Apple said on Wednesday that iPhone 14 users will receive an additional year of its satellite-based safety service, Emergency SOS.
Users can text emergency services using Emergency SOS via satellite even if they are not in an area with Wi-Fi or mobile connectivity. It can come in handy if you’re trekking and have an emergency but aren’t near a wireless network. In a statement issued Wednesday, Apple stated that the function has helped save lives all over the world.
When Apple decides to charge for the function, it will add another stream of recurring revenue to Apple’s services division, which produced $22.31 billion in sales during the company’s fiscal fourth quarter. Apple has yet to reveal how much it will cost.
Meanwhile, Qualcomm stopped its collaboration with satellite communications company Iridium to deliver similar satellite-to-phone services for Android phones on November 9. According to Iridium, smartphone manufacturers have not implemented the technology in their products, implying a lack of interest among Apple’s competitors.
The free satellite Emergency SOS trial is available to iPhone 14 customers who activated their handset in an appropriate nation or region before November 15, according to Apple. Users who purchased one of Apple’s iPhone 15 smartphones, which were announced in September, can also access the service.
In September, Apple revealed additional satellite-based safety features such as Roadside Assistance via satellite. If a user’s vehicle breaks down in a region without cell service or wifi, the feature can link them to the roadside assistance business AAA. For the next two years, iPhone 15 customers will be able to use the function for free.
Apple’s stock was up less than 1% on Wednesday.
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