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

[NightFox]

Same reason any unactivated cellphone can call 911. Modern society shouldn't let people die in an emergency because they couldn't call for help.

There’s a big difference though. Effectively there's no cost in carrying a cellular emergency call as it's using existing infrastructure and the day-to-day functionality of the phone. Compare that with a satellite system where there's the cost of the dedicated hardware in the phone that serves no other function AFAIK, and the cost (to Apple) of using the satellite service. It's not unreasonable for Apple to choose to recoup its outlay, just like Pharma companies don't give life-saving drugs away for free. Yes, they could afford to do it subscription-free as a PR and marketing gesture, but that's not the same as saying they should.

 

[DeanL]

Interesting question, since most phones don't have satellite capability; and Apple isn't a satellite phone company, although having the back end to make the connection makes it a gray area.

I suspect the requirement is on the provider end, not the phone vendor.

1. A liberal reading could put the burden on whoever provides the satellite service to Apple.
2. The requirement is probably not only on the provider since emergency service calls work even without a SIM card.

 

[Seanm87]

You could make that point about anything in and of itself. Even having a phone. “Ugh, if they had a phone, they could’ve gotten help! That means they should’ve been given a free phone!!” If we weren’t allowed to charge for products and services because someone might be worse off without them, what do you think is the outcome of that?

Everyone has a phone though, purposefully locking a life saving feature behind a paywall isn’t right though. It’s not like you could even subscribe at the time if you’re desperate.

 

[zorinlynx]

There’s a big difference though. Effectively there's no cost in carrying a cellular emergency call as it's using existing infrastructure and the day-to-day functionality of the phone. Compare that with a satellite system where there's the cost of the dedicated hardware in the phone that serves no other function AFAIK, and the cost (to Apple) of using the satellite service. It's not unreasonable for Apple to choose to recoup its outlay, just like Pharma companies don't give life-saving drugs away for free. Yes, they could afford to do it subscription-free as a PR and marketing gesture, but that's not the same as saying they should.

If just one person dies because their phone, with fully capable satellite hardware, couldn't get emergency communications out because of a paywall, that's too many.

Emergency communications happen very rarely, the incremental cost of carrying them is very low-to-nonexistent and the benefit to society is extremely high. This is why cellular carriers are required to carry 911 calls for free and the same thing should apply for this.

Imagine someone you care about dying in the cold because they get stranded and couldn't call for help.

 

[darngooddesign]

Here's a thought: Suppose you are stranded in a national park in say, January 2025 (after the free subscription is no longer offered) and you suddenly realize you are not paying and don't have access to call for help. I would imagine that you can use your phone to subscribe right then and there (as the hardware is built into the phone).

Yeah, a simple enrollment button would suffice.

What's to stop someone from simply signing up in that emergency scenario, receiving emergency help, and then cancelling the paid subscription immediately afterward?

Signing up could enroll them for a minimum time period which they can't cancel.

 

[kmm333]

This really doesn’t feel like something that should be paid for. Imagine if you are in a life or death situation, and your phone is like ”Nah sorry you haven’t subscribed” and then someone dies when they could have been saved.

Or Apple could just keep it activated and charge after the fact if used. I’d gladly pay after it saves my life.

 

[MNGR]

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

Better to give it away and advertise it.

I would.

 

[darngooddesign]

Everyone has a phone though, purposefully locking a life saving feature behind a paywall isn’t right though. It’s not like you could even subscribe at the time if you’re desperate.

There is no reason why someone couldn't be presented with an "Agree to enroll" option when they need the service. It would be easy for satellites to transmit a 'yes' response.

 

[skit911]

Same reason any unactivated cellphone can call 911. Modern society shouldn't let people die in an emergency because they couldn't call for help.

No no, profits first, people second. /s obviously.

Maybe not for NightFox.

I don’t know how our society has come to a point where the value of human life can even be compared to a profit. Murica

 

[roguemountain]

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

Wonder how many people really use this.

I hike and ski tour frequently outside of cellphone networks and I could need it someday. and even if you're only driving and have an issue on a country road, it could come in handy. Happy that the feature is on iPhone and that I don't have to get an inReach and an expensive inReach membership for it. But I am hoping that it will be much cheaper than what the competition charges and that it won't need an activation/re-activation fee.

 

[tim_apple]

Seems like no one understands what is going on. The iPhone ships with 2 years of free SOS. This extends that an additional year for three years total.
Source: Original announcement, Today’s announcement.

 

[ChrisA]

What do you expect? Every competitor that offers this satellite service charges a monthly fee. Satelits cost about a billion dollars and somehow they must be paid for. Just like cellular service. The trouble is that people don't expect to ever use an emergency service. The competitor allows wider use where you can send and receive a satellite message any time you are outside of cell coverage and want to send a text. It sometimes takes 30 minutes for the message to go out as you have to wait for a satellite to be overhead and not blocked by trees or whatever.. A reply could also be delayed. So it is not quick. You pay about $20 per month for that.

Apple could bake the cost of the satellit into the price f the phone, but then everyone is paying for the few who need it.

 

[ChrisA]

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.

Some people from Europe travel all the way to California (where I live) BECAUSE it is possible to hike for weeks in the mountains and not be in cell coverage or otherwise in contact with the rest of the world. This summer I was out for a couple of weeks without seeing cars, roads, or any kind of building. I met people from Europe, Japan, and New Zealand (and of course more who lived more locally). No one ever "gets lost" they take good paper maps.

 

[IIGS User]

Give away something for free.

MacRumors members pitch and fit about Apple being greedy.

Wash, rinse, repeat.

Always repeat.

 

[Huracan]

Read several of the comments. Definitely this is a feature that saves lives. I can think of a few cases in the past when people got stranded in the middle of nowhere with deleterious results. I am sure most if not all of them would have survived if they had this technology. On the other hand this is not free. I don't think satellite companies give this service for free, and I cannot see how Apple can do it for free, it is not a charity, it is a business. So, I agree this is like 911 and shouldn't be behind a paywall, but who should pay for this? Should this be built into the price of the device, paid by some government fund, paid by the rescued people or their families as a votive?

 

[ender78]

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.

It wasn't ever free, it was clearly advertised as having a limited term (one year from what I recall).

 

[nickawhite]

Perhaps I am alone in thinking it would be entirely reasonable for Apple to charge for the service after the free trial period? It could be listed as $25 per use. Or even $50 per use. It would never be restricted from connecting to satellites, but sending a message could trigger a per use fee. I don't see this preventing anyone from using it. And the cost is a rounding error compared to the bills they will receive from whatever agency extracts them from whatever situation they are in!

 

[ender78]

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 not a free service. Not a lot of details on the website. Sounds like an LTE extension. Satellites likely provide uplink capability for the cell towers.

 

[gank41]

It wasn't ever free, it was clearly advertised as having a limited term (one year from what I recall).

I'm not so sure I would say "clearly".. I've been watching every Keynote since I can remember. MANY MANY years. I don't remember there being a specific time frame referenced when this was announced and shown on stage. If there was, it was some fine print somewhere or a vague statement. Definitely not "clear".

 

[gank41]

Perhaps I am alone in thinking it would be entirely reasonable for Apple to charge for the service after the free trial period? It could be listed as $25 per use. Or even $50 per use. It would never be restricted from connecting to satellites, but sending a message could trigger a per use fee. I don't see this preventing anyone from using it. And the cost is a rounding error compared to the bills they will receive from whatever agency extracts them from whatever situation they are in!

Considering I'm already paying WAY too much money a month for Apple Fitness+, even though I'm only getting it because I want the maximum amount of iCloud Storage Space, seems reasonable to include a Life Saving Feature that may or may not ever be used at all. You know, for when you're somehow in a Life Saving Situation. And especially considering the Phone has already had the ability the entire time! Folks may only be finding out the phone they have is capable of this, but how often do cars crash in the mountains or do people get stranded in the desert? I mean, it happens, but...

 

[webkit]

Here's a thought: Suppose you are stranded in a national park in say, January 2025 (after the free subscription is no longer offered) and you suddenly realize you are not paying and don't have access to call for help. I would imagine that you can use your phone to subscribe right then and there (as the hardware is built into the phone).

What's to stop someone from simply signing up in that emergency scenario, receiving emergency help, and then cancelling the paid subscription immediately afterward?

My point is that SOS doesn't really make sense as a paid feature. I think Apple should just offer this for free as part of iCloud (or at the very least, included in iCloud+). Free for everyone, and another example of a premium feature that is built into the Apple ecosystem.

Unless the service is expanded beyond "emergency" use only, how are you going to sign up without access to cell service or WiFi and if you have cell service or WiFi, why would you need to sign up at that time?

 

[webkit]

Give away something for free.

MacRumors members pitch and fit about Apple being greedy.

Wash, rinse, repeat.

Always repeat.

People seem fine with Apple giving away the service for free. The complaints are about the possibility of Apple eventually charging for this service.

 

[gank41]

People seem fine with Apple giving away the service for free. The complaints are about the possibility of Apple eventually charging for this service.

You're missing this entirely. For those folks like myself that already pay the maximum amount for the highest offered iCloud/AppleCare+++ tier, it makes sense to include a life saving feature already built into the phone when it's something that may only be used once during the entire life of the phone to begin with, if that.

Just imagine the PR mess Apple will be in when someone unknowingly CAN'T use this "feature" anymore because some subscription ran out. A Sub they didn't even know they were given when they bought the Phone. I've been trying to find anything in the Apple commercials for this on YouTube but I'm not seeing any "fine print" indicating this is something temporary.

 

[gank41]

OK, I finally found the "Fine Print"...

From Apple's video:

Alright, I'm only ½ retracting everything I say. This is something that's been PROVEN over the course of the last year from many reports that it works. For the 1 time someone might have to reach a satellite for help, it works great. Seems like, regardless of the cost for Apple, and considering it's more of a Safety Feature that can't be abused to run up minutes talking to a friend or texting .gif's of whatever, it should absolutely JUST BE INCLUDED in every iPhone they make, and sell it as a safety feature. I'm sure they can leverage the cost due to the massive numbers they'd be working with.

 

[tonyisit]

I’ve still not seen anything anywhere that gives an actual price for this when the subscriptions up.

I agree, there is not price or sub page with a cancel feature