iPhone 14 Users Get Free Emergency SOS via Satellite for Another Year

[MacRumors]

Apple today announced that its Emergency SOS via satellite service is being extended for an additional free year for existing iPhone 14 users. Apple originally gave new iPhone 14 owners two free years after device activation, which would have expired in November 2024.

Emergency SOS via Satellite is now free for two more years starting today or at the time of activation of any iPhone 14 model. Apple says the free trial will be extended for iPhone 14 users who have activated their device in any country that supports Emergency SOS via satellite prior to 12 a.m. Pacific Time on November 15, 2023.

"Emergency SOS via satellite has helped save lives around the world. From a man who was rescued after his car plummeted over a 400-foot cliff in Los Angeles, to lost hikers found in the Apennine Mountains in Italy, we continue to hear stories of our customers being able to connect with emergency responders when they otherwise wouldn't have been able to," said Kaiann Drance, Apple's vice president of Worldwide iPhone Product Marketing. "We are so happy iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 users can take advantage of this groundbreaking service for two more years for free."

Available on all iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 models, the feature enables users to send text messages to emergency services via satellite when cellular and Wi-Fi coverage is not available. Users can also share their location via satellite in the Find My app.

With the service, Apple says users can send and receive messages in as little as 15 seconds in clear conditions. Users are prompted to complete a short questionnaire with vital information, and the interface then shows users where in the sky to point their iPhone to connect and send the initial message. This message includes the user's questionnaire responses, location, altitude, iPhone battery level, and Medical ID info if set.

Apple says the service is designed to work outdoors with a clear view of the sky. Apple warns that foliage or other obstructions can result in emergency messages taking longer to send or failing to send, and satellite connectivity might not work in places above 62° latitude, such as northern parts of Canada and Alaska.

Article Link: iPhone 14 Users Get Free Emergency SOS via Satellite for Another Year

 

[huges84]

Article title says one more year but the quote says two more years. Which is it? I assume Apple marketing is correct and it’s two more years, 3 total.

 

[kylelerner]

“We are so happy ‌iPhone 14‌ and iPhone 15 users can take advantage of this groundbreaking service for two more years for free.”

Soooo is it one or two extra years for OG iPhone 14 owners?

 

[Jony Ive and Co.]

If Kaiann is "so happy that users can take advantage of service for 2 more years for free", then Apple should keep it free forever. The outcome is literally in your hands and you are the one deciding whether people can be happy or not!

This epitomizes pure profit greed over happy users and for the benefit of society at large (ppl can call SOS when they need it)

 

[contacos]

I wouldn't even know how to subscribe to it like there is no interface for it?

 

[mattoruu]

Article title says one more year but the quote says two more years. Which is it? I assume Apple marketing is correct and it’s two more years, 3 total.

The Apple press release could be worded a little better. But:

It’s an additional year of service for users that already activated the free one year of service. And it’s two years total for any new users.

 

[markgpearse]

One day in the future Apple will start charging a fee for using your iPhone to connect to your cellular provider!

 

[brgjoe]

I have a 13PM, so I am missing out on this anyway.

But...as much as I dislike subscriptions or other fees to use something that was previously free, I would pay a reasonable amount to use something that could possibly save my life or a loved one's life at some point.

One of the reasons why I will most likely upgrade to a new iPhone next year. (assuming it will still have this feature).

 

[Seoras]

Thanks to Starlink everyone in New Zealand gets full country wide coverage from next year.
Seems like Elon has it covered and anything else is just too little too late.
How long until all of N.America and Europe get the same? (Yeah, I know Canada is getting same as NZ)

 

[KeithBN]

Thanks to Starlink everyone in New Zealand gets full country wide coverage from next year.
Seems like Elon has it covered and anything else is just too little too late.
How long until all of N.America and Europe get the same? (Yeah, I know Canada is getting same as NZ)

SMS coverage in NZ by the end of 2024.
A year away.

Whereas Apple’s service has already been in use for a year and will have been 2 years by the time that service is live.

How is that “too little too late”?

(And you had better hope you or your country don’t upset the muskrat or he’ll simply turn the service off - he has form…)

 

[Jmausmuc]

Thanks to Starlink everyone in New Zealand gets full country wide coverage from next year.
Seems like Elon has it covered and anything else is just too little too late.
How long until all of N.America and Europe get the same? (Yeah, I know Canada is getting same as NZ)

This is very exciting but will require the new Space X sattelites not currently in orbit from my understanding.

SMS to launch end of 2024
Call and Data and of 2025

 

[mannyvel]

Wonder how many people really use this.

 

[EmotionalSnow]

Wonder how many people really use this.

About as often as a defibrillator at hotels: seldom, but when it’s used it saves lives.

 

[foobarbaz]

Article title says one more year but the quote says two more years. Which is it? I assume Apple marketing is correct and it’s two more years, 3 total.

Soooo is it one or two extra years for OG iPhone 14 owners?

It's two years from today for everybody. That's one additional year if you bought at launch.

 

[120FPS]

This is good news. I don’t think it’s used that often but you’ll be happy to have it when you need it.

 

[aParkerMusic]

Reeeeeeeeeeee Reeeeeeeeeeee how dare Apple extend the free satellite coverage!! Monopoly!!!

it’s amazing that some people will actually complain about this lol

Great feature. I think Apple will probably never charge for it.

 

[theaudiobully87]

I didn't even know Apple were planning on charging for this? What are they looking to charge?

 

[timber]

That's a cool feature but I doubt very few people would pay for that.

Better to give it away and advertise it.

 

[klasma]

I wouldn't even know how to subscribe to it like there is no interface for it?

They probably noticed that they won't get around to implementing it within the next year.

 

[dz5b609]

If Kaiann is "so happy that users can take advantage of service for 2 more years for free", then Apple should keep it free forever.

This epitomizes pure profit greed over happy users and for the benefit of society at large (ppl can call SOS when they need it)

And maybe they will keep it free, but Apple wants to keep it's options open for probably expensive reasons.
Because right now for Apple this is for what is and always will be a niche feature very very expensive.

 

[lanceuppercut47]

I wouldn't even know how to subscribe to it like there is no interface for it?

You can only subscribe when you need to activate it

 

[ersan191]

Hardly anyone would actually pay for this feature, not sure how they are going to handle that. Maybe bundle it with Apple One or iCloud or something.

 

[DeanL]

I think it may be because of legal issues.

In the UK, Ofcom puts obligations on telecoms (under General Condition A3.2) to ensure their customers have “uninterrupted access to emergency organisations”— which is the reason why phones can make emergency calls through other providers.

I’m unsure how satellite phone companies are regulated, but they do fall under the definition of telecom…

 

[solardudesf]

Maybe include it as part of an Apple One subscription? With the recent price hikes for Apple One it is less and less of a value. This might make it better and also make it “stickier” to walk away from.

 

[Kottu]

I have stopped going for a walk in the woods in Sweden since I bought my iPhone 15PM. As Emergency SOS via Satellite don't work in Sweden, I don't want to get lost.