Apple’s SOS service is now enabled via premium satellites in the Southern Hemisphere with access to Australia and New Zealand. The feature is available for iPhone 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro, and 14 Pro Max starting today.
This is technically a paid service, but existing owners sign up for free for two years. If you buy iPhone 14 after today, the two free years will start to roll back from the day you activate the phone.
Use the new SOS satellite feature to share your location via satellite
The SOS feature provides users with a short questionnaire that collects vital information to send to emergency responders. Two-way chat will be available once a satellite connection is established and with good visibility a message can get through in about 15 seconds.
Normally, the satellite option will appear on the call screen if calling emergency services fails due to lack of coverage (alternatively, you can tap the play button 5 times). There is also a demo mode that you might want to try out before heading out into the wilderness so you know what to do in an emergency.
If you have a Medical ID, it will be sent to the response team. Also, you can add up to 10 emergency contacts, who will notify you and — if they have recent iPhones running iOS 16.4 or later — receive a copy of your emergency services contact.
This feature has a non-emergency use too, you can use it to share your location with your friends and family. There is no cellular coverage in large swathes of Australia, so this can keep your loved ones up to date on your progress if you go out exploring.
The emergency SOS satellite service was available in 12 countries prior to today: Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the United States. Apple has stated that the system has already helped save lives on multiple occasions.
You may want to read this page to learn more about how the system works and how to use it. You can find information about sharing your location via Find My here.
