Along with the launch of Apple's newest iPhone 14 lineup, the Cupertino-based company also introduced its satellite Emergency SOS feature in November. But in its initial release, the feature was only made available to the United States and Canadian users, where they were able to access the demo.
A report from Mashable tells us that Apple's Emergency SOS via satellite feature will now expand to several European countries, namely France, Ireland, and the United Kingdom.
A Look at the Feature
The feature allows users to send texts without a cellular signal with its satellite connection feature. It is also important to note that the feature is only available on the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, and the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
Apple disclosed that it had spent up to $450 million on US infrastructure to enable the deployment of the Emergency SOS function in an official news release. The company is extending its services to allow anyone with an iPhone 14 to connect to first responders and their loved ones, providing their locations and conditions without a cellular signal.
"Emergency SOS via satellite is a perfect example of how American ingenuity and technology can save lives," Apple CEO Jeff Williams stated.
The official further stated that the company is delighted that this service is made possible by major US companies and that users may explore off-the-grid places with the knowledge that they are still within reach of emergency services if they require them.
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A Life-Saving Feature
Apple only recently recorded the first IRL use of the feature. The Apple iPhone 14's Emergency SOS via Satellite feature was tested in real-life, saving a guy stuck in Alaska at around two a.m. early this December.
According to a previous report, an unnamed iPhone 14 user traveling by snowmachine became lost in a cold and desolate area of Alaska. The trapped man then used his iPhone's new Emergency SOS via Satellite feature to seek aid from authorities.
The feature then called out to the Alaska State Troopers, informing them that a stranded guy needed help.
The rescue squad was "impressed with the accuracy and completeness of information given in the initial notice."
More About the Feature
The iOS 16.1 update provided the feature to iPhone 14 users, allowing them to call and text emergency services without WiFi or mobile data connectivity.
Most high-speed internet providers and cellular connections only reach remote and secluded areas. However, satellite communication bridges this gap, connecting people even when there is no signal.
Despite the lack of a cellular connection, users could simply activate their SOS function to request assistance from authorities in critical situations. It is crucial to stress, however, that the existence of the feature is not a justification to embark on perilous activities alone and unprepared.
Read more about Apple's new feature here.
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