You can get help on Apple's latest device if something goes wrong while you're hiking in California or backpacking in France.
The tech giant rolled out its safety-focused Emergency SOS via satellite feature to four additional countries last week.
In France, Germany, Ireland, and the United Kingdom, the feature is now available.
Emergency SOS via satellite requires any iPhone 14 model, including the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, that is running the latest version of the software.
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Even if the service hasn't been launched in your home country, it works in the six aforementioned countries. In mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, you can purchase an Apple product.
Older Apple phones can't communicate with satellites. The required communications hardware was only added to the new lineup of phones.
I will run through a step-by-step guide to use the feature below, but there are two very important features that could be useful to travelers.
If you didn't have access to a cellphone signal, you wouldn't be able to use your phone.
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All you need is a clear view of the sky and some time to get in touch with someone. It can be difficult to establish a strong satellite connection.
In the event of an emergency, your phone will be able to communicate with first responders using satellites.
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When you're not on the grid, you can use the Find My app to keep your location up to date. The feature should be useful for trekkers who want to give location updates to friends and family.
Apple invested hundreds of millions of dollars in Globalstar to help power the new feature. You will be able to connect to one of the company's 24 satellites when you use the feature.
There are currently six countries where the service is live, but additional countries will be added next year. For the next two years, the service is free for any of the new Apple products.
If you travel abroad and use the feature, your two-year timer won't start until the service goes live in your home country.
The cost of the feature will be announced after two years.
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It's a good idea to run through the steps of what you'd do in the event of a disaster.
The demo of the new feature was built into the settings app. Click on the "Try demo" at the bottom of the page to practice using it.
If you end up using this feature in a real emergency, you can choose your emergency contacts who will get notifications.
You can dial the emergency services phone number in the country in which you're traveling if you're off the grid. In the U.S., Canada, France and Germany, and Ireland and the U.K., there are examples.
A button on the bottom right of the screen will appear if you don't have enough service to make the call.
After you're prompted to report an emergency, you'll be asked to fill out a short survey that will be sent to first responders.
If you want to notify your emergency contacts, you will be asked. Once your message is sent, critical health information, including your medical ID, will be shared.
If you want to connect to a satellite, you'll need to turn left or right or move away from thick foliage, but you can use your phone. Satellite service may work if you are located above 62 degrees latitude.
Depending on your situation, you may receive additional follow up messages from first responders.
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You can open the Find My app and click the "Me" button to update your friends and family with your location if you aren't experiencing an emergency.
Follow the on-screen instructions if you tap "Send my location" under the banner.
You can only change your location once every 15 minutes. If you're not connected to a cellular or wi-fi network, you won't be able to see your friends location.
Apple has a detailed step-by-step guide to Emergency SOS that can be found here.
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