A US $450 million investment from Apple’s Advanced Manufacturing Fund provides the critical infrastructure that supports Emergency SOS via satellite for iPhone 14 models. Available to customers in the US & Canada beginning later this month, Apple has said in an announcement that the new service will allow iPhone 14 & iPhone 14 Pro models to connect directly to a satellite, enabling messaging with emergency services when outside of cellular & Wi-Fi coverage.
“Emergency SOS via satellite is a perfect example of how American ingenuity and technology can save lives,” said Jeff Williams, Apple’s chief operating officer, in the post.
In addition to Emergency SOS via satellite, there’s also another feature – “Crash Detection” that can detect a severe car crash & automatically dial emergency services when a user is unconscious or unable to reach their iPhone.
Delivered in partnership with Globalstar, Apple’s Emergency SOS via satellite service utilizes the spectrum in L & S bands specially designated for mobile satellite services by ITU Radio Regulations. When an iPhone user makes an Emergency SOS via satellite request, the message is received by one of Globalstar’s 24 satellites in low-earth orbit traveling at speeds of approximately 16,000 mph. The satellite then sends the message down to custom ground stations located at key points all over the world.
Once received by a ground station, the message is routed to emergency services that can dispatch help, or a relay center with Apple-trained emergency specialists if local emergency services cannot receive text messages.
Image credit: Apple
