Apple’s new emergency call system for the iPhone 14 is now active in Germany, among other places. You can find out here how you can reach the helpers in an emergency without a mobile phone connection via a satellite.
When it was presented in the USA , Apple had already promised that the satellite emergency call would start in Germany in December. Now the time has officially come in this country and the emergency call can now be used by iPhone 14 owners . In addition to a current Apple smartphone, iOS 16.1 or later is required. The California company was already aware that many people would try the new system and therefore built a demo function into the operating system. This allows you to put the feature to the test without having to send a real emergency call.
EMERGENCY CALL SOS VIA SATELLITE ON THE IPHONE 14 – THIS IS HOW IT WORKS
Until now, an emergency call without a mobile phone connection was only possible with special hardware. For example, there are devices like Garmin’s inReach Mini 2 that can contact the rest of the world via satellite . These are often used by hikers who are often away from mobile phone networks or WLANs for long periods of time. In an emergency, an emergency call can be sent so that the first responders can get on their way.
The iPhone 14 can now also take over this function and a little more . You can now use the system described by Apple as “emergency call SOS via satellite” in selected countries. These currently include Germany, France, Great Britain , Ireland, the USA and Canada.
As mentioned above, Apple has integrated a demonstration into the current iOS version for contacting the satellite. You can find this in Settings > Emergency SOS > Try demo. Your iPhone 14 demonstrates how you have to align it with a satellite in the event of a fall in the open air. Depending on the location, it may take some time before it finds it and sends the test message. So the demo helps you get to know the system without having to figure it out in a real emergency.
IN A REAL EMERGENCY, YOU SHOULD STILL CALL 112 FIRST
If the worst comes to the worst, you start the “SOS emergency call via satellite” as usual by calling 112. Depending on the country, it can also be 999 or 911. If you can’t connect to a cellular network, your iPhone 14 will allow you to use the satellite connection.
In the next steps, an assistant will ask you for the most important details of the emergency. You can choose between a car accident, injury, crime, straying or fire. In the following steps, the questions will then become more precise depending on the selection. In any case, your emergency pass will also be sent to the first responders.
Once the assistant has collected the most important answers, it is now your task to align the iPhone 14 with the satellite. The demo feature mentioned above will teach you how this works. After that, you can open the Messages app.
A chat now allows you to talk to the helpers. You must still maintain the connection between iPhone 14 and the satellite. There may be further questions about your emergency call SOS.
IPHONE 14: LOCATION NOTIFICATION VIA SATELLITE VIA “WHERE IS?”
The satellite feature in the iPhone 14 also allows you to share your location with your friends via Apple’s “Where is?” app. To do this, open your own profile in the app to see “My location via satellite”. Then tap on “Share my location”.
Apple has also paired the iPhone 14’s satellite communication with other emergency functions. The accident detection of the current smartphone and the Apple Watch can use this connection if the worst comes to the worst.
Apple’s Satellite Emergency SOS is included free for two years from the time a new iPhone 14 is activated. If you bought your smartphone before the availability date of emergency SOS via satellite, you can use it free of charge for two years from the availability date of emergency SOS via satellite. How Apple plans to handle the costs afterwards has not yet been announced.
