When Apple initially unveiled the iPhone 14 sequence of fashions final yr it used a part of the announcement to go over one of many headlining options being added, which was Emergency SOS through satellite tv for pc. This characteristic would permit the telephones to connect with satellites to have the ability to ship messages to emergency companies, and replace places on Discover My.

The characteristic was initially deliberate to be made free for 2 years following the launch of the gadget, later shifting to a paid subscription. Nevertheless, at present Apple has introduced that it is going to be extending its free entry to the service for a further yr for present iPhone 14 customers. This is applicable to any iPhone 14 gadget that has been activated in a rustic that helps the characteristic previous to 12 a.m. PT at present. At the moment, 16 nations and areas help the service, the newest of which had been Australia and New Zealand in Might this yr.

Kevin Drance, Apple”s vice chairman of Worldwide iPhone Product Advertising mentioned that “Emergency SOS through satellite tv for pc has helped save lives all over the world. From a person who was rescued after his automotive plummeted over a 400-foot cliff in Los Angeles, to misplaced hikers discovered within the Apennine Mountains in Italy, we proceed to listen to tales of our clients with the ability to join with emergency responders after they in any other case wouldn’t have been in a position to,” and that “we’re so comfortable iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 customers can benefit from this groundbreaking service for 2 extra years without spending a dime.”

Apple has additionally lately launched the flexibility to utilize this characteristic to get Roadside Help within the U.S. which connects customers to the American Car Affiliation (AAA) if they’ve automotive hassle whereas exterior of mobile and Wi-Fi protection, additional constructing on the satellite tv for pc infrastructure initially launched with the iPhone 14.