Emergency SOS via satellite is now officially available to iPhone 14 users in the U.S. and Canada, according to Apple.
With latest satellite connectivity of the 2022 mobile devices, Apple claims the new iPhone 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro or 14 Pro Max can prepare users for an emergency.
Apple invested $450 million from its Advanced Manufacturing Fund to make its latest iPhones compatible with the service, which was set up with the help of Globalstar. 24 of the company’s low-orbit satellites keep the signal in the L- and S-bands, which are intended for mobile devices.
If there is no cellular or Wi-Fi coverage, the feature uses satellite connectivity to connect users to local emergency dispatch centers. In an emergency, your iPhone 14 sends a signal to one of Globalstar’s 24 satellites in low orbit. If the dispatch center is unable to receive a 911 SMS, the satellite sends the information to one of its ground stations, which will route the call to a local dispatch center or relay center.
Apple has announced it will launch emergency SOS via satellite in France, Germany, Ireland and the United Kingdom.
The sources for this piece include an article in ZDNet.