Cupertino, California – In an exciting development, Apple announced today that customers in Australia and New Zealand can now access the satellite features on their iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max. These features enable users to utilize Emergency SOS via satellite, allowing them to send short text messages to emergency services when they find themselves outside the reach of regular cellular networks or Wi-Fi signals. Additionally, users can share their location with friends and family through the Find My app.
With this latest expansion, the satellite features are now available in 14 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Australia, and New Zealand.
Once an iPhone 14 device is disconnected from cellular and Wi-Fi networks, the satellite features are automatically activated. In emergencies, users attempting to call will be prompted to place a satellite call instead.
To assist users in directing their phones toward the satellite, the iOS interface provides guidance. As satellite communications typically require an unobstructed view of the sky, the interface aids users in achieving an optimal connection. To give users a taste of the experience, Apple offers a trial demo of the satellite features. Interested individuals can access the demo by navigating to Settings -> “SOS Emergency Call” -> scrolling to the “Emergency SOS Call via Satellite” section and selecting “Try Demo.”
It is important to note that data transmission over the satellite network may be slow. To overcome this challenge, the iPhone interface includes text prompts that guide users in sending concise and optimized messages. Emergency services can respond to these messages and engage in a two-way conversation if necessary.
When emergency services are within text communication range, the Emergency SOS feature directly connects users to them via satellite. In cases where direct communication is not feasible, Apple Relay Center workers receive the emergency messages and relay them via phone to the appropriate emergency services on the user’s behalf.
For a limited time, Apple is offering satellite features for free for two years. This period begins upon device activation or when the service becomes available in a specific region, whichever occurs later. While Apple has not disclosed the pricing details for this feature beyond the initial two-year free period, a fee is expected to be imposed after that.
With the expansion of satellite features to Australia and New Zealand, Apple continues to prioritize user safety and enhance the capabilities of its flagship iPhone 14 models. As more countries access this groundbreaking technology, it is clear that Apple remains committed to pushing the boundaries of innovation and delivering valuable experiences to its global customer base.
