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iPhone Roadside Assistance via Satellite Feature Now Available in UK

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Apple's Roadside Assistance via Satellite feature for iPhones is now live in the United Kingdom, based on a recent update to Apple's support documentation.

apple-roadside-assistance.jpg

The quiet launch follows Apple's announcement during its iPhone 16 event in September that the feature would expand to the UK later in the year.

Roadside Assistance via Satellite enables iPhone users to contact breakdown services in areas without cellular or Wi-Fi coverage. UK breakdown rescue service Green Flag has partnered with Apple to provide assistance to stranded motorists via the feature in areas with poor connectivity.

According to the updated support page, the service is available on a pay-per-use basis for those who are not Green Flag members, though specific pricing details have not been disclosed. Apple offers its satellite services, including Roadside Assistance, free for the first two years with the purchase of an iPhone 14 or later.

For Roadside Assistance via Satellite to work when outside of cellular and Wi-Fi coverage, users need to be in an open area with a clear view of the sky and horizon, according to Apple.

To use the feature, open the Messages app and start a new message. Next, type "roadside" into the address field, and a "Roadside Assistance" option will appear. Tap on "Roadside Assistance" and follow the on-screen instructions to connect your iPhone to a satellite and request help.

The feature is compatible with iPhone 14 and newer models running iOS 17 or later. The UK expansion follows Apple's established partnerships with AAA and Verizon Roadside Assistance in the US.

(Thanks, Jack!)

Article Link: iPhone Roadside Assistance via Satellite Feature Now Available in UK
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2024/10/17/roadside-assistance-via-satellite-available-uk/
Possibly quite a useful feature, glad to see it in the UK. Never know when you may need it and the UK doesn’t have coverage everywhere… despite it being 2024 and the UK being a not huge island. A bug bear of mine living in the UK.
 
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Pezimak said:
Possibly quite a useful feature, glad to see it in the UK. Never know when you may need it and the UK doesn’t have coverage everywhere… despite it being 2024 and the UK being a not huge island. A bug bear of mine living in the UK.
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What network are you on? I haven't had no signal at all whilst being on road where this feature would be used in a long time.
 
Fraserh02 said:
What network are you on? I haven't had no signal at all whilst being on road where this feature would be used in a long time.
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Three and EE. And I am in Dorset and there are black spots. The UK does not have coverage everywhere. The 3G switch off has also made it worst in some areas on different networks. This feature will certainly help in more rural areas.
 
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Pezimak said:
Three and EE. And I am in Dorset and there are black spots. The UK does not have coverage everywhere. The 3G switch off has also made it worst in some areas on different networks. This feature will certainly help in more rural areas.
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I'm on Three and even in London there are occasional areas without coverage, although less likely in the middle of the road.
 
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Don't forget like MOST of the highlands in Scotland and especially on the islands. This would be super cool for them. I didn't realise iMessage via satellite hadn't rolled out here so couldn't work out why I couldn't do it on a ferry in the middle of the Bay of Biscay a few weeks back.

I'd also like to know what the ongoing price for this will be too. Originally when all the satellite stuff was launched with the iPhone 14 (Pro/Pro Max??) - Apple said it was going to be free for two years. Hasn't it been two years now for those who bought iPhones and tried it then? No mention of costs moving forwards and it's only going to get bigger.
 
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PeteS1963 said:
I spent most days out in the New Forest and there are large areas with no signal at all. Doesn’t matter what network you are on. Forestry England doesn’t like mobile masts in what is a SSSI.
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In GB you have to go to the left side of the forest, then it works (sry but i had to...) 🤣.
 
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Poisednoise said:
Wondering whether it’s worth pointing out that over a third of the world’s population, including that of the world’s most populous country, drive on the left. It’s not as uncommon as you might think.
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Well, i was in America for a long time and got used to the jokes about England. And a good joke should be told. Even though I love all people.
 
Annoying when Apple enter partnerships for things like this with just a single service provider, i.e. Green Flag. I hope there's no exclusivity in this arrangement, and the likes of the RAC and AA will be included soon.
 
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So in an emergency I have to remember that I need to write a message to “roadside” that’s not in my address book to access what we call breakdown assistance in the Uk.

Does anyone remember when Apple made things easy to use? Jobs wouldn’t have let this get past the testing phase with an interface like that.
 
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Pezimak said:
Three and EE. And I am in Dorset and there are black spots. The UK does not have coverage everywhere. The 3G switch off has also made it worst in some areas on different networks. This feature will certainly help in more rural areas.
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Three has black spots everywhere, it's a Mickey Mouse Network!
 
Poisednoise said:
Wondering whether it’s worth pointing out that over a third of the world’s population, including that of the world’s most populous country, drive on the left. It’s not as uncommon as you might think.
Click to expand...
It's a bit like voting in elections, 2 thirds always get it wrong
 
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Pezimak said:
Three and EE. And I am in Dorset and there are black spots. The UK does not have coverage everywhere. The 3G switch off has also made it worst in some areas on different networks. This feature will certainly help in more rural areas.
Click to expand...
Untill they start to move 3g spectrum to 4g/5g, that will result in better coverage and capacity but changing every tranciever ( an possibly other components too) will take time but keep watching those black spots my suspicion is that the'll be disappearing/shrinking in a lot of cases
 
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Poisednoise said:
Wondering whether it’s worth pointing out that over a third of the world’s population, including that of the world’s most populous country, drive on the left. It’s not as uncommon as you might think.
Click to expand...
Yea, but that is more a statistical bug due to the fact that India is a former British colony and they dispd non elect to change the driving side ( if I'm not misinformed) when they gaind their freedom, fast forward to today, and what do you know they have over a billion people. Might this one fact possebly skew the numbers a bit? What would the situation be if the Brits had not colonised India or India had decided to drive on the right side of the road post liberation. Ok I'm engaging in a bit of whataboutism here, but I hope that does not detract to much from mu point
 
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bn-7bc said:
Yea, but that is more a statistical bug due to the fact that India is a former British colony and they dispd non elect to change the driving side ( if I'm not misinformed) when they gaind their freedom, fast forward to today, and what do you know they have over a billion people. Might this one fact possebly skew the numbers a bit? What would the situation be if the Brits had not colonised India or India had decided to drive on the right side of the road post liberation. Ok I'm engaging in a bit of whataboutism here, but I hope that does not detract to much from mu point
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I think you are all over thinking about which side of the road to drive on 😂
 
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