05.15.2023
Apple today announced that Emergency SOS via satellite is now available in Australia and New Zealand. Available on all iPhone 14 models, the feature enables users to send text messages
Emergency SOS via satellite is enabled by default on iPhones running iOS 16.4 or later in Australia and New Zealand. An option to send a text message via satellite will appear after dialing 000 in Australia or 111 in New Zealand outside the range of cellular and Wi-Fi coverage. There is also a demo mode in the Settings app under Emergency SOS that allows users to familiarize themselves with the service without contacting emergency responders.
With the service, Apple says users can send and receive messages in as little as 15 seconds in clear conditions. Users are prompted to complete a short questionnaire with vital information, and the interface then shows users where in the sky to point their iPhone to connect and send the initial message. This message includes the user's questionnaire responses, location, altitude, iPhone battery level, and Medical ID info if set.
Apple says the service is designed to work outdoors with a clear view of the sky. Apple warns that foliage or other obstructions can result in emergency messages taking longer to send or failing to send, and satellite connectivity might not work in places above 62° latitude, such as northern parts of Canada and Alaska.
In Australia and New Zealand, Emergency SOS via satellite is free for two years starting today or at the time of activation of any iPhone 14 model. The service is also available in Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Related Roundups: iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro
Buyer's Guide: iPhone 14 (Caution), iPhone 14 Pro (Caution)
Related Forum: iPhone
This article, "iPhone 14's Emergency SOS via Satellite Feature Now Available in Australia and New Zealand" first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
You may also be interested in this
Final Cut Pro on Vision P…
06.07.2023
A filmmaker says that Final Cut Pro on Vision Pro will be supported at launch – or rather, when the device goes on sale. Matti Haapoja, who was given early
Kuo: iPhone 15 to include…
06.19.2023
Apple officially announced its new Vision Pro platform at WWDC at WWDC this month, with a release date of “early 2024.” Now, reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo is out with
Apple shares App Store Tr…
05.19.2023
Apple has released a transparency report for the App Store that provides information on requests made by government entities and private parties for data, app removals, or account preservation.Apple releases
SCMP: Apple’s Mac Studio …
06.16.2023
The new Mac Studio features M2 Max and the new M2 Ultra chip to deliver a huge boost in performance and connectivity in a stunningly compact design that lives right
Threads Gets Direct Messa…
07.01.2025
Meta-owned social network Threads was today updated with support for direct messages, a feature that Meta has been testing during June. This is the first time the two-year-old social network
iOS 26 Beta 2 Expands Sup…
06.23.2025
iOS 26 beta 2 adds full support for the order tracking feature that Apple announced at WWDC. In the Wallet app, there is an option to let Siri scan your
Reddit app ‘Apollo&…
06.08.2023
Apollo, one of the most popular Reddit apps, is shutting down due to modifications made to Reddit's API that will impose incredibly high costs on developers who create Reddit clients.Apollo
Walmart shows no signs of…
05.21.2023
Kroger, the largest supermarket chain in the United States, began rolling out support for Apple Pay last month. Kroger had been a longtime Apple Pay holdout, but its decision to
