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
The biggest features miss…
05.23.2023
After years of rumors, Apple has delivered and shipped its professional video editing suite on iPad. While the app is incredibly full-featured, there are some big holes for pro workflows.Final
Report: iOS 19 will suppo…
12.27.2024
Macworld While Google and Samsung and other Android phone makers make big proclamations about how long their handsets will receive OS updates, Apple doesn’t offer the same guarantees. No matter—a
Amazon Prime Day is July …
06.21.2023
Amazon has officially announced that its annual Prime Day shopping event will be for 48 hours from Tuesday, July 11, 2023, and introduces a new invitation-only extra.Source: AmazonThe retail giant
Take $1,700 off the MacBo…
06.20.2023
Macworld The M2 MacBook Pro is a fantastic laptop but it doesn’t bring all that much more than the previous version—and at this price, you’d be crazy to buy a
Here’s why people are lea…
07.18.2023
After its launch in 2012, Apple Maps performed so badly Tim Cook actually apologized for it and fired the company’s head of software (for that an other reasons). But now
Claimed warranty leaflet …
09.09.2025
As a final last-minute rumor before the “Awe-dropping” event kicks off, a photo has been revealed online that… The post Claimed warranty leaflet suggests ‘iPhone Air’ brand appeared first on
Mark Zuckerberg says Appl…
06.09.2023
The Meta CEO expresses his thoughts on Apple's $3,499 Vision Pro headset, saying it does not feature any technological breakthroughs. (via Cult of Mac - Tech and culture through an
Tested: Shargeek’s latest…
05.09.2023
Late last year, Shargeek launched a new version of its popular Mac-themed USB-C charger. Stepping up to include even more power into much of the same classic Apple form-factor, the
