Here's a Closer Look at the iPhone 14's Emergency SOS via Satellite Feature Available Today

[MacRumors]

Apple today announced that the iPhone 14's Emergency SOS via Satellite feature will begin rolling out to customers in the United States and Canada starting today, with other countries coming later next month. Alongside the announcement, Apple also gave select YouTubers and media outlets early access to the feature, offering a closer look at how it works.

The service will be free for the first two years, but Apple has not said what will happen after then. To help users understand how it works, Apple has created a demo mode that allows users to experience the feature and its interface without having it active and contacting emergency services. Below, we've embedded some videos that offer a closer look at the demo mode and how the feature works.

From a technical level, Emergency SOS via Satellite works by utilizing technology built into all iPhone 14 models that allow them to connect to satellites in orbit around the earth to contact emergency services when a user is outside cellular and Wi-Fi coverage. Apple has built a new interface that allows users to send messages to emergency services over satellite using a questionnaire that asks critical questions for first responders to understand the emergency and dispatch help.

The message sent to emergency services includes a user's location, including altitude, their iPhone battery level, and their Medical ID, if they have one. The messages are sent directly to dispatchers or sent to a center of Apple‑trained specialists who can call emergency services on a user's behalf. For a more detailed dive into the feature, see our guide.

Article Link: Here's a Closer Look at the iPhone 14's Emergency SOS via Satellite Feature Available Today

 

[woolypants]

Hey everybody remember: Don't get lost outside the US or Canada!

 

[Unggoy Murderer]

Hey everybody remember: Don't get lost outside the US or Canada!

Until next month at least, when it rolls out to the UK, Ireland, France, and Germany. Pretty fast roll-out which is nice to see.

Also the one feature I hope to never have to use 😂

 

[AppleTO]

They gave the YouTubers early access to this to make promo videos? Lol

 

[vikingjunior]

For free I'll take it but a subscription is out of the question. I got better chance of being hit by lightning than being in a life threatening emergency situation without service.

 

[antiprotest]

Not seeing it yet.

 

[jcman01]

Does “free for the first two years” means starting from today, or starting from when you purchase an iPhone 14?

 

[1557750]

Not seeing it yet.

It’ll be added to the ISP (In Settings Purchases) soon.

 

[Kylo83]

Now the tech YouTubers will climb mountains and waste police time testing this

 

[MRrainer]

Until next month at least, when it rolls out to the UK, Ireland, France, and Germany. Pretty fast roll-out which is nice to see.

Also the one feature I hope to never have to use 😂

Also, GSM-coverage in Switzerland is almost 100%, unless you fall into a crevasse. But you likely will not be able to connect to a satellite from there, either.

 

[imnotthewalrus]

I assume it won't roll out until 10:00 PST...

 

[macsplusmacs]

I hope i-Someone gets i-Lost.

Come on apple, time to switch up "reviewers".

 

[viktorhun]

Next keynote will be presented by those who will bring it saved their lives 😅

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

So who's willing to try out the SOS feature? Do we have any risk-takers here?

 

[ACHD]

Now the tech YouTubers will climb mountains and waste police time testing this

Not unless they speak to them first and organize a training session.

New Tools are often great training for new SAR staff as well. If they work it into regular training it wont be a waste. and having someone hike up somewhere for FREE saves them money on overall training expenses and reduces their liability..

So if done right and with permission it would be more training instead of a waste of resources even if nothing is deployed.

 

[SVTmaniac]

So excited for this! I fish a lot of lakes that have zero service and most the trails and mountains I hike also have no service. Always been a fear in the back of my mind that something could happen out there and nobody would ever find me.

 

[Kottu]

It's not gonna take long time to see "Lost in the wilderness challenge" in TikTok.

 

[BobSc]

Hey everybody remember: Don't get lost outside the US or Canada!

If you actually read the articles, it's coming to other countries soon. Why are you bashing something that won't be true in the near future?

 

[JM]

It's not gonna take long time to see "Lost in the wilderness challenge" in TikTok.

Dear God,

No. Please God, no.

Thank you,

-humanity

 

[ShadowJade]

For free I'll take it but a subscription is out of the question. I got better chance of being hit by lightning than being in a life threatening emergency situation without service.

I would say that you aren’t living the edge much. I stumbled across a lost hiker 2 years ago…without me, he was paying several thousands to rescue services that he had reached out to by dialing 911…but if he was unable to make that call, he was in for a terrifying overnight on a mountain.

 

[CoMoMacUser]

I know that my 11 doesn't support sat fallback, but did 16.X add an SOS icon for all models when out of cellular coverage? I don't remember seeing that icon until a few months ago, but maybe I just overlooked it when my phone was still on 15.X.

 

[deevey]

Invaluable feature to any outdoorsy persons or those living in areas prone to natural disasters.

 

[imlynxy]

Do only YouTubers have the feature?

 

[ackmondual]

It's not gonna take long time to see "Lost in the wilderness challenge" in TikTok.

Ugh... Blair Witch Project returns!

 

[ackmondual]

For free I'll take it but a subscription is out of the question. I got better chance of being hit by lightning than being in a life threatening emergency situation without service.

Wait, so you don't have lightning insurance?