Apple Extends Free Satellite SOS Service

Apple has recently extended its innovative Emergency SOS via satellite service for an additional year at no cost to existing iPhone 14 users. This groundbreaking technology, initially launched a year ago for iPhone 14 models in the U.S. and Canada, is now also available for the iPhone 15 lineup in 16 countries and regions. It enables users to text with emergency services even in areas without cellular and Wi-Fi coverage.

One striking example of the service's effectiveness occurred in the Angeles National Forest. In this incident, two individuals in their 20s were driving when their car went off the road and fell approximately 300 feet down a mountain. Located about 19 miles into the forest with no cell coverage and possibly injured, they used the iPhone 14's satellite communication service. This feature allowed them to establish a connection with a satellite, sending their location and situation details to a relay service, which then informed the local authorities. The Montrose Search & Rescue Team received accurate coordinates for the victims and conducted a successful rescue operation. A helicopter located the victims and a paramedic was inserted. Both individuals, despite sustaining mild to moderate injuries, were safely hoisted out of the canyon and transported to a local hospital.

In addition to this life-saving feature, the service includes other safety functionalities. Users can open the Find My app to share their location via satellite, use Crash Detection to automatically dial emergency services after a severe car crash, and utilize the Check-In feature to inform friends and family when they have safely reached their destination. The Health app also allows users to set up a Medical ID to help first responders access critical medical information from the Lock Screen without needing a passcode.

This free trial extension is applicable to iPhone 14 users who activated their device in a country supporting Emergency SOS via satellite before November 15, 2023. The satellite service requires iOS 17, and the Check-In feature is available on iOS 17 or later

Originally from: Apple