Apple announced at the "Awe Dropping" new product launch event on September 9 that it will extend the satellite service function for an additional year for free for iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 device users.
This extension applies to users who have activated satellite capabilities in supporting countries before 12:00 a.m. (Pacific Time) on September 9, 2025. This benefit specifically covers the "Emergency SOS via Satellite" feature, which allows users to contact emergency services via satellite even when there is no mobile network and Wi-Fi signal, and can use the Find app to share their location information via satellite.
"Emergency SOS" can help users successfully locate and align overhead satellites. Even if the available connection time is limited, the iOS system will guide users to answer some key emergency questions (such as whether anyone is injured, etc.), and highly compress the compiled information into a short text and send it to the satellite to improve communication efficiency.
Apple has continued to expand its satellite-related capabilities since the feature was first introduced at the 2022 Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). In 2024, the iPhone will also implement satellite-based iMessage functions. Even in areas with no signal coverage in the wild, users can send and receive iMessages, text messages, emoticons, and Tapbacks replies through satellites, allowing them to flexibly communicate with relatives and friends. The system will automatically prompt the user on the lock screen or in the messaging app to connect to the nearest satellite and complete related sending and receiving operations.
This new service is of great practical value to users who often go out for outdoor activities, camping or hiking.
At the same conference, Apple not only announced that Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3 support satellite functions, but also launched the iPhone Air with ultra-thin design, equipped with a new generation Apple Modem chip and A19 Pro processor, as well as the new iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, AirPods Pro 3 and other new products.