Apple Launches SOS Over Satellite in Australia and New Zealand
Apple has launched its SOS via satellite feature in the southern hemisphere with its arrival in Australia and New Zealand. This feature is now available for iPhone 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max users starting from May 15, 2023.
Although it is technically a paid service, current owners are enrolled for free for two years. However, for those who purchase an iPhone 14 after today, the two free years will start ticking down from the day the phone is activated.
The SOS feature works by providing users with a short questionnaire to collect vital information to be sent to emergency responders. Once a connection to the satellite is established, a two-way chat will be available, and with good visibility, a message can be sent in as little as 15 seconds
The satellite option will appear on the dial screen if a call to emergency services fails due to no coverage. Alternatively, users can tap the Power button five times to activate the feature. There is also a demo mode that users can try out before heading out to the wilderness, so they know what to do in case of an emergency.
f Medical ID is set up, it will be sent along to the response team. Users can also add up to 10 emergency contacts who will be notified and receive a transcript of their communication with emergency services if they have recent iPhones running iOS 16.4 or later.
In addition to emergency use, this feature can also be used for non-emergency purposes such as sharing location with friends and family. As large areas of Australia have no cell coverage, it can keep loved ones up to date with the user’s progress when exploring.
Before being launched in Australia and New Zealand, the emergency SOS via satellite was available in 12 countries including Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, the UK, and the US. Apple reports that the system has already helped to save lives on multiple occasions.
