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As good as this feature is, I wonder how many people (hundreds? thousands?) have been saved/rescued over the years with zero publicity due to a Garmin InReach or similar device. Anyone hiking remote trails (or doing similarly risky outdoor activities) should have some form of satellite communicator.
Zero publicity because those devices are meant for literally ONLY that.
 
Well… many people say apple doesn’t innovate anymore. But, where was Android on this, and making it work so well, for everyone as long as you have a 14 or newer??
Not to minimize how good it is to have Emergency SOS on the iPhone 14, but, IMO, innovating would have been Apple creating the satellite networks that their Emergency SOS service operates on. All Apple did was add a feature to their iPhones. Satellite phones and Emergency SOS devices like the Garmin InReach have been on the market for many years.

If Apple adding an Emergency SOS feature in innovating then so is Apple adding new emojis to iOS.

Why doesn't Garmin get the same type of coverage for saving lives as Apple?


 
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You can send your location to someone? I was under the assumption that the only feature was to send an SOS. It sounds like the feature on my Zoleo device where you push a button and it sends an "I'm ok" message to somebody. I think the Garmin InReach has it too. This will make me consider upgrading from my iPhone 13. Thanks for that info.
You can indeed, right from the FindMy app (or Maps). You can broadcast every 30 minutes. It's not to anyone specific, it just updates your tracking location. So anyone that is able to track your location will see it. It puts a little sat icon next to it on the map.

 
In related news, seatbelts in cars have saved 100 lives in the past five minutes.
While it's a mildly interesting feature, it's difficult to see how these few incidents of someone being rescued are worth reporting on.
Seat belts are required equipment in all cars. Satellite communication is not on all mobile phones. THAT'S why these stories generate interest.
 
OTOH, Android has had OLED tablets for over a decade. And Android is getting satellite SOS as well now, and will allow for two-way messaging: https://www.qualcomm.com/news/relea...-snapdragon-satellite--the-world-s-first-sate
Good to see the technology spreading as it has a lot of life saving potential, as shown by this story even!

But it is too early to know how this will play out for Android. Currently, Apple is footing the bill for the service and hasn't yet disclosed how they'll charge for it (or if they will). For Android, that means you'll likely end up with a very patchwork landscape depending on if the OEM decides to pay for it (and for how long) or if it will require a separate expense and to who you'd pay. The complexity alone will likely limit the competitive pushback Android can offer here.
 
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In related news, seatbelts in cars have saved 100 lives in the past five minutes.
While it's a mildly interesting feature, it's difficult to see how these few incidents of someone being rescued are worth reporting on.

Nice that you believe you're speaking for everyone, believing you're the arbiter of what should be reported.

But you're not.

MacRumors should report every single incident where an iPhone saves a user's life.

Rather than getting worked up about another person's life being saved, simply move on to the next story. Easy.
 
Not to minimize how good it is to have Emergency SOS on the iPhone 14, but, IMO, innovating would have been Apple creating the satellite networks that their Emergency SOS service operates on. All Apple did was add a feature to their iPhones. Satellite phones and Emergency SOS devices like the Garmin InReach have been on the market for many years.

If Apple adding an Emergency SOS feature in innovating then so is Apple adding new emojis to iOS.

Why doesn't Garmin get the same type of coverage for saving lives as Apple?



"All Apple did was add a feature to their iPhones"

Really?

 
Not to minimize how good it is to have Emergency SOS on the iPhone 14, but, IMO, innovating would have been Apple creating the satellite networks that their Emergency SOS service operates on. All Apple did was add a feature to their iPhones. Satellite phones and Emergency SOS devices like the Garmin InReach have been on the market for many years.

If Apple adding an Emergency SOS feature in innovating then so is Apple adding new emojis to iOS.

Why doesn't Garmin get the same type of coverage for saving lives as Apple?


Two reasons are my guess:
1. It’s equipment you purchase and,
2. Have to pay for the service.
 
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No the iPhone did not "save her"

Her friends could have simply walked back to their car or any other place with signal and then called 911. Sitting with a broken ankle would not have been pleasant but she was in no particular danger
 
I personally find this feature very useful as we off road very deep into the back country with no service and love that I have the satellite access on my 14 pro max. And so far everytime we have left cell range, I see the satellite icon right away.
 
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"All Apple did was add a feature to their iPhones"

Really?

Yes, really. The press release says Apple is provided companies with funding so they (not Apple) can develop/enhance the technology that makes Emergency SOS possible.


Apple’s $450 million investment from its Advanced Manufacturing Fund will go to the development of critical infrastructure supporting Emergency SOS via satellite, including the expansion and enhancement of Globalstar ground stations in Alaska, Florida, Hawaii, Nevada, Puerto Rico, and Texas.


After the companies (not Apple) developed the the critical infrastructure supporting Emergency SOS via satellite, Apple added the Emergency SOS via satellite feature to the iPhone 14 line up.
 
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Yes, really. The press release says Apple is provided companies with funding so they (not Apple) can develop/enhance the technology that makes Emergency SOS possible.


Apple’s $450 million investment from its Advanced Manufacturing Fund will go to the development of critical infrastructure supporting Emergency SOS via satellite, including the expansion and enhancement of Globalstar ground stations in Alaska, Florida, Hawaii, Nevada, Puerto Rico, and Texas.


After the companies (not Apple) developed the the critical infrastructure supporting Emergency SOS via satellite, Apple added the Emergency SOS via satellite feature to the iPhone 14 line up.
So apple provided seed money. Developed a product based on the work that was done with the seed money and released it as a value added feature on the iPhone 14.

Sounds like business as usual in the business world. Consumers who acquired a iPhone 14 get two free (at least) years of emergency satellite SOS without doing anything or buying anything extra or subscribing to any service.

Seems like a win-win all the way around. And if the functionality doesn’t suit one, don’t use it or get a more “professional “ device with a subscription.
 
Yes, really. The press release says Apple is provided companies with funding so they (not Apple) can develop/enhance the technology that makes Emergency SOS possible.


Apple’s $450 million investment from its Advanced Manufacturing Fund will go to the development of critical infrastructure supporting Emergency SOS via satellite, including the expansion and enhancement of Globalstar ground stations in Alaska, Florida, Hawaii, Nevada, Puerto Rico, and Texas.


After the companies (not Apple) developed the the critical infrastructure supporting Emergency SOS via satellite, Apple added the Emergency SOS via satellite feature to the iPhone 14 line up.

You might not be aware that Apple is not in the satellite business. That's not Apple's area of expertise. To replicate Globalstar's satellites and ground stations worldwide would likely cost $100 billion. That would be an extraordinarily poor use of capitol and take many years to setup.

Thus, Apple partnered with Globalstar, and funded almost a half billion dollars to upgrade their infrastructure to meet Apple's needs and requirements. Apple will also be making larger investments in the future according to news reports.

Yeah, I get it. That's not enough for you. No amount of $ would be, or making sound business decisions not duplicating what Globalstar already has in place. I suspect Apple will be acquiring Globalstar in the coming years.
 
So apple provided seed money. Developed a product based on the work that was done with the seed money and released it as a value added feature on the iPhone 14.

Sounds like business as usual in the business world. Consumers who acquired a iPhone 14 get two free (at least) years of emergency satellite SOS without doing anything or buying anything extra or subscribing to any service.

Seems like a win-win all the way around. And if the functionality doesn’t suit one, don’t use it or get a more “professional “ device with a subscription.

Spot on. It just works...as the saying goes. And saves lives.
 
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Just wait until there’s a death from someone who didn’t wear their seatbelts. It’s up to the person to decide how they want to protect themselves and what electronic gear to bring along. Dont blame apple here.
I’ve changed my mind after reading through all the comments here. Like others have said, being able to purchase the service through the satellites would be an okay implementation, however there’s still an issue of search and rescue resources being strained when someone drastically irresponsible/unprepared gets lost and still is unable to pay for whatever reason (expired card, some unforeseen charge emptied their account, etc), so a way to charge them after the rescue would be best. The faster a person is found the sooner resources can go to someone or something else.
 
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Agreed. Just wait until there’s a death from someone who got lost with an iPhone 14 on them since they didn’t pay the extra for this.
Possible solution would be billing the user afterwards? Maybe more of a fee than a user that is subscribed? There’s definitely good ways they could handle it
 
As good as this feature is, I wonder how many people (hundreds? thousands?) have been saved/rescued over the years with zero publicity due to a Garmin InReach or similar device. Anyone hiking remote trails (or doing similarly risky outdoor activities) should have some form of satellite communicator.
That product is marketed for that. It’s what you pay for. It’s standalone insurance. The iPhone is an added benefit. One most people don’t even realize they have yet. That’s what’s impressive - not to mention all the technology packed in the sleek device.

As someone who has used and paid for those other services… they are terrible and terribly expensive for the just-in-case use and they require more than just-in-case management (Subscriptions, settings, contact lists, batteries, chargers, software, sometimes maps). On the iPhone, it’s a background service for a back of the mind scenario - the way such insurance should be. We still don’t know what Apple will charge for this service, but the fact that I will almost always have my phone on me anyway and don’t have to worry about additional software updates and battery chargers and subscriptions, I will GLADLY say goodbye to garmin.

They will survive, but they have been able to keep with their clunky, expensive, poorly designed interfaces for too long. They need some market competition.

And if you read the article, one of the saves came from a driver who drove off the road and had crash detection and sos work to contact services. Folks don’t generally carry a spot device just driving. This is a remarkable service and deserves absolute applause every time it’s used.

I understand your comment - and yes, garmin has saved lives. But when this is well known, it will far outpace the usefulness of those clunky, specialty emergency beacons.
 
Possible solution would be billing the user afterwards? Maybe more of a fee than a user that is subscribed? There’s definitely good ways they could handle it
Yeah, I gave it more thought and that sounds reasonable. I hope they figure out a way to charge after someone is rescued since even being able to pay while stranded has room for people to be locked out (expired card, or their account was emptied by an unexpected charge). Of course people should make sure their emergency gear is working but there will always be those who aren’t smart and end up straining search and rescue resources. Having this be pay-after would lessen that strain as much as possible.
 
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