When Apple announced the iPhone 14 series, it announced that the satellite-based Emergency SOS service would launch in November. He repeated this last week and gave a little more information. Today, the service is live in the US and Canada.
In addition, Apple also revealed that the feature will go live in four more countries next month…
Satellite emergency SOS
The iPhone 14’s emergency SOS via satellite feature was one of the key announcements made at the launch event, and the reason for the Far Out name and the space photos.
The service operates through specially designed Globalstar satellites to deliver services to smartphones. It provides access to 911 services when you are in isolated areas without cellular coverage.
The service will eventually be subscription-based, but Apple says it will be free for all iPhone 14 owners in supported countries for the first two years. We don’t yet know how much the subscription will cost at the end of the free period.
Lives in the USA and Canada
Apple announced it today.
Apple today announced that its groundbreaking Emergency SOS safety service via satellite is now available to customers in the US and Canada. Available on all iPhone 14 models, this innovative technology allows users to send messages to emergency services outside of cellular and Wi-Fi coverage. Additionally, if users want to reassure friends and family about their location when traveling off-grid, they can now open the Find My app and share their location via satellite. Satellite Emergency SOS is available in the US and Canada starting today, November 15th.
“Some of the most popular places to travel are off the beaten track and simply lack mobile coverage. With Emergency SOS via satellite, the iPhone 14 series provides an indispensable tool that can provide users with the help they need when they are off the grid,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing. “Our teams have worked tirelessly to overcome a new set of technical challenges to bring this service to life, in addition to building reliable infrastructure on the ground. Satellite Emergency SOS is a revolutionary service available only on the iPhone 14 series, and a new innovation that we hope will give our customers some peace of mind.
The company then announced availability plans for four more countries.
[It] coming to France, Germany, Ireland and the UK in December.
Available for all iPhone 14 models
The feature is available on all iPhone 14 models.
Each model in the iPhone 14 line – iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max – can connect directly to a satellite through a combination of specially designed components and deeply integrated software.
Satellite Emergency SOS builds on existing features essential to iPhone users, including Emergency SOS, Medical ID, Emergency Contacts and Location Sharing, allowing for a connection to a satellite for a 360-degree approach to sharing critical information in emergency. services, family and friends.
This revolutionary service allows Public Safety Response Points (PSAPs) – or emergency response centers – to connect to even more users in emergency situations and requires no additional software or protocol to enable communication. Users will be connected directly to emergency services equipped to receive text messages or to relay centers with Apple-trained emergency response specialists ready to contact PSAPs that cannot receive text messages on the user’s behalf.
How it works
Apple introduced us to the service during the keynote and summarized how the service works.
iPhone can quickly and easily call emergency services if a user needs help, even if they are unable to call 911. With Emergency SOS via satellite – introduced with the iPhone 14 line – if a user is unable to reach emergency services because no cellular or Wi-Fi coverage is available, a user-friendly interface appears on the iPhone for user assistance using a satellite connection. A short questionnaire appears to help the user answer essential questions with a few simple clicks, which are sent to the coordinators in the initial message to ensure they are able to quickly understand a user’s situation and location. Apple has worked closely with experts to review standard questions and protocols to identify the most common reasons for calling emergency services.
After the questionnaire, the intuitive interface guides the user where to point his iPhone to connect and sends the first message. This message contains the answers to the user’s questionnaire; location, including height; iPhone battery level; and Medical ID, if enabled. The questionnaire and follow-up messages are sent directly via satellite to dispatchers who accept text messages or to relay centers staffed by Apple-trained specialists who can call for help on the user’s behalf. The transcript can also be shared with the user’s emergency contacts to keep them informed.
A key advantage is that 911 centers do not need additional equipment to receive these messages.
“We dedicate our lives to helping people in need, but inevitably there are people who are unable to contact a dispatcher. Emergency SOS via satellite will allow us to help iPhone users in more remote areas, who otherwise wouldn’t be able to reach us,” said Jennifer Kirkland, ENP, 911 Center Manager at the Grand Junction Regional Communication Center. “Because this service does not require any additional technology for PSAPs [Public Safety Answering Points]and because Apple has implemented a relay center model familiar to 911 operators, we can expect a smooth rollout, both for PSAPs that accept text messages and for those that are still voice-only.
The feature includes a demo mode so you can familiarize yourself with how it works so you’re ready for a real emergency.
Using the built-in Satellite Emergency SOS Demo, users can test satellite connectivity on their iPhone by connecting to a real satellite within range without calling emergency services, allowing them to experience the process and become familiar with the service.
The system also extends the availability of the localization function.
For users who go off-grid but don’t face an emergency, this advanced technology also allows them to share their location via satellite with Find My. In the Find My app, users can open the Me tab, swipe up to see My Satellite Location, and then tap Send My Location. The iPhone 14 series satellite connection also works with other safety features available on iPhone and Apple Watch, including collision detection and fall detection.
Apple has provided a support document for the service.
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