Satellite SOS: a new smartphone feature that no one wants to try in practice – Communication – Science and technology

Satellite SOS allows emergency messages to be sent via satellites even if the user does not have access to a mobile network or Wi-Fi.

This is what “satellite SOS” looks like on iPhones.

This feature is designed to help people in emergency situations where traditional mobile infrastructure is not available, such as in remote areas, in the mountains, or at sea. It allows users to contact emergency services and send their location along with a short message describing the situation.

This is possible thanks to special chips and antennas in smartphones that allow communication with satellites in low Earth orbit. These satellites are able to pick up a signal from a mobile device and then transmit it to ground stations that are connected to emergency services. This process can take seconds to minutes, depending on the user’s location and the availability of satellites. The first major player to integrate the satellite SOS function into its devices was Apple, which used it in the iPhone 14.

Other smartphone manufacturers that integrate it are also gradually increasing, for example Huawei or Samsung. With Apple, it is available, for example, in the USA and Canada, in Europe in France, Germany, Ireland and the United Kingdom (iOS 16.2) and also in Austria, Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland (iOS 16.4). Google in cooperation with Garmin will use satellite SOS in Pixel 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL and 9 Pro Fold phones, but initially only in the US. It is possible (but not yet confirmed) that this service will be introduced by Samsung in the new S25 model. Of course, the service is only active where no other connection is available.

The satellite SOS function represents a significant step forward in the field of mobile security and provides users with the opportunity to get help even in situations where the traditional mobile network is unavailable. While this technology is currently only available in a limited number of countries and devices, it’s only a matter of time before it expands to other markets and devices.