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Apple Launches Emergency SOS via Satellite in US and Canada (zdnet.com) 41

Posted by msmash from the moving-forward dept.
Apple on Tuesday announced that Emergency SOS via satellite is officially available to iPhone 14 users in the US and Canada. Next month, Apple will launch Emergency SOS via satellite in France, Germany, Ireland, and the UK. Apple is enabling the feature on all iPhone 14 models that are running iOS 16.1, which was released near the end of October. From a report: If you have the feature, you'll see a new section detailing your phone's new capability of connecting to satellites, and offering a demo mode for you to get a feel for what the process is like should you ever have to use it. For those unfamiliar, Emergency SOS via Satellite will allow an iPhone 14 owner to contact emergency services when in an area without cellular or Wi-Fi coverage. The feature is triggered by calling 911 when "SOS" is shown at the top of the iPhone's screen where the cellular coverage bars are normally visible. Once you're connected to a satellite, you'll either directly exchange messages with a local dispatcher if they accept text messages, or talk with local emergency services using an Apple-trained emergency specialist as a go-between.
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Apple Launches Emergency SOS via Satellite in US and Canada More

Apple Launches Emergency SOS via Satellite in US and Canada

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  • Uhm, maybe things have changed in the meantime, but I recall certain countries (for example, India) having strict rules about possession of ANY unlicensed satellite radio, to the extent that you had to declare not having any of these devices with you if traveling to the country. How would that work with these new iPhone models? Do I understand correctly that they include a sat antenna?

    • Nope, they can go direct to normal 5G devices from a satellite now. And I thought 4G but I'm not seeing that right now

      • Re:Is there a satellite antenna? How about India e (Score:5, Informative)

        by EvilSS ( 557649 ) on Tuesday November 15, 2022 @01:09PM (#63053519)
        You are conflating the Apple/Globalstar SoS feature with the T-Mobile/Starlink 5G service. Apple SoS uses Globalstar's L band for uplink and S band for downlink. It does not use 5G.

        • Wow, I never would have imagined they would want to add more hardware in when it can all be outside of the phone. I mean everyone is going to have this service soon enough without having to go to the trouble. Thanks though.

          • Re: (Score:2)

            by EvilSS ( 557649 )
            Well "soon" might be a stretch. They are looking to launch a beta by the end of next year, and service would probably start sometime in 2024. But that is relying on Starlink to keep their planned schedule since this relies on their newest gen sats being in place. I would not be surprised if it slipped into 2025.

            In the mean time we know Apple and Starlink had talks, and in the end Apple decided to buy out a fuck-ton of Globalstar's capacity and add hardware to the phones for this. Now this could just be a

        • Re:Is there a satellite antenna? How about India e (Score:4, Funny)

          by NoMoreACs ( 6161580 ) on Tuesday November 15, 2022 @05:12PM (#63054141)

          You are conflating the Apple/Globalstar SoS feature with the T-Mobile/Starlink 5G service. Apple SoS uses Globalstar's L band for uplink and S band for downlink. It does not use 5G.

          And the Starlink/T-Mobile service uses Hopes and Dreams; since it is entirely Vaporware.

  • Attention Millennials -- (Score:2, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward
    Musk buying Twitter is NOT considered an emergency. Please do not use satellite feature to report this.

    • Troll? ... but I laughed, especially after he fired the Twitter engineer that publicly corrected him.

  • ...that you always have a solar charger with you: "Help! I'm at<battery dies>"

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by slazzy ( 864185 )
      I'm pretty sure your GPS coords will be sent in meta-data. But you're right though, sat. radios will eat through the battery pretty fast. Personally I think it's a great idea, I look forward to buying an iPhone 14 in 3 years or so when I can get one used for a $200 or so.

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by vanyel ( 28049 )

        I am too, that was basically a metaphorical message...it doesn't even depend on the satellite eating batteries - you will want to make sure the phone actually lasts through your time in the hinterlands and isn't dead just when you need it...

      • I'm pretty sure your GPS coords will be sent in meta-data. But you're right though, sat. radios will eat through the battery pretty fast. Personally I think it's a great idea, I look forward to buying an iPhone 14 in 3 years or so when I can get one used for a $200 or so.

        Coordinates and Battery Level are sent.

    • ...that you always have a solar charger with you: "Help! I'm at<battery dies>"

      One of the things Transmitted is Battery Charge Level, BTW.

      Almost like Apple thought this thing through...

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by antdude ( 79039 )

      Assuming you have sun. :P Also, you need BIG solar panels to carry.

  • This just generally seems good (Score:3)

    by cfalcon ( 779563 ) on Tuesday November 15, 2022 @01:19PM (#63053555)

    This is one of those rare cases where a technology is being used without any apparent downside, and without too much cost. It probably won't get much response or notice because outrage fuels everything these days, but this just seems good.

    • This is one of those rare cases where a technology is being used without any apparent downside, and without too much cost. It probably won't get much response or notice because outrage fuels everything these days, but this just seems good.

      This is going to lead to more weekend warriors getting lost who re also unprepared to be stranded. After all, if you have a fantasy that your iPhone will let a helicopter pluck you out for whatever place on earth you have gotten stuck in , why bother bring emergency gear for your day hike? Why not just go off that path and explore ?? https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/29... [cnn.com]

      • Re: (Score:3)

        by tlhIngan ( 30335 )

        This is going to lead to more weekend warriors getting lost who re also unprepared to be stranded. After all, if you have a fantasy that your iPhone will let a helicopter pluck you out for whatever place on earth you have gotten stuck in , why bother bring emergency gear for your day hike? Why not just go off that path and explore ??

        Considering how often it happens right now, I don't think it will lead to more. Most 911 calls for unprepared hikers are already extremely weak and only made because they finall

  • Just tested it (Score:3)

    by Smonster ( 2884001 ) on Tuesday November 15, 2022 @01:58PM (#63053685)
    And it was super simple. This is badass. As someone who spends dozens of weekends a year in cell signal free remote back country (though who has admittedly been thus far smart and lucky enough to never need be rescued) I think this feature is wonderful.
    • Good for you! I don't seem to be able to test it. I have a 14 Pro Max and live in the US. Been on the phone with Apple and they say it is only available when out of coverage area. The ZDnet article is what I was going by when I called. Apparently Apple tech support has not been updated on this. I am hoping the setting shows up on my phone soon but as of now I see no way to test it and no access to the demo mode referred to in the article.
      • Belay that! Setting is now available. It is in fact very simple. There will be questions from the emergency services when activated. I hope the questions are not too involved in case you are injured to the point that you can't answer very well. With SPOT, all you do it push a button.
  • I wonder what SPOT will make of this.

  • How long before the first lawsuit because it doesn't work when someone needs it and they suffer whatever consequences for being a dumbass for putting themselves in the situation that they want to blame Apple for?

  • Apple better have a fullscreen warning notifying them that using emergency SOS frequencies when they don't need them will result in big fines. Emergency frequencies aren't a toy, and your prank could mean slower response times for people who really need help.

    • Apple better have a fullscreen warning notifying them that using emergency SOS frequencies when they don't need them will result in big fines. Emergency frequencies aren't a toy, and your prank could mean slower response times for people who really need help.

      You aren't calling 911 directly.

      Watch this:

      https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=... [youtube.com]

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by tlhIngan ( 30335 )

      Apple better have a fullscreen warning notifying them that using emergency SOS frequencies when they don't need them will result in big fines. Emergency frequencies aren't a toy, and your prank could mean slower response times for people who really need help.

      They aren't using emergency frequencies. Emeregency frequencies are useless.

      All that happened is Apple put in a Globalstar modem in their phone. In other words, it can act like a satellite phone in an emergency.

      Using this service for non-emergencies is

  • It might behoove you to read the articles I found here [apple.com] and here [apple.com] so you have at least a passing understanding of what Apple is doing, what can be done and what can't be done.

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