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

[Abazigal]

When Apple announced the SOS via Satellite Feature for iPhone 14, did they say it was a subscription service? I cant really remember, but it seemed to be marketed at the time as a feature that you get for purchasing the newest iPhone, not a service that you would have to pay for in the future. Thoughts?

I think Apple was very careful with their wording to avoid giving people the impression that emergency SOS would be free forever. But at the same time, Apple might think they need more time to convince users of its usefulness, or may simply be waiting for more of their current user base to upgrade to an iPhone 14 or later, before attempting to charge for it.

It’s a bit reminiscent of when TV+ first released. Buyers of new hardware got it free for a year, then Apple extended the free trial when the pandemic struck and they were unable to release any new content, and then eventually started billing existing users while simultaneously announcing a service bundle.

I don’t see Apple committing to maintaining this service for free indefinitely, so I believe it’s more a question of when Apple will finally start charging users for it, not if.

 

[ShabbaRanks]

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.

To be fair, that would seem normal in the US.