In the new demo mode, Apple allows users to experiment sending emergency SOS SMS via satellite

Emergency SOS via satellite was one of the most notable upgrades to the iPhone 14 series this year. If you are in need of assistance and are outside of cellular coverage, it allows you to send text messages to emergency services via satellite. The firm hopes you never need to use the service, but if you are injured and in need of assistance in the woods, it might be frustrating if you are unfamiliar with a product you expected to be useful. Apple is releasing a demo version of Emergency SOS via Satellite today so that members of the public may see how it works.

After upgrading your iPhone 14 (or 14 Plus, 14 Pro, or 14 Pro Max), you’ll need to go to Settings > Emergency SOS to discover the Demo. It’s worth investigating since not many people will know what to anticipate or that the first step is to contact 911 rather than hunting for an app. You won’t be connected to a real emergency services agent or relay centre if you utilise demo mode; instead, the company’s system will route demo customers to a server that transmits prepared replies. This keeps individuals from clogging up legitimate call centres.

We experienced the satellite communications capability for ourselves during a special demo last week in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park, in addition to a restricted glimpse at Apple’s headquarters earlier this year. We were able to identify and connect to passing satellites and experience how long it would take to conduct a text conversation with an agent using iPhones that Apple had modified to deactivate cellular connections. Not only did we discover how much slower satellite communications were compared to cellular, but we also learned how to express information about my condition in as few words as possible.

Apple does not advise you to do this yourself (i.e. find a place without any cellular coverage just to see what the experience is like). Instead, this sample mode is for those who are inquisitive about the interface and how it works.

Emergency SOS via Satellite and the demo mode are both available today in the United States and Canada. Apple also announced that the service would be expanded to France, Germany, Ireland, and the United Kingdom in December.