Apple launches Emergency SOS via satellite in US and Canada

Additionally, Apple has confirmed that Emergency SOS via satellite will be available in December in France, Germany, Ireland and the UK.

• What is happening? On November 15, 2022, Apple Emergency SOS via satellite launched on the iPhone 14 family in the US and Canada.
• Why care? Because this feature could potentially save your life if you ever find yourself in a dire situation without network coverage.
• What to do? Read our guide to learn how to use Emergency SOS via satellite.

Emergency SOS signal via satellite launches in the US and Canada

This feature takes advantage of the satellite constellation and range of mobile satellite services operated by Globalstar. The iPhone 14 first sends a request to a satellite that receives one of 24 Globalstar satellites in low Earth orbit.

The satellite then sends the message to special ground stations located at key locations around the world, which receive it from there. If the nearest emergency service cannot receive text messages, your message is routed to one of the relay centers staffed by Apple-trained emergency responders.

The service, Apple explains, allows emergency call centers to connect with even more users in an emergency. Communication does not require any additional software or protocols. In addition to texting emergency services, this feature also supports updating your location via satellite in the Find My app.

Coming soon in France, Germany, Ireland and UK

According to an announcement in Apple Newsroom, the SOS emergency will reach Germany, France, Ireland and the UK in December via satellite.

In the US and Canada, this feature is free for the first two years of iPhone activation. After that, you will need to subscribe to continue using Emergency SOS via satellite. Apple will reveal pricing information at a later stage.

How to use Emergency SOS via satellite

There is no dedicated app or button to call emergency SOS via satellite. Instead, you’ll see a prompt on your iPhone whenever you try to make an emergency call in an area where there’s no Wi-Fi or cellular coverage. Touch the green button labeled “Satellite Emergency Text”on the call screen to start using this feature. Read: How to set up and use Emergency SOS on Apple Watch

1. Press and hold the power button and one of the volume buttons until the Emergency SOS slider appears, then drag it to call your local emergency number.
2. A normal call should fail and you should see a “No connection”message at the top. Now tap on the button labeled Emergency Text via Satellite. Alternatively, you can send a 911 or SOS message in the Messages app and then select Emergency Services.
3. Now tap on the Report an emergency option.
4. Answer a few questions to describe your situation as accurately as possible.
5. Follow the on-screen prompts to connect your iPhone to the satellite.
6. Once you’re connected, continue to follow these instructions to keep the connection alive so the message can get through.

Satellite SOS emergency is supported on iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Max, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max with iOS 16.1 and later. It is not supported on iPhone 14 devices sold in Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau.

Apple has provided a built-in demo so people can test satellite connectivity on their iPhones by connecting to a real satellite in range without actually calling emergency services. Read: How to set up emergency contacts on iPhone