Apple's free 'life-saving' update now available for millions of iPhone and Apple watch users
The newly revamped Emergency SOS can now be used via satellite connection
Apple’s free ‘life saving’ update is now available for millions of iPhone and Apple watch users.
This comes after the new feature went live last week for users in Mexico and is available to use on both the iPhone and the Apple Watch Ultra 3.
The newly revamped Emergency SOS can now be used via satellite connection, meaning that people will be able to use the service through Globalstar satellites during an emergency.
Having initially been introduced back in 2022 with iPhone 14, the service has since been extended to the latest Apple Watch and all iPhone models from the 14 onwards.
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So, how does it work? In order to use the satellite connection, you’ll first need to be outside of cellular signal range as well as having no WiFi.
You’ll also need to be within a direct line of sight to the sky.
If you tick all these boxes, then your device will connect to the nearest satellites to give you a connection.
Before testing the feature out, you’ll need to make sure that your device is up to date as the iPhone will need to run iOS 18.4 or later to use it and the Apple Watch Ultra 3 will require watchOS 26.
Juan Antonio Suárez Sánchez, who is the head of the National Information Center, in a Newsroom post from Apple said: “In a country as geographically diverse as Mexico, there are remote regions where traditional mobile coverage may be limited. Emergency SOS via satellite on iPhone and Apple Watch Ultra 3 offers a new and powerful way for people to contact public emergency services when other media are not available.
“This technology can help emergency services locate and care for people in critical situations, when every second counts, and, with it, help the population when it is most needed. We are pleased to have worked with Apple to bring this important innovation to Mexico, and we are excited about the positive impact it will have on public safety across the country.”
The Apple devices compatible with the Emergency SOS feature have had custom competents built into them so that they can connect to satellites without the need for a large antenna.
They are also designed to compress the size of a text message sent through satellite connection in order to speed up the process of transmission.
This is an exciting new development for Apple fans with many looking forward to trying it out for themselves.