Apple said in a press release this week that the Emergency SOS via Satellite feature will be available in more countries next year. Apple didn't give a list of countries where the feature will be expanded.
The service became available in France, Germany, Ireland, and the UK earlier this week, with the requirement for some local emergency service numbers. The service is free for the first two years after the phone is activated.
There is a document from an Apple support document.
In the U.S. and Canada, call or text 911. In France, call or text 112, 15, 17, 18, 114, 119, 191, and 196. In Germany, text 112 and 110. In Ireland and the U.K., call or text 999 or 112.
You need iOS 16.2 to connect to emergency services via satellite when you call or text 15, 17, 18, 114, 119, 191, and 196 in France, 110 in Germany, and 999 in Ireland. The availability of these additional emergency numbers might also depend on your cellular carrier.
Users can send text messages to emergency services when outside the range of cellular and wi-fi coverage with the feature. In ideal conditions with a direct view of the sky and the horizon, a text message might take 15 seconds to send, but it can take longer to send or fail to send. In places above 62 latitude, Apple says satellite connections might not work.
There have been reports of people being rescued in places like Alaska and California.
Important information about the feature should be consulted by iPhone users.
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