iPhone 14's Emergency SOS via Satellite Feature Now Available in Australia and New Zealand

[MacRumors]

Apple today announced that Emergency SOS via satellite is now available in Australia and New Zealand. Available on all iPhone 14 models, the feature enables users to send text messages to emergency services via satellite when cellular and Wi-Fi coverage is not available. Users can also share their location via satellite in the Find My app.

Emergency SOS via satellite is enabled by default on iPhones running iOS 16.4 or later in Australia and New Zealand. An option to send a text message via satellite will appear after dialing 000 in Australia or 111 in New Zealand outside the range of cellular and Wi-Fi coverage. There is also a demo mode in the Settings app under Emergency SOS that allows users to familiarize themselves with the service without contacting emergency responders.

With the service, Apple says users can send and receive messages in as little as 15 seconds in clear conditions. Users are prompted to complete a short questionnaire with vital information, and the interface then shows users where in the sky to point their iPhone to connect and send the initial message. This message includes the user's questionnaire responses, location, altitude, iPhone battery level, and Medical ID info if set.

Apple says the service is designed to work outdoors with a clear view of the sky. Apple warns that foliage or other obstructions can result in emergency messages taking longer to send or failing to send, and satellite connectivity might not work in places above 62° latitude, such as northern parts of Canada and Alaska.

In Australia and New Zealand, Emergency SOS via satellite is free for two years starting today or at the time of activation of any iPhone 14 model. The service is also available in Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Article Link: iPhone 14's Emergency SOS via Satellite Feature Now Available in Australia and New Zealand

 

[Apple4everr]

I noticed this, this morning. I was wondering why I had a pop up with my emergency ID etc.. makes sense

 

[Justin Cymbal]

This is such an awesome feature! I’m glad that Apple continues to expand this service to other countries

I hope that Apple eventually adds the capability to call/text and use internet over satellite in the future as well because that would be awesome if you’re backpacking and don’t have cellular service

 

[FourDegrees]

It will be interesting to see how much it will cost after the first two years. I’ll be stopping my Garmin inReach subscription while this is free.

 

[russell_314]

I'm glad this is catching on and expanding. It's nice to see Apple making practical things that can change or save someone's life. This is one thing I like about Apple is they design products based on how they're used rather than making some cool but completely useless feature or spec.


Till recently I thought well, this is nice for people who live in the middle of nowhere, but it doesn't really do anything for me. Well, I was out helping a friend do something and I looked at my phone and saw no signal. I haven't seen that in a long time. It made me feel a little better that if something happened I would still be able to call for help.

 

[segfaultdotorg]

Cool! Now, roll it out to older iPhones which can support it!

 

[russell_314]

Cool! Now, roll it out to older iPhones which can support it!

Even if it was possible, I don't see it happening because that would require setting up the subscription service which Apple probably isn't ready to do yet. People with new phones are going to test this technology in real world situations like those kids stuck in a cave. That gives people a chance to hear about it working in real life. This will give the average consumer some understanding of it and they’ll decide if it’s right for them

In the scenario with older phones, if they're still holding onto their iPhone 7, they're probably not going to spend money for a satellite emergency SMS service. None of us know the cost yet, but I suspect it's not cheap so how many people are going to pay for something that might never be used.

 

[frownface]

Even if it was possible, I don't see it happening because that would require setting up the subscription service which Apple probably isn't ready to do yet. People with new phones are going to test this technology in real world situations like those kids stuck in a cave. That gives people a chance to hear about it working in real life. This will give the average consumer some understanding of it and they’ll decide if it’s right for them

In the scenario with older phones, if they're still holding onto their iPhone 7, they're probably not going to spend money for a satellite emergency SMS service. None of us know the cost yet, but I suspect it's not cheap so how many people are going to pay for something that might never be used.

Unfortunately it won't work in a cave. But there's plenty of wilderness out to be lost in; especially in Australia.

I'm glad that they're rolling this feature out

 

[DTphonehome]

This is going to be a tremendous feature for these countries. They both have very remote areas without any cell coverage.

 

[russell_314]

Unfortunately it won't work in a cave. But there's plenty of wilderness out to be lost in; especially in Australia.

I'm glad that they're rolling this feature out

For some reason, I thought it was a cave that led to an open area but I guess it was just a canyon that they were stuck in. I found it with a Google search, but I'm surprised there are quite a few people that have been saved. It's not quite like the Apple Watch when it comes to saving people because obviously this is a more unusual situation but it's still doing good.

iPhone 14's Emergency SOS via Satellite saves the day for Utah college kids trapped in 500-foot deep canyon - 9to5Mac

Since the iPhone 14 Pro was released with its new Emergency SOS via Satellite features last year, we’ve heard a...

9to5mac.com

 

[Rob835]

Finally yay. 😀

 

[burgman]

It will be interesting to see how much it will cost after the first two years. I’ll be stopping my Garmin inReach subscription while this is free

I did too after testing in areas I go.

 

[Apple Fan 2008]

Considering everything in Australia wants to kill you. This is good.

 

[Seoras]

I think New Zealand is about to get 100% mobile coverage (2024) anyway thanks to StarLink and Vodafone (now One NZ) teaming up. Nice though for those who have iPhone 14s.

 

[frownface]

only a quarter of australia's landmass is covered by mobile coverage (it's mostly desert), so there's potential to save lives out there

 

[svish]

Good to see it expanding to more regions!!

 

[x86dude]

In Australia we have road accidents in the outback where people survive the crash but are out of signal range and die. Not a gimmick here.

 

[Rockondevil]

Very handy for our part of the world. We have a huge island full of nothing where plenty of accidents can happen.

 

[headwerkn]

Great it's finally come to Australia, though I won't ditch my InReach subscription any time soon.

 

[FelixDerKater]

Australia seems like exactly the kind of place where it would come in handy.

 

[Apple4everr]

I wonder if it’s a free service for the first 2 years of the life any newer iPhone moving forward. Meaning - if I get a brand new iPhone 16 pro, will I get the feature for free?

 

[FreakinEurekan]

I wonder if it’s a free service for the first 2 years of the life any newer iPhone moving forward. Meaning - if I get a brand new iPhone 16 pro, will I get the feature for free?

My guess - and it is just a guess - is that once the system is proven & in place everywhere, the “Free” period will be reduced. Possibly to 1 year, possibly 3 months ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ at which point the subscription will kick in. iPhone 16 seems like a good place for that to happen.

 

[jasonsmith_88]

I think New Zealand is about to get 100% mobile coverage (2024) anyway thanks to StarLink and Vodafone (now One NZ) teaming up. Nice though for those who have iPhone 14s.

Yeah it’s coming, I think it’s good to have multiple options anyway. Looking forward to it - I don’t carry a PLB because $500 but when things go bad it’s always in the back of my mind. Knowing I can use my phone makes me feel a lot better.

 

[raydoo]

Seems they included Austria too

 

[beanbaguk]

Finally. Countries where Satellite access makes total sense.

I believe one of the last countries added was Luxembourg, which is about as small a country as you get in Europe, so fairly pointless.

On the other hand, Spain has been largely ignored up to now even though it's one of the most sparsely populated countries in Europe with vast swathes of unpopulated areas and zero mobile coverage.

The map I found was from 2018, but believe me, as a road cyclist, I regularly head into very rural areas and there are times when I can cycle for over two hours without seeing a single car or soul. Coverage is very scatty, and I regularly find myself without any signal. (Even in areas where there is meant to be coverage, when you are 2000 m up on a forest mountain road, coverage is not as advertised).

I bought the 14 Pro for exactly this reason, so, 8 months on, I'm very disappointed it has not been addressed yet.