Apple’s satellite emergency service launches in the US and Canada - Ars Technica

iPhone 14 —

It'll travel to France, Germany, Ireland, and the UK successful December.

Samuel Axon - Nov 15, 2022 9:08 p.m. UTC

As antecedently promised, Apple's Emergency SOS-via-satellite work launched successful the US and Canada connected Tuesday. The work allows owners of Apple's newest iPhones to interaction exigency services oregon stock their determination and presumption with exigency contacts via outer erstwhile they are successful a spot wherever modular cellular services are not available.

Emergency SOS via outer works connected each of Apple's astir caller flagship iPhone models: iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max. Support for it was added successful a caller iOS update, truthful nary further downloads are necessary.

When you initiate Emergency SOS via satellite, you'll beryllium presented with a multiple-choice questionnaire that attempts to glean captious accusation astir your situation.

Once you capable it out, you'll spell done a guided process for orienting the telephone to nonstop the connection to the satellite. Information included successful the connection includes your questionnaire responses, your determination (including altitude), your iPhone's existent artillery charge, and your Medical ID if you person that enabled. You tin besides stock a transcript with your exigency contacts.

The diagnostic doesn't enactment dependable calls, since dependable calls aren't applicable with the satellites being utilized oregon successful each situations. According to Apple's blog post connected the topic:

Apple designed and built customized components and bundle that let iPhone 14 to link to a satellite’s unsocial frequencies without a bulky antenna. A substance compression algorithm was besides developed to trim the mean size of messages by 300 percent, making the acquisition arsenic accelerated arsenic possible. With Emergency SOS via satellite, users tin nonstop and person messages successful arsenic small arsenic 15 seconds successful wide conditions.

Emergency SOS via outer "utilizes the spectrum successful L and S bands specially designated for mobile outer services by ITU Radio Regulations," according to Apple. It is sent to 1 of 24 satellites operated by a US-based institution called Globalstar, which besides operates galore crushed stations.

The connection volition beryllium relayed either to a adjacent exigency telephone halfway called a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) or, if the champion effect determination is not equipped to grip substance messages, to "Apple-trained exigency specialists" who volition relay the message.

You tin besides trial outer connectivity without really contacting exigency services arsenic a preparatory measure. The outer web tin besides beryllium utilized to stock your determination with a interaction via the Find My app.

Emergency SOS via outer is escaped for 2 years aft you activate your caller iPhone, but it volition outgo wealth aft that time. Apple published a detailed enactment document connected however to usage the feature.

Listing representation by Samuel Axon