Image credit : MotorTrend
Apple announced to add its satellite-powered Roadside Assistance to the iPhone 14 and above models in affiliation with AAA, during the iPhone 15 launch event in Cupertino, California.
When you purchase and activate a new iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro or iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Pro.
series device, you will receive complimentary access to Emergency SOS and Roadside Assistance for a duration of two years. The services they link you to are either provided in accordance with AAA membership terms or can be accessed on a pay-per-use basis for individuals who are not AAA members. Emergency SOS via satellite is available in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, the U.K., and the U.S and will extend to more countries in the near future.
The handy feature lets iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 users choose one out of many scenarios. These possible scenarios may include “Locked out,” “no fuel or charge,” or “flat tire”. The feature will allow the user to text an AAA operator even in wilderness where they can’t find a cell signal.
How Emergency SOS via satellite works
In order to establish a connection with a satellite, it’s necessary to be outdoors with an unobstructed view of the sky and the horizon. The experience of using a satellite connection differs from that of sending or receiving messages through cellular networks.
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In the event that your iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 15, or iPhone 15 Pro detects a severe car crash or a significant fall and you are unresponsive, your device may automatically trigger a Crash Detection or Fall Detection notification to emergency services. This communication via Emergency SOS could utilize a satellite connection if you happen to be outside of areas covered by cellular and Wi-Fi networks.
