Emergency SOS via satellite for the iPhone 14 and 14 Pro is now live.
If you're in an emergency, your phone will ping one of Globalstar's satellites. If the dispatch center is unable to receive text messages, the call will be routed to a local dispatch center or a relay center. Third-party and Apple-employed specialists are trained in emergency protocol and are able to relay information back and forth.
It's a bit of a challenge to test this feature out. When you're not in an emergency, Apple doesn't want you to test it out. prank calling is a felony if you know what you're doing. Apple does not want you doing that. When you aren't in an actual emergency, is the best time to learn how to use Emergency SOS. When facing mortal peril, the last thing you want to do is scroll through your settings to find the feature.
We're going to show you how the feature works after we were able to demo it.
This feature can be found when you call, text, or use Crash Detection to reach the emergency services in an area where there's no cellular service. If you have it set to route emergency services through your phone, Fall Detection can be used.
When there's no cellular or wi-fi service available, Emergency SOS via satellite will be activated, even if there's no satellite service available. The feature is only available on the iPhone 14 and 14 Pro models because of a combination of hardware and software.
The feature can be activated by calling the number. The green circular icon at the bottom right of the screen will read "Emergency text via Satellite" when the call doesn't go through. To use the feature, you need to tap this icon. The feature is sending a message to a satellite and there is going to be a lag. If you're under some trees with foliage, it can take up to a minute to send a message.
Access the feature when you try to dial 911 in an area without cellular connectivity. Credit: Apple
A close-up of how to activate Emergency SOS via satellite. Credit: Apple
You need to be outside to get satellite connection, messages will take longer to send, and you'll need to answer questions in order to get a faster response. At the bottom of the screen, you can report an emergency. Emergency services are notified right now.
Now it's time to describe your emergency. Credit: Apple
The feature will ask you a series of questions to find out more about the emergency. If you can't fill out the report, emergency services will still be notified. I thought I had broken my leg while hiking in a remote mountain range when I watched the demo. I am not trying to make that happen. You are asked to specify from a list of emergency scenarios.
Hopefully, I didn't manifest a broken leg. Credit: Apple
"Who needs help?", "how are you breathing?", and "what best describes the emergency?" were some of the questions the next screen asked. I chose "traumatic injury" from the list of options because I didn't have any trouble breathing.
Asking for me or a friend? Credit: Apple
Just a little more detail needed. Credit: Apple
Notification of emergency contacts was the last step in the emergency report. If you have any medical conditions, allergies, or take medication, Medical ID will let you know if you need to go to the emergency room. I would have filled this out before my doomed excursion and my emergency contact would be aware of my injury. Your emergency contacts will have access to a text conversation between you and emergency services so that they can follow the dialogue in real time.
You need to have already filled out your Medical ID for this feature to work. Credit: Apple
Your emergency contacts can follow you in real time. Credit: Apple
The relay center responded to my request after all of the details of the emergency were sent. The status bar at the top of the screen reminded me to keep pointing the phone in the same direction to remain connected. After about 30 seconds, I received a text from the relay center asking if I had any medication with me and if I had a medical ID.
Sending and receiving texts via satellite can take between 15 and 60 seconds. Credit: Apple
I received a text after I answered the questions. This is when you are waiting for help to arrive. Staying connected to the relay center is a personal choice.
The text will notify you when help is on the way. Credit: Apple
You can try the feature for yourself in demo mode. To access this, you have to go to settings, then emergency, and then tap try demo. During the demo, you will be able to connect to a real satellite to see the feature. This will give you a realistic idea of where to position your phone and how long it will take to receive a message. If the unthinkable happens, it is a good way to know what to expect.
Demo mode allows you to test it out so you can know what to expect. Credit: Apple
It's a useful way to understand the latency and emergency questionnaire. Credit: Apple
Apple is concerned about the safety of its users. Is it better to have this feature at my fingertips on a hike or drive through a dead zone? It's absolutely true. It makes it more likely that I'll be helped.
It's a lengthy process that requires me to complete many steps in order to get help. Something about texting in a crisis feels like more of an obstacle to overcome than tapping in an emergency, especially if I'm physically incapable.
It's a lengthy process that requires me to complete a lot of steps in order to get the help I need.
Privacy is one of the issues. According to Apple, your messages are sent to the satellite in a secure way and then sent to the emergency dispatch center. Emergency services may save your messages to improve their services. The privacy risk of a typical emergency call is similar to that of a public record. You need to think about the fact that your information could be retained before you use this feature.
Even for a privacy advocate, it's an exception you could be willing to make in an emergency.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
