SOS emergency via satellite iPhone 14 The feature that allows a phone to connect to emergency services satellites has finally been launched, living up to Apple’s launch promise. The service is available first in the US and Canada, and users can try a demo of the service on their iPhone without actually engaging in a costly bailout.
If you want to try a demo of Emergency SOS for yourself, your iPhone 14 family device can show you how it works. Go to your Settings and then scroll down to the Emergency SOS menu.
At the bottom of this menu, you should see the “Emergency SOS via satellite” paragraph. You can click on the “Try Demo” link to start the trial process. For the demo, your iPhone will turn off your cellular service as it searches the sky for an available satellite.
Here’s what happens when you need it
Outdoors Editor-in-Chief Lance Ulanov came out with I tried SOS emergency via satellite The live broadcast has also started. From our offices in the New York City skyscraper, we couldn’t get a clear satellite view, which was a good thing because we didn’t need it. The Emergency SOS feature is really only best when you have no cell service. Apple says that if you can place a voice call or connect to a data network, you should do that instead.
Emergency SOS is very slow, taking up to a minute or more to send a text message into space. It relies on pre-written scripts that help you report your emergency in a hurry without having to send a lot of data.
The first question will ask you what kind of emergency you’re in, and offer you a choice between car trouble, illness or injury, fire, or getting lost or trapped. If you choose a vehicle issue, for example, it will ask you more questions about how many people were involved, the current environment, and anything that would help rescuers prepare to rescue you.
As you interact with the connection, the iPhone will track the satellite and give you directions as to where you’re facing it. It will tell you to turn left or right if it needs a better signal or to find a new satellite.
Your emergency broadcast will be sent through Apple’s own service, and Apple can talk to emergency providers whether or not they are able to receive text messages and digital information provided by the iPhone. Apple acts as an intermediary, it doesn’t just make a direct connection between your phone and emergency service providers.
This satellite is very, very far away
If you thought your iPhone was actually talking to a satellite every time you made a call, you’re miles away. Your average cellphone tower is at most a few miles away. The theoretical maximum cell reception range is about 45 miles, but in reality carriers put up towers to make sure you can get a few miles from wherever you are.
The satellite the iPhone uses for emergency SOS is 850 miles above the Earth’s surface. It’s a small target in space, which is why the iPhone helps you locate the appropriate position in the sky and track the path of the satellite for the duration of your session.
It should be noted that Apple says that all data sent during an Emergency SOS session is fully encrypted on both ends. Even if you use Emergency SOS to update Find My on your devices with your current location, location data remains private.
For at least the first two years, Apple says the service will be free for owners of eligible devices, including the iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Plus, and iPhone 14 Pro Max. The service is now available in the US and Canada and will come to the UK, Ireland, Germany and France by the end of the year.
