Apple introduced Emergency SOS via satellite with the iPhone 14 lineup last year in the US and Canada, and later expanded it to the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, and Switzerland.
At that time, the company said that the service is free for two years, starting at the time of activation of the new iPhone 14 series.
Today, the company has announced that it is extending free access to Emergency SOS via satellite for an additional year for existing iPhone 14 users in these countries.
The free trial will be extended for iPhone 14 users who have activated their device in a country that supports Emergency SOS via satellite prior to 12 a.m. PT on November 15, 2023, said the company.
The service is also available for free for two years, starting at the time of activation for the new iPhone 15 series phones launched this year.
Apple introduced Roadside Assistance via satellite to connect users to AAA if they have car trouble while outside cellular and Wi-Fi coverage. Other features include Crash Detection, Check In and Medical ID in the Health app to help first responders access critical medical information from the Lock Screen without needing a passcode.
Kaiann Drance, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide iPhone Product Marketing, said:
Emergency SOS via satellite has helped save lives around the world. From a man who was rescued after his car plummeted over a 400-foot cliff in Los Angeles, to lost hikers found in the Apennine Mountains in Italy, we continue to hear stories of our customers being able to connect with emergency responders when they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to. We are so happy iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 users can take advantage of this groundbreaking service for two more years for free.