This is an interesting sign of the way technology is headed. The new iPhone 14 has a feature that provides for emergency texts via satellite when out of range of a cellular or wifi connection.

Details here: Use Emergency SOS via satellite on your iPhone 14

There is also the suggestion that this may eventually be a paid service: "Service is included for free for two years with the activation of any iPhone 14 model. Connection and response times vary based on location, site conditions, and other factors."

It's not a substitute for a real PLB. (Yet?) On the other hand, there's probably 2 billion more people that have an iPhone than have a PLB.

This is definitely early days for this feature. Unclear how good it is right now. But just imagine what we may have in 5 years!

Sounds like they copied some Garmin inreach tech. I wonder if they will mess it up like airtags and airdrop

Another feature of the phone:

“Let friends know how remote you go. If you’re on an adventure without cell service, you can now use Find My to share your location via satellite so friends and family know where you are.“

Interesting, for sure. Sounds like you will be interacting with some sort of intermediary service, can't imagine how they woudl do it otherwise, which has to cost Apple money.

Wonder what the battery drain will be?

Globalstar is the partner. Apple has seemingly secured 85% of Globalstar's capacity.

SEC filing https://sec.report/Document/0001366868-22-000059/


Starlink (SpaceX) and T-Mobile announced they are going put up satellites next year, but going use the standard cellular bands. So sounds like putting cell towers in space effectively.

https://techcrunch.com/2022/08/25/t-mobi...ting-next-year/

The apple news is great, but I think the T-Mobile news has the potential of being even better because it will supposedly work with any semi modern phone on T-Mobile that has a "normal" plan. No pointing, no special phone, no special program. The iPhone 14 comes with this feature free for two years. I don't know what it will cost after that.

Doug

I have been working out of cell range for the last two falls in northern Canada as a Survival Consultant for a US TV Show and using my iPhone for supplemental topographical maps (Topo Canada) and air photos (Gaia GPS) when out in the field daily. Although it works well in airplane mode (we have no cell towers near us), I can say that you would not get more than two days' use out of a phone. I often come back at night and even my new iPhone 13 will often be down to 65% at the end of the day and that's just taking a few pictures and checking navigation from time to time each day. Heavy use will bring it down to 40%.

I think that emergency satellite connectivity will add to the phone's daily power use and it's one of the reasons I carry a beacon, GPS receiver and in my safety pack power pack to recharge my phone and beacon if stranded overnight.

I absolutely agree with your choices here.

With that said my guess is that it will be a small difference in daily power use -- I expect Apple was smart enough to have this transceiver powered down when not in use.

I cannot recall the last time I was off the pavement, with no cell signal, and with no ham radio repeaters in range. So far I have chosen not to buy a PLB or SEND. This feature (when I replace my phone) will probably influence me away from a PLB or SEND, assuming that my outdoors habits don't change much.

Apple states in https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213426

"Emergency SOS via satellite might not work in places above 62° latitude, such as northern parts of Canada and Alaska."

So if that far north in Canada, probably wouldn't want to rely on just the iPhone anyway.

A few places on our farm with no cell signal. And using GPS on a even a decent phone seems to suck the battery down pretty quick.