That’s it, satellite connection is available in France

Apple announces the availability of Emergency SOS service in France, Germany, Ireland and the UK. Starting today, any iPhone 14 user can contact emergency services via satellite without the need for a cellular network.

One of the flagship features of the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max is finally available in France: Emergency SOS with satellite connection. Apple confirmed that the service was coming to France last month. We also know that support for the service will be available in other countries in 2023.

Emergency SOS: notify emergency services without the need for a mobile network

The first feature available is Emergency SOS: it allows iPhone 14 users to send messages to emergency services without the need for Wi-Fi or a cellular network. Works with medical ID and emergency contacts. Apple has hired people who act as a link between the user and emergency services. They should contact them to provide your position and medical information (as recorded on the Medical ID).

A commendable initiative by Gary Machado, CEO of the European Emergency Number Association, notes Apple’s press release: ” In practice, this means that more people will be able to call 112 when there is no mobile coverage and they need emergency help. We are confident that this will save many lives and offer significant assistance to the emergency services involved in these often very complex rescues. »

Communication with satellite emergency services can be activated without calling 112. hold down the power and volume buttons or by pressing the power button five times quickly “: Be careful when working with iPhone. Otherwise, with a few clicks, we can go to the iPhone interface, which invites us to fill out the questionnaire. This is passed on to the emergency services. To quickly send ” an intuitive interface tells the user where to point their iPhone to connect and sends an initial message to access the nearest satellite. This information may also be transmitted by registered emergency contact.

But there are these satellites low bandwidth and located more than a thousand kilometers from Earth, so messages, even short ones, can take several minutes to transmit. “, Apple notes in its press release. In order to achieve the fastest possible speed (without installing a huge antenna on the iPhone), Apple engineers developed special hardware elements, tuned the frequencies used and ” a text compression algorithm that reduces the average message size by three “. Under favorable conditions, sending or receiving a message can take up to 15 seconds.

Satellite connection demo that anyone can try

Apple also says that any iPhone 14 user can try Emergency SOS to test their smartphone’s satellite connection. Fortunately, this does not contact the emergency services, only ” get to know » interface to be the fastest in an emergency.

Note that you need at least iOS 16.1 to use Emergency SOS and Find Me. These services are free for two years for anyone who buys an iPhone 14. Therefore, the trial period, which will end in December 2024, Apple has not yet announced the prices of the future subscription.

Find Me via satellite: inform your loved ones

Apple’s Find My app also has a new feature that lets you use a satellite connection to send your GPS location to loved ones from a preconfigured list. Something to reassure them for a walk or a trip.

In its press release, the brand also explains how to do this: users “ go to the app, open the Me tab, swipe to My Satellite Location, then select Send My Location “.

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