Apple is launching its new emergency SOS via satellite feature today for iPhone 14 users in the US and Canada. The feature will let iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro owners reach emergency services via satellite when cellular or Wi-Fi connectivity isn’t available on their devices.

Apple’s Emergency SOS via satellite feature will automatically appear on iPhone 14 models when users have no other means to contact emergency services. iPhone 14 users will first have to fill out a quick questionnaire, then they’ll see a radar on their screen to help them point their iPhone at a satellite so they can start sending and receiving messages.

“Our teams worked tirelessly to tackle a new set of technical challenges to bring this service to life, in addition to building a reliable on-the-ground infrastructure. Emergency SOS via satellite is a breakthrough service available only on the iPhone 14 lineup, and a new innovation that we hope will provide our customers some peace of mind,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing.

Using Apple’s Find My app, iPhone 14 users can also send their location to others via satellite when they have no other network available. The satellite connection on the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models is also compatible with other new safety features on iOS 16 including crash and fall detection.

Emergency SOS and Find My via satellite will be available for free for two years once iPhone 14 users activate the feature. Apple plans to bring emergency SOS via satellite to France, Germany, Ireland, and the UK in December, but the company has yet to announce how much the feature will cost after two years.

Tagged with Apple, iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro