At Apple’s “Far Out” event today they announced a new line up iPhones as they do every year, but one surprise announcement was the inclusion of emergency SOS via satellite connection. To contact emergency services via a smartphone, ordinarily you would have to have a reliable cell phone signal which of course is non-existent in the backcountry.

Starting in November (as long as you are running iOS 16), all iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models will feature the ability to “Try emergency text via satellite” when you are out of the range of a cellular tower.

When you use a satellite connection, the experience is different than sending or receiving a message via cellular. In ideal conditions with a direct view of the sky and the horizon, a message might take 15 seconds to send, and over a minute to send under trees with light or medium foliage. If you're under heavy foliage or surrounded by other obstructions, you might not be able to connect to a satellite. Connection times can also be impacted by your surroundings, the length of your message, and the status and availability of the satellite network.

To connect to a satellite, you would…

hold your phone naturally in your hand. You don't need to raise your arm or hold your phone up, but don't put it in a pocket or backpack.

Make sure that you're outside with a clear view of the sky and the horizon.
Be aware that trees with light foliage might slow down the connection, and dense foliage might block it. Hills or mountains, canyons, and tall structures can also block the connection.
In case you need to turn left or right or move to avoid a blocked signal, your iPhone provides guidance—just follow the onscreen instructions.
The satellite connection can be maintained even if your phone screen is locked.

This isn’t a two way texting however, a feature that exists on Garmin and SPOT devices. The phone will ask you a series of questions as to the severity of the SOS and you simply tap the corresponding answer on-screen. This will be relayed to a local emergency service provider who will then be able to come to your aid.

When using a satellite connection, it might take about 15 seconds to send a message when you have a clear view of the sky. Through trees with light or medium foliage, it might take over a minute. Emergency SOS via satellite might not work in places above 62° latitude, such as northern parts of Canada and Alaska.

During the event Apple mentioned that you will be able to use ‘Find my’ to update your location via satellite, although we don’t know the full scope of that feature just yet. The service will be free for the first two years, with the possibility of a monthly/yearly fee after that. The iPhone 14 uses Globalstar’s Band 53/n53 to connect, the same company that SPOT uses, however Garmin utilizes Iridium.