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When to Expect the Emergency SOS via Satellite Feature to Launch on iPhone

Mr. Dee said:
Apple really researched this. Watched CBS Sunday Morning segment about people hiking and going it alone after the pandemic. The issue is especially problem in Colorado where they have to do a lot of volunteer rescues. Also, a lot out of outdoor gear companies are pushing this a lot; so its expected to be a common problem in the future.
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More emotional marketing from Apple. Satellite Personal Locator Beacons have been around for decades.
If you're going to pay for a service, buying a dedicated device is a better option.
My guess is Globalstar is not doing well (they have a history of financial difficulty) so they signed on with Apple to save their business. Charging for the service is inevitable if Globalstar wants to survive. Apple is probably paying them during the first two years.
 
WWPD said:
"Apple says Emergency SOS via Satellite will be free for the first two years, which suggests that Apple might be planning to charge for the service at some point in the future."

You were eaten by a bear, should have paid for the service you cheapskate.
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Don't expect a bear to let you find a satellite before it attacks.
However, it will be funny to see what happens to the Globalstar system when everyone who sees a bear decides to "test" the iPhone's SOS feature.
 
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t0rqx said:
This is in preparation when Apple is planning to charge monthly for using the extra sensors in Apple Watch including: ECG, heart afib, bloodsugar and emergency calls when heartbeat stops. Health+. Similar features they marketed as life saving and want to make it available for free for everyone.

Squeezing every penny even if it takes lives.
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Or you could just live without them as people have done throughout human history
 
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t0rqx said:
This is in preparation when Apple is planning to charge monthly for using the extra sensors in Apple Watch including: ECG, heart afib, bloodsugar and emergency calls when heartbeat stops. Health+. Similar features they marketed as life saving and want to make it available for free for everyone.

Squeezing every penny even if it takes lives.
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Significant misunderstanding of the tech.

Your watch doesn’t need a satellite or even an online connection to do ecg or oxsat measuring.
 
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DaveN said:
Or you could just live without them as people have done throughout human history
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That’s a lousy take. Throughout history people have led rather short miserable lives. Industrialization and technology have addressed this to some extent and offer the promise of more if we can democratize them better.
 
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-BigMac- said:
Still unreal that this is even possible😊

Your phone can locate, and beam info to a satelite in orbit. Wtf😅
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It's very cool that an iPhone will be able to do this; however, my Garmin inReach Mini has been able to do that for quite a number of years, with the additional functionality of either triggering preprogrammed messages or sending arbitrary text messages. It can also receive arbitrary text messages and request a weather forecast which is then interpreted by the device software. It uses the Iridium network (as opposed to Globalstar), and it most definitely is not free.
 
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Wow, the “Emergency SOS via satellite” video is a bunch of emotional marketing BS (hadn’t watched it until now).

The user indicated they were “Lost or Trapped”. Nothing implies imminent threat to life, unless you assume the cowering baby in the video was dying.

Don’t expect a SAR helicopter night (or even day) rescue unless the situation is dire AND conditions allow for a safe extraction. Thunderstorms will ground a SAR helicopter, so at best a ground team might be immediately dispatched to your location ONLY if someone is dying. If there is no imminent danger to life or limb you’ll be spending the night out there - at best you can expect a reply with obvious safety tips like: “Move to a lower elevation when lightning strikes are observed in the area (duh)”. SAR reality: If you can afford an iPhone 14, you can afford the 10 essentials. You can take care of yourself until a SAR ground team is dispatched the next morning. If you’re physically able to walk out, you will be expected to.
 
vegetassj4 said:
Via satellite, hmmmm....the price will eventually be $8 /month.
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Emergency SOS is one of those features most people will never use, but will be literally a lifesaver when they do.

For this reason, I just don't think it will be offered as a separate subscription. I suspect it will be rolled into Apple One, and also offered as in-app purchase (e.g., $9.99/incident) to everyone else.
 
developer13245 said:
I used a Spot Messenger for years (Globalstar) and it sucked. I switched to a Garmin Inreach (Iridium) and found it works much better. The main reason is related to how the satellite constellations work, and not the devices themselves.
Inreach (Iridium) has much better location accuracy, and better satellite connectivity. My main use is backcountry tracking and messaging (hiking/backpacking/etc). Comparing years of Spot vs Inreach tracking data for the same areas/trails clearly demonstrates Inreach is better. Messages are sent / received faster on Inreach.
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How much did/do you pay to access the satellites on each service?
 
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developer13245 said:
More emotional marketing from Apple. Satellite Personal Locator Beacons have been around for decades.
If you're going to pay for a service, buying a dedicated device is a better option.
My guess is Globalstar is not doing well (they have a history of financial difficulty) so they signed on with Apple to save their business. Charging for the service is inevitable if Globalstar wants to survive. Apple is probably paying them during the first two years.
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What’s better than no device? An iPhone with satellite…

So many people just so eager to jump in and say…this dedicated device is better. Yes…we all know. But you know what might be better for average people than 50 devices is one amazing device that can do many of those functions.
 
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Devnul0 said:
It's very cool that an iPhone will be able to do this; however, my Garmin inReach Mini has been able to do that for quite a number of years, with the additional functionality of either triggering preprogrammed messages or sending arbitrary text messages. It can also receive arbitrary text messages and request a weather forecast which is then interpreted by the device software. It uses the Iridium network (as opposed to Globalstar), and it most definitely is not free.
Click to expand...
jimbobb24 said:
What’s better than no device? An iPhone with satellite…

So many people just so eager to jump in and say…this dedicated device is better. Yes…we all know. But you know what might be better for average people than 50 devices is one amazing device that can do many of those functions.
Click to expand...

Don't think it will be a good thing, and probably will cause more harm than good.
Provides a "free" sense of false security for 2 years, then what?
What happens when someone declines paying for the service after 2 years, then finds themselves in a dire situation?
Then dies because their iPhone wouldn't save them for free?

My main problem with this “service” is how Apple has marketed it. See my above comment about their emotional marketing video to understand what I’m about to say. I will concede that there is a potential use for this service, but ONLY a very limited use. Use of the iPhone SOS should be limited to “roadside assistance” (or similar) scenarios where cell service is unlikely. One other possible example might be summer day hiking in a ski area with no cell service.

If you travel to remote wilderness locations where helicopter rescue would likely be necessary in an emergency, you will need a dedicated device and service.

But there is a HUGE variation in “remoteness” of wilderness areas, and also in people’s perception of “remoteness” in general. So it can be difficult for someone to understand what they actually need.

I’m not a SAR or ski patrol member, but I have some direct experience gained by helping a few distressed persons in wilderness areas. One of those persons is convinced he would have died if I (or someone else) didn’t find him by chance and get him help.

I've also experienced one criminal act (directly threatened with violence) while in the wilderness with no cell service. That taught me any SOS messenger is completely useless in such situations. Seeing the “Crime” button on the iPhone SOS UI made me laugh. Now I openly carry a much more effective solution to that type of problem (also works for bears).
 
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cdarlington1 said:
Why would it be free forever? It’s great they are providing it for a couple years. After that, pay a fee. Most will never need it.
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That's easy: because it's intended to be used extremely rarely, like the 911 system. Also, the potential for the feature to provide *extremely* positive press for Apple overwhelmingly pushes them to keep a free tier for emergency calls.

The lowest paid employee in Apple's marketing department could thoroughly explain why it's laughable that a free/subsidized tier of the service wouldn't be available.
 
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developer13245 said:
Wow, the “Emergency SOS via satellite” video is a bunch of emotional marketing BS (hadn’t watched it until now).

The user indicated they were “Lost or Trapped”. Nothing implies imminent threat to life, unless you assume the cowering baby in the video was dying.
Click to expand...

Perfect is the enemy of the good.

Emergency SOS isn’t really a feature you’d expect to use as a seasoned wilderness adventurer. It may still be a life saver though as you may lose one emergency item and not another so redundancies are good…

But it will certainly save people who may become injured or trapped during outdoor activities while being unaware of the lack of cell phone coverage.

Even outside of direct reaching out by individuals. It allows your family and friends to be able to see your last location that can be used to focus a search. Again, important for those who wandered to the near wilderness.

We have a lot of that in PA and NJ and elsewhere in the United States.
 
I think what may happen is that the service we have now will remain free indefinitely. However, in 2 years Apple will enhance the service to allow limited text messaging and maybe even phone calls--and that next level you'll have to pay for.
 
tooloud10 said:
That's easy: because it's intended to be used extremely rarely, like the 911 system. Also, the potential for the feature to provide *extremely* positive press for Apple overwhelmingly pushes them to keep a free tier for emergency calls.

The lowest paid employee in Apple's marketing department could thoroughly explain why it's laughable that a free/subsidized tier of the service will be available.
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Hilarious:
finance.yahoo.com

Globalstar, Inc. (GSAT) Stock Price, News, Quote & History - Yahoo Finance

Find the latest Globalstar, Inc. (GSAT) stock quote, history, news and other vital information to help you with your stock trading and investing.
finance.yahoo.com finance.yahoo.com

Globalstar - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org

This is why marketing departments aren't regarded for their math skills. But they probably are the largest buyers of junk bonds.
 
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