iPhone 14 Emergency SOS via satellite FAQ: How the new life-saving feature works - Macworld

Apple has announced that its newest iPhone 14 feature, Emergency SOS via satellite, is present disposable to users successful the U.S. and Canada. Here’s everything you request to know.

Do I request an iPhone 14 to usage Emergency SOS via satellite?

Yes, the diagnostic is lone for the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max. It is not disposable connected immoderate different device, including the newest iPad Pros oregon Apple Watch Ultra.

Do I request to download thing to get it to work?

Apple lone says you request to beryllium connected iOS 16.1, which was released connected Monday, October 25. You tin update to iOS 16.1 successful the Settings app by going to General and Software Update.

Is determination a interest to usage it?

Not astatine the start. Apple is providing 2 years of work to anyone who buys an iPhone 14 from the clip of activation.

What happens aft 2 years?

It’s unclear. There volition presumably beryllium a charge, but we don’t cognize what it volition beryllium oregon who you volition pay.

Do I request to crook thing on?

The work automatically kicks successful erstwhile you effort to interaction 911 and cellular work isn’t available.

How does Emergency SOS via outer work?

When a 911 telephone fails, an “Emergency Text via Satellite SOS” icon volition look successful the little right-hand country of your iPhone’s screen. Tap it and you’ll beryllium prompted to explicate your emergency via a bid of 5 multiple-choice questions. Then, you’ll spot a surface with a outer animation that directs you to constituent your iPhone successful the absorption of the nearest outer to nonstop and person a message.

Emergency SOS via outer uses elemental questions to nonstop the due effect to your location.

Apple

What if I determination retired of scope of the satellite?

Your iPhone volition buzz to alert you to determination it to a caller position.

How agelong does the connection instrumentality to send?

It varies. Apple says, “Satellites determination rapidly, person debased bandwidth, and are located thousands of miles distant from Earth, truthful it tin instrumentality a fewer minutes for adjacent abbreviated messages to get through.” In The Verge’s hands-on with the feature, the full process took betwixt 3 and 5 minutes.

Do I speech to anyone?

No, Emergency SOS via outer is text-only.

Can I effort it out?

Yes, caput implicit to Settings > Emergency SOS > Emergency SOS via Satellite > Try Demo to trial the diagnostic successful full.

Is Emergency SOS via outer coming to different countries?

Apple says the diagnostic volition beryllium disposable in France, Germany, Ireland, and the U.K. in December.