Apple has announced that the iPhone 14 series satellite SOS emergency service will launch in the U.S. and Canada “later this month,” revealing that it has spent $450 million in facilities, technology and personnel to create the service so far.
The new emergency SOS service works by enabling stranded users to send text messages to call for help via the satellite network. Apple has already revealed that this will require an entire satellite network, plus a series of call centers equipped in the U.S. and Canada.
Now Apple has announced a grant from its Advanced Manufacturing Fund, which has previously been used to help create super-ceramic crystals and bring in hundreds of jobs.
“SOS Emergency SOS via satellite is a perfect example of Americans using their talents and technology to save lives,” said Jeff Williams, Apple’s chief operating officer, in a statement. “We’re proud that this service is enabled by leading American companies and that our users can explore offline areas knowing they’re still within reach of emergency services in their time of need.” (The Beidou satellite messaging service is actually enabled on phones like the Huawei Mate 50 series)
Apple says that “most of the funding goes to Globalstar, which owns and operates the satellite network.” Globalstar reportedly employs more than 300 people dedicated to supporting Apple’s new service.
“Transmitting emergency distress signals directly to iPhone via satellite is an epochal advance in satellite communications,” said Globalstar Executive Chairman Jay Monroe in a statement, “and we are proud that Globalstar’s satellite and spectrum assets will play a central role in saving lives by playing a central role.”
“Through Apple’s infrastructure investments, our teams in California and elsewhere have grown to build, expand and upgrade our ground stations,” Jay Monroe continued, “and we look forward to the next chapter of Globalstar’s lifesaving technology. “
Apple said the majority of the $450 million investment will provide critical enhancements to the Globalstar satellite network and ground stations in Alaska, Florida, Hawaii, Nevada, Puerto Rico and Texas to ensure iPhone 14 / Pro users are connected to emergency services when they are off the network.
The infrastructure investment includes the addition of new antennas at all Globalstar facilities. These high-powered antennas were designed and manufactured exclusively for Apple by Cobham Satcom in Concord, Calif.
The iPhone 14 series U.S. version and others support the long-rumored emergency message sent via communications satellite, called Emergency SOS. the phone’s antennas can connect to satellite communications when the user is out of range of the phone’s signal. The message size can be reduced by a factor of 3 through a custom short text compression algorithm, and the message can be sent in less than 15 seconds with a clear view of the sky, and satellite location sharing is supported, allowing the satellite communication function to perform specific functions in field scenarios and emergency rescue. Location can also be shared without sending a message using the “Find My” app.
When an iPhone user sends an SOS emergency signal via satellite request, the message is received by one of Globalstar’s 24 satellites, which travel at approximately 16,000 miles per hour in low Earth orbit. The satellite then sends the message down to customized ground stations located at key points around the world.
Once the ground station receives the message, it is forwarded to emergency services that can dispatch help, or if the nearest emergency service is unable to receive the text message, to a relay center with Apple-trained emergency specialists.
In a support document, Apple said emergency distress signals sent via satellite will be available in the iOS 16 software update in November. And it will be available for free for the first two years.
Apple reportedly confirmed that iPhone 14 series satellite capabilities will be expanded to more countries/regions by the end of next year, but did not elaborate on those plans.
