Testing Apple's New Emergency SOS via Satellite Feature

[MacRumors]

Apple today officially launched the new Emergency SOS via satellite feature that's available for the iPhone 14 models, so we thought we'd test it out to see just how it works.

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Emergency SOS via satellite is designed to allow users to connect to emergency services when no cellular or WiFi connection is available, such as when out hiking, camping, or driving in remote areas.

It is a feature that only becomes available to use when you don't have a connection and attempt to make a phone call or send a text, but Apple has a built-in demo feature so that users can get familiar with it without having to place an emergency call.

Under Settings > Emergency SOS, there's a new Emergency SOS via satellite section with a "Try Demo" option.

To get help quick, Emergency SOS via satellite starts off by asking a series of questions about your situation, such as whether you're lost, have been in an accident, or are injured. That information, along with your Medical ID (if activated) and location is sent along to the local emergency services.

If the local emergency services location accepts texts, the information is sent directly, and if not, it goes through a relay center with Apple-trained operators that pass the information along.

Details are sent through a text message interface that allows emergency responders to text back and forth with you to garner the information that's needed for a rescue. If you're in a car accident, for example, rescuers might ask for more details on location, your iPhone battery level, what happened, and whether you're in immediate danger from a gas or fluid leak.

Emergency SOS via satellite is meant to work outdoors with a clear view of the sky, and this facilitates the best connection. Reduced size texts can send in just 15 seconds if you have a clear view, and the iPhone guides you where to hold your iPhone for the best connection.

You'll see directions to turn left or turn right to connect to the satellite, and you'll be alerted on screen when you have a poor connection and the steps you can take to improve it, such as moving to a spot with a better view of the sky.

If there isn't a strong connection, it can take several minutes for texts to be sent back and forth, but the iPhone aims to direct you to an ideal location for communication. Emergency SOS via satellite is limited to emergency texts with emergency responders, and it is not able to be used to text friends and family.

The feature can, however, alert your emergency contacts if you are calling for help via satellite, and it can also be used to update your location via Find My when you don't have a cellular or WiFi connection. When no connection is available, you'll see an option to update your location through the "My Location via Satellite" feature under the "Me" tab in the Find My app.

Emergency SOS via satellite is available on all iPhone 14 models, and it is rolling out today. You need to be running iOS 16.1 or later to use the feature, and no software update is required. Emergency SOS via satellite is available in the United States and Canada right now, and it is expanding to France, Germany, Ireland, and the UK in December.

You can use Emergency SOS via satellite for free as of right now, and Apple has said it will be available at no cost to all iPhone 14 owners for a period of two years. There is no word as of yet on what it will cost when that two-year period expires.

Article Link: Testing Apple's New Emergency SOS via Satellite Feature

 

[Mega ST]

Fantastic feature I have to say. Not a 14 owner yet but this could be a reason to upgrade.

 

[dadiy]

But does it work if your out sailing in international water?

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Does the SOS have a major impact on the battery life? I wonder if it drains the battery a lot faster since it's communicating with the satellites and maintaining the signal. 📡🛰️

 

[Anaxarxes]

Does the SOS have a major impact on the battery life? I wonder if it drains the battery a lot faster since it's communicating with the satellites and maintaining the signal. 📡🛰️

Watching that downloaded Netflix show while being hurt & stuck in the middle of nowhere with no cell phone reception?

or, OR!

calling for help...

Tough one.

 

[Torty]

Great functionality. Hope it will safe lives.

 

[burgman]

But does it work if your out sailing in international water?

If you are doing that then you know the answer and have the correct marine emergency equipment. If not sell your boat now.

 

[Graphikos]

But does it work if your out sailing in international water?

"Emergency SOS via satellite is available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands) and Canada."... so... maybe?

 

[BobSc]

Does the SOS have a major impact on the battery life? I wonder if it drains the battery a lot faster since it's communicating with the satellites and maintaining the signal. 📡🛰️

It might. So, while you're lying there with your leg broken in 3 places, don't use SOS so you have battery left for playing a game while you may be dying. And if you're going off grid, why haven't you taken a external battery for your phone?

 

[burgman]

The use case is kinda limited. In a group and someone else is injured then maybe. If you are in a car accident and hurt, or broken leg, ankle, arm or other countless scenarios, tell me how do you answer a series of questions and then stand up and find the best signal? Made for TV emergencies, Yeah I'll keep my InReach.

 

[shaun3000]

It asks “what is your location”. Seems like there should be a way to quickly respond with GPS coordinates

 

[chouseworth]

Apple today officially launched the new Emergency SOS via satellite feature that's available for the iPhone 14 models, so we thought we'd test it out to see just how it works.....

So, the message is that if you are in a dire, life threatening situation pray that it happens in the next two years while Apple is not going to be charging you to be saved. After that, pay up, or suffer the consequences.

 

[BenGoren]

Does the SOS have a major impact on the battery life? I wonder if it drains the battery a lot faster since it's communicating with the satellites and maintaining the signal. 📡🛰️

A thought experiment.

Suppose that making the emergency call permanently destroyed your phone immediately after you’ve successfully reported your situation.

Would you even hesitate slightly before making the emergency call in such circumstances?

I can’t imagine any scenario in which I’d prefer having a working phone to alerting emergency services to my precise location and dire need for help. Even in cases where you’d really want to give updates as the situation progressed … I’d still prioritize the initial call for help over everything else.

b&

 

[BobSc]

But does it work if your out sailing in international water?

Call Apple support and they can help you with this.

 

[jaytv111]

Does the SOS have a major impact on the battery life? I wonder if it drains the battery a lot faster since it's communicating with the satellites and maintaining the signal. 📡🛰️

It's not constantly maintaining a signal. That's how a satellite phone works, but satellite messaging devices like the iPhone or Garmin Inreach send data out as a burst, it either gets received or it keeps trying to send the message, usually satellites move relative to you so you get a better signal for a few seconds and a worse signal for a few seconds. That's why they get away without a large antenna like you would see on satellite phones, they don't need to maintain a signal so much as just retry until it gets sent.

Anyways the battery life is probably about comparable to if you had 1 bar of cellular, meaning it's trying and retrying the same data transfer, but they expect you to only need maybe 10 minutes to send a message and once it's received that's good enough to initiate a rescue, it would be okay if your phone lost all battery after, the rescuer would just go to your last known location.

 

[compwiz1202]

I wonder what happens if you initiate it after hitting your head and you go unconscious. Will they come like the crash detection if you don't continue answering?

 

[jaytv111]

I wonder what happens if you initiate it after hitting your head and you go unconscious. Will they come like the crash detection if you don't continue answering?

Once you initiate it, and assuming the message is received, they will come no matter if you continue communicating, they don't take the chance that you might have lost all battery or fell or whatever.

 

[IIGS User]

The use case is kinda limited. In a group and someone else is injured then maybe. If you are in a car accident and hurt, or broken leg, ankle, arm or other countless scenarios, tell me how do you answer a series of questions and then stand up and find the best signal? Made for TV emergencies, Yeah I'll keep my InReach.

If you're in a car accident that triggers crash detection, it doesn't ask you questions. It starts making a god awful racket like fall detection and if you don't stop it, it automatically calls emergency services and provides your location, the triggering event (crash, fall, etc) and the information you entered into your medical app.

It's clearly not a panacea, but another option when all other options have been exhausted. Most people aren't going to carry an additional device like an InReach when they travel from day to day.

Even if you were injured, and this feature never existed, you would still have to call 911 and let a call taker know where you were and what was wrong. So the whole "answer a series of questions" argument is moot. You may, or may not have to stand up to access the service, depending on your orientation and the circumstances of your emergency, or you may not.

But in a situation where all other connectivity options are off the table, it's nice to know you have SOME sort of option.

 

[ohthehorror]

Garmin inReach.

 

[citysnaps]

But does it work if your out sailing in international water?

You should have an EPIRB on your boat. Use that.

 

[citysnaps]

Garmin inReach.

No need for one as I own an iPhone 14 PM.

 

[16Paws]

Garmin inReach.

An expensive device with an expensive subscription (and expensive start/stop fees). If you need something like that, GREAT, I am glad that it exists, but this isn't for that person.

 

[burgman]

No need for one as I own an iPhone 14 PM.

The cloak of Apple, I feel safer already...

 

[erinsarah]

Dang, the snark in this comment feed is off the charts. Lots of people seem to have the answers here, and clearly more expertise than, say, the development team that had to learn to make the phone communicate with freaking satellites. Someone call Apple HR, these people need to be hired right now!

Personally I see this as an amazing feature I will likely never need. But good to know it's there. Some day I might be mountain biking with a friend in the middle of nowhere with no cell connection, and that friend gets mauled by a wildebeest. It's good to know that I won't have to strap him to my bike rack to get him to safety, and instead can summon help.

 

[The Barron]

But does it work if your out sailing in international water?

I'm sure it would seeing as it's going to a satellite.