Apple’s epoch-making Emergency SOS Via Satellite service is finally available! Right since its very announcement at the Apple Event 2022, there has been a buzz around the tech-world. This particular feature stands on a different pedestal altogether for its life-saving capabilities. It has been learned that this was on the cards for quite long.
Earlier, we got to know that the Apple Satellite SOS will be coming to the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro. It was one of the most exciting features of the iPhone 14 series that people were eagerly looking up to. There’s no doubt that this is not a mere smartphone feature, rather a hallmark of ground-breaking scientific innovation.
Let’s delve deeper with the iPhone Satellite SOS, which is likely to have serious ramifications in many aspects.
When you go out of cellular and Wi-Fi coverage, the new iPhone Satellite SOS will come to your rescue. [Image Credit: Apple Newsroom]
Emergency SOS Via Satellite: The Pocket-Size Life Jacket
Apple is known for coming up with brilliant innovations, time and again. They surprised the world with the introduction of Siri, a couple of years back. It’s true that Siri is now having issues and Amazon’s Alexa or Google Assistant has managed to surpass it in many departments. But this time, it has managed to pull something extraordinary off – Emergency SOS Via Satellite.
At times, we end up in extreme situations. In such circumstances, we often see that our connectivity with the world gets completely cut off. It could be an accident, it could be a network malfunction in a remote area. If unaddressed timely, such situations might have irreversible effects or turn out to become fatal. Hence, when you go out of cellular and Wi-Fi coverage, the new iPhone Satellite SOS will come to your rescue.
This is indeed massive. Because it’s not only about connectivity or providing out-of-the-box features, this can actually save lives. It’s quite humane of the Cupertino-based tech-giant, to come up with such a life-saving innovation.
Now, iPhone 14s can directly connect to a satellite thanks to a combination of custom-designed components and deeply integrated software. [Image Credit: Apple Newsroom]
iPhone Satellite SOS: How It Works?
The moment you try to contact emergency services and your network is unavailable, the option to send messages through the Apple Satellite SOS, would automatically pop up. Please remember that prior to using this feature, you have to set up your Medical ID and add emergency contacts in the health app. This is how the feature can be used –
- The phone must be kept naturally in your hand and you have to be outside with a clear view of the sky and the horizon.
- Even if the phone screen is locked, it won’t affect the satellite connection.
- When there’s no network and you have tried calling (or texting) emergency services, the ‘Emergency Text via Satellite’ option will flash on your screen. You just need to tap.
- Then tap ‘Report Emergency’ and by simple taps answer the emergency questions to describe your situation.
- You can share your current status with the emergency contacts.
- Just follow the onscreen instructions.
The moment you try to contact emergency services and your network is unavailable, the option to send messages through the Apple Satellite SOS, would automatically pop up. [Image Credit: Apple Newsroom]
iPhone 14 Has You Covered
All the models in the iPhone 14 series are now enabled to deliver Emergency SOS Via Satellite – iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, Greg Joswiak stated, “Some of the most popular places to travel are off the beaten path and simply lack cellular coverage. With Emergency SOS via satellite, the iPhone 14 lineup provides an indispensable tool that can get users the help they need while they are off the grid.”
Now, iPhone 14s can directly connect to a satellite thanks to a combination of custom-designed components and deeply integrated software. Meanwhile, it’s a huge add-on to iPhone’s wide range of emergency features – Emergency SOS, Medical ID, emergency contacts and Find My location sharing.
California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services’ director, Mark Ghilarducci hailed Apple’s gem of an innovation – “Providing Emergency SOS via satellite is an important breakthrough that will save lives. The critical work being done by Apple to create innovative new solutions to support 911 providers and first responders is a huge step forward in protecting Californians and the broader public during an emergency situation.”
The Emergency SOS Via Satellite is now available in the US and Canada for the iPhone 14 users. Come December, 2022, this extremely important emergency service will be up for grabs in France, Germany, Ireland and the UK. With the passage of time, Apple will surely introduce this SOS service in other countries too. It needs to be seen how much value this Emergency SOS Via Satellite goes on to add for Apple. But this will give it an edge over its competitors, for sure.