The Apple iPhone 14 series was the first set of smartphones in the world to feature satellite connectivity. It enables people to contact emergency services from areas where there is no cellular or Wi-Fi coverage. During the launch of the lineup, Apple said that the satellite connectivity on those devices would be free for two years from the time of activation. Today, Apple has announced that it is extending the free trial to satellite connectivity for the existing iPhone 14 users for one more year.
Who is eligible for the new offer?
Apple says that free access to satellite connectivity will be offered for an additional year to those people who have activated their iPhone 14 series device “in a country that supports Emergency SOS via satellite prior to 12 a.m. PT on November 15, 2023.” Apple’s satellite connectivity service went live in the US exactly one year ago (November 15, 2022). This feature is also available with the brand’s latest set of smartphones, the iPhone 15 lineup, and these devices too come with two years of free access to satellite connectivity.
“Emergency SOS via satellite has helped save lives around the world. From a man who was rescued after his car plummeted over a 400-foot cliff in Los Angeles, to lost hikers found in the Apennine Mountains in Italy, we continue to hear stories of our customers being able to connect with emergency responders when they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to. We are so happy iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 users can take advantage of this groundbreaking service for two more years for free,” said Kaiann Drance, who is Vice President of Worldwide Product Marketing at Apple, in a press release.
Satellite connectivity might come to Android phones soon
Currently, no Android device offers satellite connectivity. However, that’s going to change soon. According to various reports, the upcoming flagship smartphones from Samsung, the Galaxy S24, S24+, and S24 Ultra are expected to be the first set of Android phones in the world to feature satellite connectivity. Earlier this year, Qualcomm announced the Snapdragon Satellite, a feature that can be integrated into the company’s chipset for offering satellite connectivity. However, the partnership between Qualcomm and Iridium (the company that was offering the satellite connectivity) has ended abruptly.
