The iPhone 14 series introduces Emergency SOS via satellite, which combines custom components deeply integrated with software to allow antennas to connect directly to a satellite, enabling messaging with emergency services outside of cellular or Wi-Fi coverage. Apple’s iOS 16.1 will include a “Satellite Connection Demo”, so owners of the iPhone 14 series can test the satellite connection without actually calling / blocking emergency services.
Satellites are moving low-bandwidth targets and it can take minutes for messages to arrive. Since every second counts, with satellite emergency SOS, iPhone anticipates some vital questions to assess the user’s situation and shows them where to point the phone to connect to a satellite. The initial questionnaire and follow-up messages are then forwarded to centers run by Apple-trained specialists who can ask for help on your behalf. This breakthrough technology also allows users to manually share their location via satellite with Find My when there is no cellular or Wi-Fi connection, providing a sense of security when hiking or camping off the net. Satellite Emergency SOS will be available to users in the US and Canada in November, and the service will be free for two years.
Filipe Esposito for 9to5Mac:
With this feature, users will be able to see how Emergency SOS works via Satellite without having to go to a remote area without Wi-Fi and cellular signal. The code seen by 9to5Mac suggests that the demo function will work in much the same way as Emergency SOS via Satellite, so it can also instruct users on how to use it in a real-life situation.
You can access the satellite connection demo at any time via the Emergency SOS menu within the Settings app once it becomes available. Users will need to be outside and have a clear view of the sky to find the satellite connection.
Of course, after the iPhone connects to the satellite, it won’t call the emergency services when using the demo function. This is extremely important so that people don’t call these services just for fun or curiosity.
MacDailyNews takes: As the vast majority will want to try out Emergency SOS via satellite when they receive their new iPhone 14 models, this “Satellite Connection Demo” is an absolute must (and should have already been available in iOS 16.0 when the new iPhones started hitting hands of users on September 16, but, you know, “working” from home is as productive as going to the office to do a real job ??).
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