iPhone 14 can connect to satellites for emergency SOS functions
The biggest new feature of the iPhone 14, 14 Plus and 14 Pro is probably not the one you'll use every day, but you'll be glad to have it if you need it. Newer phones have a built-in satellite connection that people can use to send emergency SOS messages to places where there is no cellular signal available.
First, your iPhone will help point your phone in the direction you need to point it to get the best signal. Once you have a connection, you can open a messaging interface that allows you to communicate with emergency service providers. Apple says that due to satellite connectivity limitations, sending messages will take significantly longer than usual, so the feature includes automatic questions you're prompted to answer, like "is anyone hurt?" It will have auto-filled answers that you can tap to answer. Apple also compresses messages to a third of their normal size to send them a little faster.
Apple says that once the message is sent to the satellite, it is then routed to emergency response centers; if these centers are only configured for voice calls, they will first be forwarded to a response center which will then contact the emergency response.
This feature will be included free for two years with all iPhone 14 and 14 Pro models; it is unclear how much it will cost after that. For people who are often far from cellular signals - perhaps the same people watching an Apple Watch Ultra - this feature could be extremely useful in a difficult situation.
Follow all the news from Apple's iPhone event here.
All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. All prices correct at time of publication.
The biggest new feature of the iPhone 14, 14 Plus and 14 Pro is probably not the one you'll use every day, but you'll be glad to have it if you need it. Newer phones have a built-in satellite connection that people can use to send emergency SOS messages to places where there is no cellular signal available.
First, your iPhone will help point your phone in the direction you need to point it to get the best signal. Once you have a connection, you can open a messaging interface that allows you to communicate with emergency service providers. Apple says that due to satellite connectivity limitations, sending messages will take significantly longer than usual, so the feature includes automatic questions you're prompted to answer, like "is anyone hurt?" It will have auto-filled answers that you can tap to answer. Apple also compresses messages to a third of their normal size to send them a little faster.
Apple says that once the message is sent to the satellite, it is then routed to emergency response centers; if these centers are only configured for voice calls, they will first be forwarded to a response center which will then contact the emergency response.
This feature will be included free for two years with all iPhone 14 and 14 Pro models; it is unclear how much it will cost after that. For people who are often far from cellular signals - perhaps the same people watching an Apple Watch Ultra - this feature could be extremely useful in a difficult situation.
Follow all the news from Apple's iPhone event here.
All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. All prices correct at time of publication.
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