled I assume

Yep that makes the most logical sense

They might just be waiting for the perfect timing, enough people regularly using it and them BAM! Subscription

 

[Osxguy]

SOS service still doesn't work if you have an ounce of cell service.. It makes sense, but I haven't found a way to force satellite mode. I camp a lot and I have a smidgen of service if I turn one way and none if I move the other way. I can't get an iMessage/text message out much less load website and of course forget about making a call. Maybe I am wrong and didn't click the right button in the amazing easy to navigate iOS 26. HAHHA Possibly by posting this ill get a know it all apple boot licker to tell me how to do it..

 

[k1121j]

That's good cause I wouldn't pay for it if it cost money.

 

[sdm1985]

Just bundle it with iCloud +, as further price rises are coming. Case closed.

 

[DestructoTim]

What happened to the rumor about the new phones having always on 5G over satellite?

 

[semka]

When are they going to realize nobody is willing to pay extra for satellite features?

Well, T-Mobile is charging for theirs, so people are apparently paying.

 

[subjonas]

Apple at this point should just announce it's free. I think they just really don't want the bad PR of "this person's life only could have been saved if they paid for the satellite SOS feature".

lol they probably can’t anymore. Not only will they have bad PR it’s apparently illegal to charge to call / text 911.

I thought the emergency satellite feature was always going to be free and the extra features like iMessage was supposed to have a fee

 

[sleep_to_dream]

There would be no bad PR. People forget to pre-pay for Garmin before they head out and it’s not Garmin’s fault that they didn’t. 🙂 Garmin DOES have an SOS service for folks that don’t pay, but that doesn’t cover tracking your location live online or downloading weather forecasts. I’ve yet to hear of any bad PR for Garmin not alerting users about weather that caused their demise.

Garmin isn't Apple, anything that could even be misconstrued as "bad" would be all over the news just because it’s Apple