Apple has announced that iPhone 14 owners will continue to receive its Emergency SOS via satellite service until November 15, 2025. Apple had originally said it would provide two years of free Emergency SOS via satellite service for two years after device activation, which meant it would expire in November 2024.
“Emergency SOS via satellite has helped save lives around the world. From a man who was rescued after his car plummeted over a 400-foot cliff in Los Angeles, to lost hikers found in the Apennine Mountains in Italy, we continue to hear stories of our customers being able to connect with emergency responders when they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to,” said Kaiann Drance, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide iPhone Product Marketing. “We are so happy iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 users can take advantage of this groundbreaking service for two more years for free.”
The feature is available on all iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 models and allows users to send text messages to emergency services via satellite when cellular and Wi-Fi coverage is not available. Users can also share their location via satellite through the Find My app.
Apple says the service can be used to send and receive messages in as little as 15 seconds in clear conditions. Users will need to complete a short questionnaire with vital information, and the interface guides users as to where in the sky to point their iPhone to connect and send the message. The message sent includes the user’s questionnaire responses, their location, altitude, iPhone battery level, and Medical ID info if available.
- Users can open the Find My app and share their location via satellite to reassure friends and family of their whereabouts while traveling off the grid.
- Crash Detection can detect a severe car crash and automatically dial emergency services if a user is unconscious or unable to reach their iPhone.
- Check In allows users to automatically notify friends and family when they have made it to their destination safely.
- Users can set up their Medical ID in the Health app to help first responders access critical medical information from the Lock Screen without needing a passcode.
