Apple introduced an innovative safety feature called Emergency SOS via Satellite to its iPhone 14 models in the U.S. and Canada last year. This service has since expanded to include the iPhone 15 series and encompass 16 countries. It empowers users to contact emergency services even when they’re beyond cellular and Wi-Fi coverage, leading to significant impacts and potentially saving lives.
Many iPhone 14 users were initially dissatisfied when Apple announced that the Emergency SOS via Satellite service would be free for only two years. However, in a recent announcement, Apple revealed that it’s extending free access to this service for an additional year for all existing iPhone 14 users.
Previously, the Emergency SOS via Satellite service was set to be free for iPhone 14 users until 2024. However, Apple has extended this service at no cost until 2025.
How to Obtain an Additional Free Year of Emergency SOS via Satellite?
To be eligible for the additional complimentary year of Emergency SOS via satellite, you must have activated your iPhone 14 in a country supporting this service before 12 am Pacific Time on November 15, 2023. In essence, this extension applies to iPhone 14 users who activated their devices before encountering this announcement.
It’s important to note that this extension pertains solely to iPhone 14 users. Apple already provides 2 years of free Emergency SOS via Satellite service to iPhone 15 owners. Consequently, both iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 users will receive this service at no cost until 2025.
Life-Saving Impact of Emergency SOS via Satellite
Apple has repeatedly emphasized the life-saving benefits of its safety features, such as Emergency SOS via Satellite and Crash Detection. These functionalities have played a pivotal role in various rescue scenarios, including instances where individuals were stranded with no access to cellular networks.
A case reported by People highlighted Ryo Lu’s experience from San Francisco, who utilized Emergency SOS via satellite to summon aid when his jeep flipped over on a snowbank while en route to Lake Abraham for photography in January this year. Within a mere 10 minutes, emergency responders were alerted, prompting the dispatch of firefighters and a tow truck to his location.
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