Apple expanded Emergency SOS via satellite to Japan. It allows iPhone users to communicate with emergency services from very remote locations.
The potentially life-saving feature works on all iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 models, and is already available in over a dozen other countries around the globe.
iPhone SOS feature now available in Japan
Apple announced Emergency SOS via satellite as a signature feature of the iPhone 14 in September 2022. It’s a boon to hikers, boaters and anyone traveling through remote areas where cell service isn’t available. All that necessary is a clear view of the sky to reach out for help. The service already saved quite a few people. In just the past few months, that includes four hikers menaced by a wildfire plus a surfer swept out to sea.
And Apple announced Monday that Japan joined the list of countries where the service can be used. If 110, 118 or 119 can’t be reached because call service isn’t available, Emergency SOS becomes an option.
Useful in non-emergencies, too
Satellite communications also can allow users to manually share their location with Apple’s Find My service when there is no cellular or Wi-Fi connection.
Friends or family will be able to see the location in the Find My app. This should provide iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 owners with a sense of security when hiking or camping off the grid.
Emergency SOS via satellite is free for two years
You can use Emergency SOS via satellite for free for two years after you first activate your new iPhone. It is unclear how much Apple will charge for the service after that.
It’s not a global service — local infrastructure is necessary to put the iPhone user in contact with emergency services. The feature went live in November 2022 in the United States. It then expanded to France, Germany, Ireland, and the United Kingdom the next month. Apple added six more European countries to Emergency SOS via satellite’s support list in March 2023, and Australia and New Zealand followed in May of that year. With Japan, the total is now 15 countries.
Check out our guide on how to contact emergency services via satellite with your iPhone for more details.
