Apple's Emergency SOS via Satellite Feature Saves Family Caught in Maui Wildfires

[Skyscraperfan]

How did you even come up with this scenario?))) How would you detect the nonworking breaks from your car?)))

Maybe the driver screams "Help, my breaks don't work!" or you just notice that the car can't slow down. Even it is not the breaks, a car that does not stop has to be stopped somehow.

If you let your house insurance lapse and then, unfortunately, your houre burns down, are you going to blame the insurance company? It's up to the individual to decide their own personal scenario. But this train of thought has definitely seen better days.

It is not about the costs, but about the duty to save a life if you have the chance. If the life saver - like Apple or the satellite company - can prove any costs, they will get reimbursed later.

In the US there seems to be a different thinking though. There really have been instances where the fire department did not save a house because the owner did not pay a fee: https://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-wa...efighters-watch-tennessee-family-s-house-burn

 

[Shanghaichica]

This is great. You have to give it to Apple. They are not always first but they always bring meaningful features.

 

[stylinexpat]

By not allowing cell towers to be put up the government endangers people’s lives. Telecom companies would love to put up cell towers for better reception but often city rejects the application. City of Irvine is notorious for this. Unless you live by the freeway you have 1 bar reception pretty much anywhere in Irvine.

 

[redbeard331]

By not allowing cell towers to be put up the government endangers people’s lives. Telecom companies would love to put up cell towers for better reception but often city rejects the application. City of Irvine is notorious for this. Unless you live by the freeway you have 1 bar reception pretty much anywhere in Irvine.

That would be the notorious Irvine company. There areas in the middle of LA/OC where one might need the use of a satellite in case of an emergency since the service is so bad!

 

[laptech]

People have mentioned that there are companies out there who sell gps devices that have an emergency call feature amongst many of it's features but most importantly it's not it's main feature, just a feature that has been included but to use this feature you have to pay for it. Many have pointed to the company Garmin who sell gps devices for the purposes of travelling and hiking and have an emergency call function if the customer choses to use it but they have to pay to use it. With that in mind, why would Apple continue to provide it's emergency sos call function for free when it knows it's competitors charge a monthly/yearly subscription. I do not see people attacking Garmin for not providing their emergency call function for free so why are people having a go at Apple?

 

[kmm333]

So Apple still wants to charge money for that service? Imagine the PR disaster, if someone is not rescued, because he did not have a subscription. Emergency calls have traditionally always been free in all networks. Do it would be very unfortunate if the iPhone could technically reach the satellite, but will rather let the iPhone owner die, because he did not buy a subscription. That could even be illegal in the EU.

It should certainly be free, but I imagine they could just bill you after the fact rather than block the feature. That’s what an ambulance does in the states…

 

[Bonte]

Apple could ask for a payment after you use it, 10 bucks or something like that. It depends on how much it’s used in non-emergencies, if that is rare it will probably be free forever.

 

[laptech]

People are suggesting that users of the system get billed after the fact. A good idea but if the system is not in regular use, how do the people that run the system get paid? money needs to be constantly coming in to be able to pay the wages of those who run and oversee the system.

 

[Ravi_MR]

The iPhone 14's Emergency SOS via Satellite feature played an important role in the rescue of a family in Maui that became trapped by the wildfires spreading across the region.

Twitter user Michael Miraflor said that five people related to his brother's girlfriend were caught in a vehicle in Maui after the wildfires surrounded them. There was no cell service available at their location, so they used Emergency SOS to communicate with first responders.

Miraflor shared a screenshot of the entire Emergency SOS text chain, giving us a look at the local fire department and dispatchers in action. The family was located at the Outlets of Maui, a shopping mall in Lahaina where the fires are located.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1689452794443632640

In the text thread, the family's location is relayed to the dispatcher, and they're able to communicate that they are surrounded by fire with no visibility and no way out due to blocked roads. Within 30 minutes, fire crews were able to reach the family and safely evacuated them thanks to the Emergency SOS via Satellite feature.

The wildfires in Hawaii have been devastating, resulting in the deaths of at least 36 people. Strong winds have been driving the fires, and the town of Lahaina, where the family was trapped, was largely destroyed.

Apple's Emergency SOS via Satellite feature is available across all iPhone 14 models, and it has so far been responsible for saving multiple lives and getting people in remote locations help. Emergency SOS via Satellite is available in areas where there is no WiFi or no cellular connectivity, and so far, Apple has made it available as a free service.

Article Link: Apple's Emergency SOS via Satellite Feature Saves Family Caught in Maui Wildfires

That's wonderful. Even if this had saved just one life, the innovation would be worth it.

 

[ProfessionalFan]

A life saving feature, literally

 

[FreakinEurekan]

Imagine a car had additional (non-mandatory) airbags, but they would only engage during an accident, if the buyer has unlocked them for an extra fee. It would be different, if those airbags would only be built into the more expensive cars, but once they are in a car, they should work. That is the analogy to the iPhone, which could rescue its owner, but does not.

Not sure how the laws are in the US, but even as a private citizen you have to rescue someone if you know he is in danger and the rescue will not put yourself in danger.

Not taking sides on the debate, but your analogy is flawed. Once airbags are installed, the “cost” is spent. There is, presumably, an ongoing cost to keeping each iPhone “connectable” to satellite. I have no idea what that cost is, and it MAY be low enough for Apple to simply cover it.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

I can only speak for Germany. Here you can call the emergency services with any cellphone without even having a SIM card. Phones without a SIM card even display "Only emergency calls".

You need a SIM card, it just doesn’t have to be an “active” SIM (I.e. you don’t need to pay for service). That’s also true in USA.

At least, that’s how it worked on physical SIM phones. Not sure how it’s handled with eSIM.

 

[Skyscraperfan]

You need a SIM card, it just doesn’t have to be an “active” SIM (I.e. you don’t need to pay for service). That’s also true in USA.

At least, that’s how it worked on physical SIM phones. Not sure how it’s handled with eSIM.

Oh, I just googled it and it has changed a few years ago (2009). The problem was that many people called the emergency service anonymously just for "fun" or sometimes just to test if their phone works.

 

[jonnysods]

What an incredible story.

 

[dugbug]

So Apple still wants to charge money for that service? Imagine the PR disaster, if someone is not rescued, because he did not have a subscription. Emergency calls have traditionally always been free in all networks. Do it would be very unfortunate if the iPhone could technically reach the satellite, but will rather let the iPhone owner die, because he did not buy a subscription. That could even be illegal in the EU.

Same could be said for cell phone connectivity, maybe that should be free

 

[citysnaps]

Apple does not provide rescue insurance. A simple Google search could provide this information.

Adjacent but not completely relevant info here, rescues in national parks are “free” to the person being rescued in most situations.

People who enter national parks pay a fee, of which a portion goes to rescuing people when needed.

Nothing is "free."

 

[I7guy]

[…]

It is not about the costs, but about the duty to save a life if you have the chance. If the life saver - like Apple or the satellite company - can prove any costs, they will get reimbursed later.

Society is under no obligation to make up for one’s premeditated bad choices.

In the US there seems to be a different thinking though. There really have been instances where the fire department did not save a house because the owner did not pay a fee: https://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-wa...efighters-watch-tennessee-family-s-house-burn

I read about this. An example of bad choices?

 

[I7guy]

Oh god, don't compare this to owners insurance! Compare this to the fire department refusing to come to your house, for whatever reason, while you are trapped inside. Ride this train of thought!

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apples-emergency-sos-via-satellite-feature-saves-family-caught-in-maui-wildfires.2398296/post-32375266

A tidbit about the fire department.

If you want the service then pay for it. Should apple also give away the iPhone 14 for free? This service is not government funded. Apple is not a charity. You can be sure after the two years, if a subscription is required I’m going to pay.

 

[CarAnalogy]

OnStar and other companies have spun it successfully before, I wouldn't put it past Apple (sadly).

Pretty sure OnStar still calls emergency services when it detects a crash, subscription or not. And OnStar has become a profit center for them in other ways, collecting user data they can sell to advertisers. That’s one reason GM doesn’t want to use CarPlay, they want more user metrics for themselves.

 

[CarAnalogy]

People who enter national parks pay a fee, of which a portion goes to rescuing people when needed.

Nothing is "free."

With as much as we’re paying in taxes, quite the opposite of free.

 

[ProfessionalFan]

This is going to be added to next month’s presentation.

Also, satellite connection still works with heavy smoke in the sky?

They probably already filmed next month's presentation, likely doing post production now. Though I guess they can slide this into a montage of calls if they had one prepared already.

 

[I7guy]

I know Apple has made some hard sells. $1000 monitor stand, etc. But I don't think even they could tout lives saved for two years and follow it up with "and now: $99 per year, and we think you're gonna love it."

I could see them saying something like "free with AppleCare+" or "included with Apple One" but I really hope not.

Will be really interesting to see how Apple handles this one.

How does any other for trial feature work? After the trial you decide if you want the service…or not. Many do not need emergency satellite sos, ie their lives are liven within the confines of an area with good cell service. But if you want it pay for it.

 

[citysnaps]

How does any other for trial feature work? After the trial you decide if you want the service…or not. Many do not need emergency satellite sos, ie their lives are liven within the confines of an area with good cell service. But if you want it pay for it.

Spot-on...

If one feels they might need satellite rescue service, simply pay for it. So many here are using Apple's pay-for-service policy as just another opportunity to take a swing at Apple, casting them as the bad guy.

All in order to feel good after taking that swing.

 

[darngooddesign]

Wow… I felt anxious just reading that exchange. What a great service.

 

[hagar]

Thank god for that, it's devastating what's happening there...

It’s so inspiring that we keep on finding new ways to help people and save lives.

And at the same time it’s so disheartening mankind completely failed to address the main cause of these dramatic events around the globe.

We can no longer avoid the impact of climate change, and have to find new creative ways to deal with it. Luckily, technology goes a long way.


(Yes yes: one fire cannot be directly attributed to climate change, but worldwide temp records and massive fires around the globe can).