Apple has confirmed that the Emergency SOS satellite messaging feature for iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro is almost ready for liftoff in the United States and Canada.
This feature could be a lifesaver for those who are out of cellular and Wi-Fi range and need to summon help from emergency services.
With iPhone 14 models, you'll be able to use Emergency SOS via satellite to text emergency services when you're in a precarious situation. This is a great investment by Apple and we hope that other companies will follow suit.
Apple has provided confirmation that the Emergency SOS satellite messaging function that was included with the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro is nearly ready for launch in the United States and Canada.
The business has announced the debut of the service, which will let iPhone users stay in touch with emergency services even when they are outside of Wi-Fi and cellular range, later this month. It is possible that it may be included in iOS 16.2, which will be released in the next few weeks.
Emergency SOS is dependent on satellites in low-Earth orbit, namely the 24 Globalstar satellites that are circling the globe at a speed of 16,000 miles per hour. When the service is finally available, iPhone users will be able to transmit a message that has been compressed to one of those satellites and then have that message beamed down to stations on the ground.
Before sending the text message to the emergency services through satellites, Apple's service will first ask the iPhone user who is in need of assistance a series of questions in an effort to collect as much information as possible from them. This will allow the procedure to be completed more quickly.
Apple has stated that it would spend $450 million from its Advanced Manufacturing Fund on essential infrastructure. This investment is intended to assist in "getting the service off the ground," so to speak. Globalstar has received the majority of the funds, and the company has also invested in new high-power antennas for ground stations. These antennas have been created specifically for the service, and they have been deployed there.
In a news release, Apple's chief operations officer, Jeff Williams, said that "Emergency SOS via satellite is a wonderful illustration of how American innovation and technology can save lives." "We are delighted that this service is made possible by prominent firms in the United States and that our customers are able to explore off-the-grid places with the peace of mind that they are still within reach of emergency services should the need arise."
Apple has not provided any information on when the Emergency SOS service would be made accessible in regions other than North America.
Recently, the business has placed a significant emphasis on developing potentially life-saving technologies for its iPhone and Apple Watch product lines. For instance, starting with the iPhone 14, Apple has included a feature called Crash Detection that, if it determines that you have been in an accident, will immediately contact the appropriate authorities.