November 15, 2022
PRESS RELEASE
Satellite Emergency SOS now available on iPhone 14 series in US and Canada
iPhone 14 users can now connect to emergency services when there is no cellular and Wi-Fi coverage; service extended to France, Germany, Ireland and the UK in December
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA Apple today announced its groundbreaking safety service Emergency SOS via satellite is now available to customers in the United States and Canada. Available on all iPhone 14 models, this innovative technology allows users to text with emergency services while out of cellular and Wi-Fi coverage. Additionally, if users want to reassure friends and family about their whereabouts while traveling offline, they can now open the Find My app and share their location via satellite. Satellite Emergency SOS is available in the US and Canada starting today, November 15, and will arrive in France, Germany, Ireland, and the UK in December.
“Some of the most popular places to travel are off the beaten track and simply lack cellular coverage. With the Satellite Emergency feature, the iPhone 14 series provides an indispensable tool for users to get the help they need, said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. necessary when they are not connected to the network. “Our teams have worked tirelessly to tackle a new set of technical challenges to bring this service to life, in addition to building reliable ground-based infrastructure. Satellite Emergency SOS is a groundbreaking service available only on the iPhone 14 series and is a new innovation that we hope will provide customers with peace of mind.”
Every model in the iPhone 14 lineup — iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max — can connect directly to satellites through a combination of custom-designed components and deeply integrated software. Satellite Emergency SOS builds on existing features that are important to iPhone users, including Emergency SOS, Medical ID, emergency contacts, and Find My location sharing, providing the ability to satellite connectivity for a more 360-degree approach to sharing critical information with service emergencies, family and friends. This game-changing service allows Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) — or emergency service call centers — to connect with even more users in non-required and emergency situations. any additional software or protocols to enable communication. Users will be connected directly to emergency services equipped to receive text messages, or to relay centers with Apple-trained emergency specialists who are available to contact PSAPs. cannot receive text messages on behalf of the user.
“Delivering emergency SOS via satellite is an important breakthrough that will save lives. The significant work Apple is doing to create innovative new solutions to support 911 service providers and first responders is a huge step forward in protecting Californians and the public. generally in an emergency,” said Mark Ghilarducci, director of the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.
How satellite emergency SOS works
iPhone was able to call emergency services quickly and easily if users needed help, even if they couldn’t dial 911, by pressing and holding the power and volume buttons or by briefly pressing the button. power button five times. With the satellite emergency SOS feature — introduced with the iPhone 14 lineup — if a user is unable to contact emergency services due to lack of cellular or Wi-Fi coverage, an interface ease of use will appear on the iPhone to ask the user for help using a satellite connection. A short questionnaire appears to help users answer important questions with a few simple taps, delivered to the dispatcher in the initial message, to ensure they can quickly understand the situation and the user’s location. Apple worked closely with experts to review standard questions and procedures to identify the most common reasons for calling emergency services.
After the questionnaire, an intuitive interface will guide users where to point their iPhone to connect and send the initial message. This message includes responses to user questions; location, including altitude; iPhone battery level; and Medical ID, if enabled. The questionnaire and follow-up messages are relayed directly via satellite to a text message acceptance dispatcher or to relay centers run by Apple-trained experts who can act on behalf of the recipient. Use call for help. Recordings can also be shared with the user’s emergency contacts to keep them informed.first
“We dedicate our lives to helping those in need, but there are certainly people who cannot contact the dispatcher. “Satellite Emergency SOS will allow us to assist iPhone users in more remote areas who might otherwise be able to do so,” said Jennifer Kirkland, ENP, 911 center director for the Grand Junction Regional Communications Center. can’t contact us. “Because this service requires no additional technology for PSAP, and because Apple has implemented the relay hub model that 911 operators are familiar with, we can expect a seamless rollout, for both PSAPs that accept text messages and for PSAPs that still receive voice. -only.”
Satellites move fast, have low bandwidth, and are located hundreds of miles away from Earth, so it can take a few minutes for short messages to pass. Apple designed and built custom components and software that allowed the iPhone 14 to connect to the satellite’s unique frequencies without the need for bulky antennas. The text compression algorithm was also developed to reduce the average message size by 3 times, making the experience as fast as possible. With Emergency SOS via satellite, users can send and receive messages in as little as 15 seconds in clear conditions.2 By using the built-in Emergency SOS through satellite demo, users can test their iPhone satellite connection by connecting to a real satellite within range without calling emergency services. level, allowing them to experience the process and become familiar with the service.
“Satellite Emergency SOS will not only be useful to people living in rural areas without cellular coverage, but also to those experiencing a natural disaster that has brought down mobile networks. It will allow members of affected communities to connect to 911 and get help, and that is our mission,” said Laurene Anderson, NENA: 9-1-1 Association President and Manager E911 of Charlotte County, Florida said. “Awareness and training will be key to the seamless adoption of this service. What Apple is doing to educate dispatchers and get the community to practice with a demo mode that doesn’t contact 911, will help people know what to do in the event of an emergency.”
For users who aren’t on the network but don’t have an emergency, this innovative technology also allows them to share their location via satellite with Find My. In the Find My app, users can open the Me tab, swipe up to see My Location via Satellite, and tap Send My Location. Satellite connectivity on the iPhone 14 series also works with other safety features found on iPhone and Apple Watch, including Collision Detection and Fall Detection.3
availability
- Emergency Satellite SOS and Find My Satellite are now available in WE and Canadaand will be available in France, Germany, Irelandand UK in December. This service will be provided free of charge for two years from the time of activation of the new iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max.4
- Emergency Satellite SOS and Find My Satellite require iOS 16.1.
About Apple
Apple revolutionized personal technology with the introduction of the Macintosh in 1984. Today, Apple leads the world in innovation with the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV. Apple’s five software platforms — iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS — provide a seamless experience across all Apple devices and empower everyone with groundbreaking services including the App Store, Apple Music, Apple Pay, and iCloud. Apple’s 100,000+ employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth and making the world a better place than we’ve ever seen it before.
- Up to 10 emergency contacts using iOS 16.1 and iMessage will see the user’s location, emergency type, and a live record of their conversation with emergency services. Emergency contacts not using iPhone and iPhone users not using iOS 16.1 or iMessage will see the location and type of the user’s emergency. Users can choose to stop sharing their information with an emergency contact at any time. To reach the transit center or dispatcher closest to the user, location information will also be shared with Apple.
- Connection and response times vary by location, site conditions, and other factors. See support.apple.com/kb/HT213426 for more information.
- Accessing a satellite connection with Collision Detection and Fall Detection on Apple Watch requires a connected iPhone 14 model running iOS 16.1.
- Users who purchased an iPhone 14 model before the satellite emergency SOS feature will receive two years of free service from the date of service.
Tap Contacts
Alex Kirschner
Apple
alexkirschner@apple.com
(408) 974-2479
Renee Felton
Apple
rfelton@apple.com
(669) 276-2182
Apple Media Helpline
media.help@apple.com
(408) 974-2042
