Apple iPhone 14 Emergency SOS Satellite Feature Explained!

Here is everything you need to know about Apple’s new Emergency SOS via satellite feature on iPhone 14 devices. Apple announced satellite emergency SOS for iPhone 14 with the release of iOS 16 firmware. Many authentic sources are praising it as a game changer for safety.

If you want to know how it works, how helpful is it and what are the drawback or limitations you might encounter, keep reading to learn more.

Table of Contents

What Is Apple’s Emergency SOS Feature?

Coming to all iPhone 14 models, the new Emergency SOS via Satellite functionality enhances the usefulness of carrying Apple’s flagship smartphones in a wide variety of situations.

Depending on the circumstances you find yourself in, such as the absence of Wi-Fi connectivity or no cellular network coverage, you can use the feature to send emergency text messages to rescue services and avoid potentially harmful scenarios.

When Does Emergency SOS Via Satellite Feature Enable?

Emergency SOS starts to work whenever your device loses connection with a cellular signal or Wi-Fi. It is important to note that you can only send emergency messages using this service, at least for now. The ability to make calls may arrive later.

Although not confirmed yet, Apple could opt to introduce a voice call function when the infrastructure is advanced enough to ensure a wider coverage area.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the feature works only outdoors. So when using an iPhone 14 handset, make sure that you’re not indoors. For clear reception, head outside, under the open sky, while maintaining enough space in your immediate vicinity to establish a clear pathway for the handset to communicate with satellites.

Problems You May Face While Using Emergency SOS On iPhone:

Since the technology still requires improvements in certain areas, it is going to take time before being ready to deliver reliable service across geographical locations, irrespective of intrusions and obstructions from surrounding elements. For instance, signal reception quality could deteriorate if there are trees, mountains, buildings, or other physical objects nearby.

Moreover, you may have to take turns to the right or left, based on the instructions your iPhone sends, while at the same time pointing upwards at the sky to keep the connection with the satellite from dropping. And the whole process can take up to a few minutes, depending on your surroundings.

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Shortly after successfully connecting your iPhone 14 to a satellite, you can send text messages. Your emergency text will go to two sources: emergency services operating in your area, to which your message will deliver directly, and a relay service, which will then make an emergency call on your behalf.

As far as the time it takes for emergency messages to reach rescue services, it can range between a few seconds to a few minutes. Response time is contingent on the strength of contact your iPhone 14 and satellite can maintain among themselves.

To speed up communication, Apple claims it utilizes a compression algorithm to downsize the emergency text’s bandwidth. That said, that workaround can quickly lose its effectiveness if the satellite connection stays unstable.

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Type Of User Data Shared During Communication:

After your contact with an emergency or relay service, the device will share essential data about your current location, situation, and battery life. In case your location changes after a while, communication with emergency services will continue so that you can keep providing them with precise information.

Also bear in mind that Emergency SOS via satellite may stop working in places situated above 62° latitude, impacting many locations in regions like Alaska, northern Canada, and others.

Using Apple’s Find My Network To Share Your Location:

There is one more trick related to Emergency SOS via a satellite that you would find helpful. Your friends and family will receive information about your location as it can also appear on Apple’s Find My network which can continue to show your last known spot (or updated one provided you continue to send details on Find My) without a Wi-Fi or mobile network signal, who can then contact emergency services to inform them of your location if satellite connection continues to give you trouble.

Is Emergency SOS Currently Available On Brand New iPhone 14 Smartphones?

Unfortunately, no. Initially, Emergency SOS via satellite is coming only to the U.S. and Canada. The feature is set to arrive sometime in November.

People in regions outside of the United States and Canada can start using the Emergency SOS after its official launch. However, the service is not available in China, Hong Kong, and Macao until further notice.

Is It Available For Free?

Yes, for now. Apple will offer free satellite connectivity on all iPhone 14 models for a period of up to two years, after which users will have to spend money on a monthly or yearly subscription to continue using the Emergency SOS feature. The Cupertino tech giant has not disclosed any pricing plans, for which we will have to wait until the official announcement.

Is Apple Using Its Own Satellite For Emergency SOS On iPhone 14?

Although rumors are suggesting Apple has plans to launch its own satellite, at present, the iPhone maker is collaborating with Globalstar on providing Emergency SOS service. According to MacRumors, an SEC filing shows Globalstar has guaranteed to dedicate 85 percent of its current and future network capacity to support iPhone 14 models, as well as any future iPhones that come equipped with satellite connectivity.

As per the contract agreed between the two companies, Globalstar will handle all resource allocation responsibilities. But as you probably might have guessed, all this comes at a cost. Apple is probably carrying some of the costs associated with allowing iPhone 14 models to communicate with the satellite, and after two years, that burden will shift onto the shoulders of individual owners.

In conclusion, we would say that Emergency SOS is largely a work in progress, and users are likely to run into connectivity issues while attempting to communicate with a satellite in range. As with all things tech, the quality of service is bound to improve as the infrastructure around the technology developed further while companies involved gather more data to alleviate stability and reliability concerns.