When Apple rolled out the iPhone 14 series last year, one standout feature that elevated these smartphones to the top tier was Apple’s Emergency SOS via satellite, a complimentary offering for the initial two years. Originally slated to conclude in November 2024, Apple has just dropped the news that it’s giving a 12-month extension to the Emergency SOS via satellite coverage for all iPhone 14 models.
This translates to eligible users being able to continue tapping into this feature until November 2025. For those residing in countries where Emergency SOS via satellite is on the menu (Apple’s got a nifty list of these nations), you should seamlessly receive the extended coverage, granted you activated your device before the clock struck 12 a.m. PT on November 15, 2023.
Now, what exactly is this Emergency SOS via satellite? In simple terms, it empowers you to reach out to emergency services using a satellite connection instead of relying on regular cell service or Wi-Fi networks. This comes in handy when you find yourself in a pickle without a signal, say, stranded in the great outdoors.
Apple has been keen on spotlighting instances where Emergency SOS via satellite played hero to stranded iPhone users. We’re talking about scenarios like “a man who was rescued after his car plummeted over a 400-foot cliff in Los Angeles, to lost hikers found in the Apennine Mountains in Italy,” as recounted by Kaiann Drance, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide iPhone Product Marketing.
In a lineup of safety features, Emergency SOS via satellite shares the stage with other Apple innovations. Take Crash Detection, for example, which can automatically dial emergency services if your phone suspects you’ve been in a collision. Meanwhile, users in the U.S. and Canada get the added perk of Roadside Assistance via satellite, letting you summon AAA help through satellite connectivity.
Not to be outdone, the Apple Watch has been getting its fair share of safety upgrades over the years. Fall detection capability, coupled with the ability to measure various health metrics like irregular heart rhythms and unusually high heart rates, makes it a reliable companion for health-conscious users.
Curiously, Apple has kept mum on the post-free period price tag for Emergency SOS via satellite, and today’s announcement doesn’t spill the beans on that either. Looks like we’ll have to bide our time to find out how much this feature will set you back once Apple decides to put a price tag on it.
Nonetheless, the prolongation of the complimentary period is certainly a piece of good news for those who fancy exploring the wilderness or find themselves in a signal-challenged spot.
