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

[pp_amorim]

Anyone know if the sattelite thing works with the standalone Ultra watch? I don't want to carry an iPhone while doing snowboard.

 

[mystery hill]

Anyone know if the sattelite thing works with the standalone Ultra watch? I don't want to carry an iPhone while doing snowboard.

Only available on iPhone.

 

[Wildkraut]

\o/ so just 1.5 more years till it becomes obsolete, i doubt many people will subscribe to this feature so it pays off.

 

[JapanApple]

Japan is soon, by summer it might be.

 

[wanha]

Fantastic feature for walkabouts

 

[centauratlas]

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.

To me it seems the logical choice will be to add it as a benefit to some of the iCloud+ plans. Maybe the 2TB or the 500GB and 2TB. I don't know if they'd do it as a standalone offering. All just guesses though.

 

[br403]

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.

I think it is also something about the connection from Apple to the local emergency organizations. Satellite connection is not the problem in mainland Spain, but maybe they need to set up the call center first? Or it has something to do with the Canarian islands, maybe there is no satellite connection?

 

[Reason077]

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. And the upcoming one.nz / SpaceX service will eventually (2025) allow not just text messages but calls, and internet data via satellite. Using any modern 4G phone. And, like regular mobile networks, it will be available for emergency calls even if you're not subscribed to it.

 

[beanbaguk]

I think it is also something about the connection from Apple to the local emergency organizations. Satellite connection is not the problem in mainland Spain, but maybe they need to set up the call center first? Or it has something to do with the Canarian islands, maybe there is no satellite connection?

Possibly. It really was one of the primary reasons I bought the 14 Pro! 😅

(Well, it's how I convinced my wife, who worries sick when I'm out on the bike). Especially after getting caught out in a heatwave where the temperatures hit 46C in the middle of nowhere and I ran out of fluids!!! (I was carrying almost 2 litres), but the heat was insane, and I ended up with heat stroke and the wife had to drive out more than 150 km to rescue me!

Not one of my greatest moments on the bike, but I'm much fitter now and better prepared. I also never pass a filling station if one of my bottles is empty, and I'm taking better quality salt tabs. You live and learn.

Anyhow. I digress. Bring satellite connectivity to Spain, please, Apple!

 

[SoldOnApple]

I just want it to support desert islands, so if I ever end up in a Castaway situation I can use the last of my battery life to message for help.

 

[Apple Fan 2008]

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

I guess it’s a little hypocritical saying that, considering I live in Florida where we have a fair share of things trying to kill you. (Alligators, snakes, coyotes, etc.)

 

[_Spinn_]

Good to see this rolling out to more places.