Published on November 15, 2023, 12:19 pm
Image source: Fox News
TLDR: Apple has announced that owners of the iPhone 14 will receive an additional free year of access to its Emergency SOS via Satellite feature. This extension applies to users who activated their device in a country supporting the feature before November 15, 2023. The service has already saved lives in emergency situations worldwide. The extension only applies to iPhone 14 users and there is no information on potential charges after the free period ends. Apple has also introduced Roadside Assistance via Satellite, currently available only in the US, which connects stranded AAA members to help without cellular connectivity. Overall, this decision showcases Apple's commitment to user safety and enhancing emergency response capabilities.
Apple has announced that owners of the iPhone 14 will receive an additional year of free use for its Emergency SOS via Satellite feature. This feature was introduced at WWDC 2022 and officially launched on November 15. Initially, Apple committed to providing two years of free use to those who purchased the iPhone 14 and later extended the offer to iPhone 15 buyers.
On the anniversary of the feature’s launch, Apple revealed that existing iPhone 14 users will receive an extra year for free. The extension applies to users who have activated their device in a country that supports Emergency SOS via Satellite before November 15, 2023. Apple’s vice president of Worldwide iPhone Product Marketing, Kaiann Drance, emphasized how Emergency SOS via satellite has helped save lives worldwide. She shared examples such as a man being rescued after his car plunged over a cliff in Los Angeles and lost hikers being found in the Apennine Mountains in Italy.
This additional free year is an extension of Apple’s original promise of two years. So far, iPhone 14 users have only had a year of free access to the service. Drance expressed her satisfaction that both iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 users can benefit from this groundbreaking service for two more years at no cost.
It’s important to note that although Drance mentioned the iPhone 15, the extension only applies to the iPhone 14. Users of the iPhone 15 will be at most a couple of months into their first year of free usage.
Apple has not disclosed any information regarding potential charges for this service after the free period ends. Since its launch in the US and Canada one year ago, Emergency SOS via Satellite has been gradually rolled out to more countries, resulting in numerous lives being saved worldwide in various emergency situations like stranded hikers or car crashes.
In addition to expanding its emergency SOS service, Apple has introduced Roadside Assistance via Satellite as part of its offerings. Currently only available in the US, this service connects stranded AAA members to help even when there is no cellular connectivity.
Overall, Apple’s decision to provide an extra year of free use for the Emergency SOS via Satellite feature demonstrates its commitment to ensuring user safety and enhancing emergency response capabilities.
Original article posted by Fox News
