In the latest expansion of the service, the number of countries in which the Apple Emergency SOS via satellite feature is officially supported has grown to twelve.
- What’s happening? Apple Emergency SOS via satellite will soon roll out to six more countries, bringing the number of supported countries to twelve.
- Why care? After a limited launch in the US and Canada in November 2022, this lifesaving feature is slowly but surely rolling out to other major markets.
- What to do? Read our guide explaining how to use Emergency SOS via satellite.
Emergency SOS via satellite launches in six new countries
Apple today announced the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus in yellow and several new colors for their silicone cases. As part of the Apple Newsroom announcement, the Cupertino-based company also acknowledged that its Emergency SOS feature via satellite will become available to customers in Austria, Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Portugal “later this month.”
The Cupertino-based firm did not give any specific date. However, the iPhone 14 is due to hit store shelves on Tuesday, March 14, 2023, so that could also be the day SOS via satellite is launched in the above countries.
How Emergency SOS works via satellite
Satellite SOS emergency is available on iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max. The rescue feature automatically offers to establish a connection with a satellite in low orbit when the user tries to make an emergency SOS call or send a text message in an area where there is no cellular service and Wi-Fi.
This feature also supports updating your location through the Find My app.
“If your iPhone or Apple Watch detects a major car accident or a hard fall and you don’t respond, your iPhone 14 or iPhone 14 Pro can send an automatic crash detection or fall detection notification to emergency services via emergency SOS via satellite if you are out of cellular and Wi-Fi coverage,” reads a statement on the Apple website.
Satellite SOS emergency service is free for two years after you activate your iPhone 14 or iPhone 14 Pro. Apple has not yet disclosed the commercial cost of the service.
Countries where emergency SOS via satellite is available
With this extension, the Emergency SOS service via satellite is available in the following countries:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Canada
- France
- Germany
- Ireland
- Italy
- Luxembourg
- Netherlands
- Portugal
- Great Britain
- United States
For more information, check out our tutorial that explains how to use Emergency SOS via satellite, including setting up the feature and trying it out in demo mode.