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

[I7guy]

We don't really know the cost. Your $99 may be wildly inflated. I'm in the camp of just making it an included service and make for some good PR.

I would be surprised if apple eats the cost of a service that does not benefit most everybody. Apple doesn’t need good PR in spite of anything that is posted to the contrary here in MR.

Other than the 5 gig of iCloud, which comes included as part of the price of the iPhone, I can’t think of anything else. But maybe you are right, raise the cost of the iPhone by $50 (or some increment), include the service, get great PR, make billions, and get bashed on MR. It’s a win-win-lose.

I say go for it.

 

[I7guy]

[…]


I disagree with that guess. A behavioral economist might argue that by including the cost of service taht may never be used but would be priceless when needed would be a way to avoid people declining it because they thought they would never need it and ensuring it was available when needed and thus helping drive good behaviors.



[…]

A life insurance policy is really only needed one time…

 

[Azzin]

Right now this exists on one model of iPhone. If Apple gives this service, for free, to every iPhone user, the costs for this service are going to rise dramatically in 5-10 years.

Can they just give it to every iPhone user?

Isn’t there hardware in the 14 to take advantage of the Stellite SOS?

[Edit] - It is for iPhone 14 and 14 Pro models currently.

 

[Azzin]

Could Apple licence out the tech to other phone manufacturers to use?

 

[djphat2000]

I'm not sure it would take much of a price hike, especially if you add o all units sold, not just the ones where you can actually use satellite SOS. An actuary could estimate the total costs for the service over the typical life span of a phone and thus a cost could be divided amongst unit volume of iPhones. Each user would pay a small price for having the service available, since most users won't ever use it and thus it is easily made available to all.



I'd just add it in, not as an add-on option, to ll phone sol worldwide as part of AC. That way, he overall cost per phone is low and for those who travel they are covered if they are in a satellite service area.

To me, the key is amortizing the costs over as large a user base as possible.

I don't know of a comparable solution for text base SOS SAT messages. I'd imagine since it would be a rare occurrence and such low data use. It should not be terribly expensive. But, having the service and infrastructure in place for all capable iPhones. I think that would cost enough to not want to increase the device prices.

Apple has done a pretty good job of keeping the YoY prices of the iPhone relatively flat. At least in the US. Currency conversions aside. I don't think they will want to price themselves further out of anyones comfort zone. If they want to charge for this service, it will be because they have to. But, will not want to force it on everyone to pay for it without an opt-out ability. So, including it with AppleCare+ makes sense. Plus it gets you AppleCare on the device. When purchasing it, you can still opt-out of the service. So they make it an add-on to AppleCare. If they want to eat the cost (if it is low enough, or the average profit they make on selling AppleCare+ is sufficient to add this into the existing cost). Then it's standard with AppleCare.

At the very least, Apple could allow the service to work whether you pay for it or not. However, maybe you get billed for the service if you need it. As a one time charge via your cellphone provider or some other means. AKA you end up paying for the full price of AppleCare+.

 

[I7guy]

[…]

At the very least, Apple could allow the service to work whether you pay for it or not. However, maybe you get billed for the service if you need it. As a one time charge via your cellphone provider or some other means. AKA you end up paying for the full price of AppleCare+.

Apple could increase the price of the iPhone to cover some arbitrary years of service or absorb the cost. I can’t see apple having half way measures with this as they have sunk money into this feature.

Nobody on these forums are berating garmin for not giving away their satellite service or making it a pay on demand. This type of dialog is what happens when things are offered in a trial basis.

 

[jlc1978]

I don't know of a comparable solution for text base SOS SAT messages. I'd imagine since it would be a rare occurrence and such low data use. It should not be terribly expensive. But, having the service and infrastructure in place for all capable iPhones. I think that would cost enough to not want to increase the device prices.

That's why adding the costs to all phones worldwide is one way to keep the per device costs down if the price is too much to eat because it's impacting margins..

Apple has done a pretty good job of keeping the YoY prices of the iPhone relatively flat. At least in the US. Currency conversions aside. I don't think they will want to price themselves further out of anyones comfort zone. If they want to charge for this service, it will be because they have to. But, will not want to force it on everyone to pay for it without an opt-out ability. So, including it with AppleCare+ makes sense. Plus it gets you AppleCare on the device. When purchasing it, you can still opt-out of the service. So they make it an add-on to AppleCare. If they want to eat the cost (if it is low enough, or the average profit they make on selling AppleCare+ is sufficient to add this into the existing cost). Then it's standard with AppleCare.

That makes sense except I suspect people will accuse Apple of trying to use a potentially life saving feature to push AppleCare.

At the very least, Apple could allow the service to work whether you pay for it or not. However, maybe you get billed for the service if you need it. As a one time charge via your cellphone provider or some other means. AKA you end up paying for the full price of AppleCare+.

The first time someone uses it but doesn't get help in time it'll be "Mean Apple charged a dead person for an emergency call that didn't get them help in time..."

 

[Crowbot]

Nobody on these forums are berating garmin for not giving away their satellite service or making it a pay on demand. This type of dialog is what happens when things are offered in a trial basis.

Well that IS garmin's business. And you have to buy the hardware, don't you?

If Apple is going to charge anything more than a nominal fee (like 99p/month) then they should have set prices and rolled them out with the announcement of the service. It seems sneakier to leave it hanging this way. It's like with the heroin dealers...the first one's free.

 

[I7guy]

Well that IS garmin's business. And you have to buy the hardware, don't you?

You have to buy the hardware from apple as well. You are going to need an iPhone 14 or later. Emergency Sat is not garmins business either.

If Apple is going to charge anything more than a nominal fee (like 99p/month) then they should have set prices and rolled them out with the announcement of the service. It seems sneakier to leave it hanging this way. It's like with the heroin dealers...the first one's free.

There is no shoulda, woulda, coulda imo. Apple rolled out a feature on a trial basis, and there is no one forcing anybody to sign up when the trial period is over with if the terms aren’t to one’s liking. The drug analogy is way off the mark.

 

[Crowbot]

You have to buy the hardware from apple as well. You are going to need an iPhone 14 or later. Emergency Sat is not garmins business either.

Understood. But the sat service isn't why people buy the phones.

There is no shoulda, woulda, coulda imo. Apple rolled out a feature on a trial basis, and there is no one forcing anybody to sign up when the trial period is over with if the terms aren’t to one’s liking. The drug analogy is way off the mark.

For me, it's that it's a potentially life-saving feature. If it was just something cool (like being able to download live images from the sats) then I would be less militant. But we'll see, of course.

 

[Abazigal]

Personally, I think Apple can just bundle it into Apple One and use it as a catch all basin for any service that doesn’t lend itself neatly to a subscription service. Like what they did with private relay. It’s free but not quite free.

 

[I7guy]

Understood. But the sat service isn't why people buy the phones.

I can see why people may buy the iPhone 14 over the less expensive iPhone 13 due to emergency sat services. Free sat services are a differentiator.

For me, it's that it's a potentially life-saving feature.

So indeed you would buy this over the iPhone 13. Or if a feature like this is life saving you could buy other devices. It’s not as if apple has a monopoly of emergency satellite communication.

If it was just something cool (like being able to download live images from the sats) then I would be less militant. But we'll see, of course.

Yes, emergency sat service is a differentiator from not requiring dedicated hardware and monthly fee (for now)

 

[Crowbot]

I can see why people may buy the iPhone 14 over the less expensive iPhone 13 due to emergency sat services. Free sat services are a differentiator.

Maybe one differentiator but I don't think it would be a decider unless the buyer was likely to be off grid. I see sat service as more of a (cool) bonus for most folk.

So indeed you would buy this over the iPhone 13. Or if a feature like this is life saving you could buy other devices. It’s not as if apple has a monopoly of emergency satellite communication.

I bought the 14 because I had a 12 and was upgrading. The other upgrades were of more interest to me. And I don't believe Apple advertised the sat feature on release. If Apple was the first to put sat service into a generic smartphone then I'm sure the other manufacturers will follow.

Yes, emergency sat service is a differentiator from not requiring dedicated hardware and monthly fee (for now)

Agreed...for now.

 

[Abazigal]

I can see why people may buy the iPhone 14 over the less expensive iPhone 13 due to emergency sat services. Free sat services are a differentiator.

I do wonder what will happen when all iPhones come standard with satellite phone support, some 3-4 years down the road. They are going to need to acquire their own company in order to potentially serve that many users in a pinch.

 

[Crowbot]

I do wonder what will happen when all iPhones come standard with satellite phone support, some 3-4 years down the road. They are going to need to acquire their own company in order to potentially serve that many users in a pinch.

In a few years all the phones will have it. If I understand it, Apple owns the satellites.

 

[I7guy]

Maybe one differentiator but I don't think it would be a decider unless the buyer was likely to be off grid. I see sat service as more of a (cool) bonus for most folk.

It’s partially not about being off-grid. This feature could help if you are on a block without cell service and something happens and one uses the emergency satellite feature to call for help. You see the feature as a cool bonus, but a few posts above it was “potentially life saving.” Which is it?

I bought the 14 because I had a 12 and was upgrading. The other upgrades were of more interest to me. And I don't believe Apple advertised the sat feature on release. If Apple was the first to put sat service into a generic smartphone then I'm sure the other manufacturers will follow.

Apple does tend to kick the can first down the road.

Agreed...for now.

 

[I7guy]

I do wonder what will happen when all iPhones come standard with satellite phone support, some 3-4 years down the road. They are going to need to acquire their own company in order to potentially serve that many users in a pinch.

I don’t see this feature being used to replace e-911.

 

[I7guy]

I do wonder what will happen when all iPhones come standard with satellite phone support, some 3-4 years down the road. They are going to need to acquire their own company in order to potentially serve that many users in a pinch.

I don’t see this feature being used to replace e-911.

Edit: is there going to be an actual increase in call volume? Additionally doesnt the caller have to pay for evacuation and emergency services? So either way the cost of the esat call is cheap compared to the rest.

 

[Crowbot]

It’s partially not about being off-grid. This feature could help if you are on a block without cell service and something happens and one uses the emergency satellite feature to call for help. You see the feature as a cool bonus, but a few posts above it was “potentially life saving.” Which is it?

Both. That's the beauty. For a geek like me who doesn't go off the grid it's a cool feature. But for lots of people it's a potentially life saving feature.

 

[I7guy]

Both. That's the beauty. For a geek like me who doesn't go off the grid it's a cool feature. But for lots of people it's a potentially life saving feature.

Think you hit the nail on the head on why apple would make this a subscription based service.

 

[Crowbot]

Think you hit the nail on the head on why apple would make this a subscription based service.

If they do, I just hope it won't be too much. I don't know how much it costs to support a $400M satellite system.

 

[djphat2000]

Personally, I think Apple can just bundle it into Apple One and use it as a catch all basin for any service that doesn’t lend itself neatly to a subscription service. Like what they did with private relay. It’s free but not quite free.

This is another good place to put the fee. Especially with a family plan.

 

[djphat2000]

Apple could increase the price of the iPhone to cover some arbitrary years of service or absorb the cost. I can’t see apple having half way measures with this as they have sunk money into this feature.

Nobody on these forums are berating garmin for not giving away their satellite service or making it a pay on demand. This type of dialog is what happens when things are offered in a trial basis.

Yes. Which I'm guessing must be due to seeing how much it will actually cost (based on use). And if the price is too steep for an iPhone price increase. Maybe they push it into another already existing service (AppleCare+ or AppleONE Subscription). Why make "everyone" pay a few bucks more for it if they don't want it. Knowing full well some of them may end up needing it and wishing they had purchased it.

Give all the phones the ability to use it, even if you don't pay for it. But, charge them after use. So no ones life is in danger of not being able to make the SAT call if you're in need and didn't buy the service.

Give people the ability to not pay for something they don't want, without taking away a life saving service.

Or, if the service isn't costing Apple too much. Just include it for free and let the Samsungs and Google phone makers "try" to compete with that feature.

 

[Crowbot]

Yes. Which I'm guessing must be due to seeing how much it will actually cost (based on use). And if the price is too steep for an iPhone price increase. Maybe they push it into another already existing service (AppleCare+ or AppleONE Subscription). Why make "everyone" pay a few bucks more for it if they don't want it. Knowing full well some of them may end up needing it and wishing they had purchased it.

Give all the phones the ability to use it, even if you don't pay for it. But, charge them after use. So no ones life is in danger of not being able to make the SAT call if you're in need and didn't buy the service.

Give people the ability to not pay for something they don't want, without taking away a life saving service.

Or, if the service isn't costing Apple too much. Just include it for free and let the Samsungs and Google phone makers "try" to compete with that feature.

I'm not sure that maintaining the sat network will be very expensive, compared to other sat systems. Once they are up they pretty much take care of themselves. If it costs $100M a year to keep it going (guess, based on some internet searches), and there are 50M iPhone 14 users in the US (wild guess) then a few dollars a year per phone should do it. Paying the $500M it cost to put the birds up can be recovered over time.