iPhone14 Satellite SOS now available in NZ

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johno1234

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#304556 15-May-2023 09:03

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/technology/2023/05/apple-s-emergency-sos-via-satellite-now-available-to-iphone-14-users-in-new-zealand.html

Is this technology different to the Apple Watch Ultra's satellite SOS feature?

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#3076256 15-May-2023 09:33

Nice one! Here's the news article on the Apple website too.

I tested this out in the US earlier this year (there's an easy/simple test mode) so looking forward to trying it here too.

boosacnoodle

963 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3076269 15-May-2023 10:16

That is fantastic to see. Just gave it a try now. Initial thoughts are that it takes around 20 seconds to send a message. Presumably there is some delay receiving a response from the emergency response centre so you would need to be visible to the sky the whole time. That said, it worked reasonably well even indoors (though I did have to move from one side of the house to the other a few times so the satellites must have been more or less overhead).

wellygary

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#3076270 15-May-2023 10:21

Without raining on NZ's Parade, for a Country like Australia this is HUGE, Outback emergency communications have traditionally required separate dedicated equipment, the ability to call for help with a standard ( albeit most recent) phone when you are stuck in the middle of nowhere will revolutionise search and rescue...

Batman

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#3076271 15-May-2023 10:31

what's the prerequisite for satelite comms?

a special antenna?

will be looking for this when i get my next phone i guess

alasta

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#3076279 15-May-2023 10:49

johno1234:

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/technology/2023/05/apple-s-emergency-sos-via-satellite-now-available-to-iphone-14-users-in-new-zealand.html

Is this technology different to the Apple Watch Ultra's satellite SOS feature?

I don't think the Watch Ultra has satellite SOS. It just has the standard SOS feature which connects via 4G.

Benjip

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#3076282 15-May-2023 11:21

Batman:

what's the prerequisite for satelite comms?

a special antenna?

will be looking for this when i get my next phone i guess

Apple reportedly spent US ~$450m on R&D for the feature, including special internal antennas on the iPhone 14 range, and it uses the Globalstar satellite network.

There's a local connection too I believe, with Rocket Lab working on building and launching future sats for Globalstar. I wonder if that's why we're included in the feature rollout somewhat early on?

johno1234

2793 posts

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#3076283 15-May-2023 11:21

alasta:

johno1234:

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/technology/2023/05/apple-s-emergency-sos-via-satellite-now-available-to-iphone-14-users-in-new-zealand.html

Is this technology different to the Apple Watch Ultra's satellite SOS feature?

I don't think the Watch Ultra has satellite SOS. It just has the standard SOS feature which connects via 4G.

Could have sworn I saw satellite SOS on an Ultra blurb but now I can't find it!

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boosacnoodle

963 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3076299 15-May-2023 11:47

wellygary:

Without raining on NZ's Parade, for a Country like Australia this is HUGE, Outback emergency communications have traditionally required separate dedicated equipment, the ability to call for help with a standard ( albeit most recent) phone when you are stuck in the middle of nowhere will revolutionise search and rescue...

Not that dissimilar to NZ though. Any business with remote workers will be using similar equipment to this. The benefit of an iPhone 14, of course, is that you would typically always have it with you and it can "fall back" to cellular when required whereas a traditional Spot satellite is not going to have cellular capability.

timmyh

188 posts

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#3076305 15-May-2023 12:01

This is a great step forward. I think the other thing worth noting is that with NZ and Aus it means fourteen countries in total have this service live now. And anyone visiting one of those countries from anywhere else in the world (with an iPhone 14) can also use the service if they need to.

FineWine

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#3076319 15-May-2023 12:53

US$450m. This could be a huge boost to iPhone 14, and greater, sales. All those workers who work outside of city, urban and rural areas where standard connectivity drops off. DOC, forestry, NEMA, boaties, coastal ships. Companies may even bulk buy basic iPhones with this capability for their workers.

Whilst the difficult we can do immediately, the impossible takes a bit longer. However, miracles you will have to wait for.

wellygary

8312 posts

Uber Geek

#3076376 15-May-2023 13:35

Benjip:

Apple reportedly spent US ~$450m on R&D for the feature, including special internal antennas on the iPhone 14 range, and it uses the Globalstar satellite network.

Most of it was simply financial... and they have to pay it back....

"In an 8-K filing, Globalstar (GSAT) said its partner - publicly known to be Apple (AAPL) - had given the company $252M in the form of a prepayment to be used for satellite manufacturing costs, as well as launch and other costs associated with the constellation used for Apple's (AAPL) Emergency SOS satellite feature.

Globalstar (GSAT) said the $252M from Apple (AAPL) replaces the need to find third-party financing.

Under terms of the agreement, Gloablstar (GSAT) will be paid back in 16 installments, starting no later than the third quarter of 2025."

https://seekingalpha.com/news/3942025-globalstar-pops-discloses-252m-loan-from-apple-for-satellite-service

Mehrts

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#3076451 15-May-2023 17:41

From the article:

PolicyGuy

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#3076465 15-May-2023 18:41

Benjip:

There's a local connection too I believe, with Rocket Lab working on building and launching future sats for Globalstar. I wonder if that's why we're included in the feature rollout somewhat early on?

More than likely NZ is an early access market because One/VF are saying that they'll have a similar feature available - for all phones, Android included - "from 2024"

Apple will be going for first mover advantage in the NZ market.

If you have an employer-provided cellphone, particularly an iPhone, and you more than occasionally work in or travel for work through cellular black spots (eg SH1 Transmission Gully), you now have a pretty good Health & Safety case to upgrade to an iPhone 14 pronto. If your employer said "No, you can't have a shiny new iPhone", and you came to grief because you weren't able to call emergency services, then there'd be a pretty good argument that they hadn't taken all available steps to make the risk as low as reasonably practicable - cue WorkSafe NZ.

Edit: improve text

Nate001

638 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3076466 15-May-2023 19:03

PolicyGuy:
Benjip:

There's a local connection too I believe, with Rocket Lab working on building and launching future sats for Globalstar. I wonder if that's why we're included in the feature rollout somewhat early on?

More than likely NZ is an early access market because One/VF are saying that they'll have a similar feature available - for all phones, Android included - "from 2024"

Apple will be going for first mover advantage in the NZ market.

If you have an employer-provided cellphone, particularly an iPhone, and you more than occasionally work in or travel for work through cellular black spots (eg SH1 Transmission Gully), you now have a pretty good Health & Safety case to upgrade to an iPhone 14 pronto. If your employer said "No, you can't have a shiny new iPhone", and you came to grief because you weren't able to call emergency services, then there'd be a pretty good argument that they hadn't taken all available steps to make the risk as low as reasonably practicable - cue WorkSafe NZ.

Edit: improve text

A family friend works in Southland and often visits farms with minimal coverage, work policy is to always keep a PLB in the car for emergencies, which they provide. Only benefit is they don’t need to be charged regularly like a phone.

boosacnoodle

963 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3076785 16-May-2023 13:58

Why is Jason Paris of One fame trying to claim credit for "bringing this technology to NZ"? In all likelihood, One had very little to no involvement in this given that Spark operates the ICAP that powers 111.

Satellite to mobile emergency SOS is now available via your iPhone 14 on One New Zealand. Proud that we have played our part in bringing this technology to NZ. Our collaboration with SpaceX is still our focus as it will ensure that ALL smartphones (android/iOS etc) can use this life saving technology from 2024, plus our customers will be able to use this service not just in emergencies, but also day to day - ending black spots forever.

Space X has around 3,500 low orbit satellites in space and will launch over 1000 more to provide text/voice/data services for our customers. The number of satellites is important as you need a lot to ensure that you have ongoing and uninterrupted connectivity as they orbit the earth. Global Star has around 50 satellites and Lynk has around 10 satellites - so more work to do. Regardless, this is a great move for our customers and for New Zealand. #OneGiantLeap #SaferNewZealand

From https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7063632075395919873/

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