The newly launched Apple iPhone 14 lineup has an all-new feature called Emergency SOS via Satellite Mode. Almost all the smartphones in the market come with the SOS mode, but the one found on the new iPhone 14 lineup is an advanced feature. The Satellite-based SOS mode on the new iPhones wil go live for the US and Canada later this month. Now, the brand has officially disclosed how much effort was put into developing this new system.
According to the company, “When an iPhone user sends an Emergency SOS message, it is received by one of Globalstar’s 24 low-Earth orbit satellites, which move at speeds of around 25,749 km/h. The message is subsequently transmitted by satellite to custom ground stations situated at strategic spots around the world.”
Cobham Satcom in Concord, California, designed and constructed new high-power antennas exclusively for Apple. Each ground station has numerous antennas that communicate with the satellites. When the message is received by the ground station, it is forwarded to either emergency services or a relay center staffed by Apple-trained emergency professionals.
The Cupertino firm paid for key upgrades to Globalstar’s satellite network and ground stations. As a result, over 300 Globalstar personnel will support the new iPhone 14 Emergency SOS service. Apple added that Emergency SOS via satellite makes use of a band reserved for mobile satellite services.
Apple spent $450 million on the entire Emergency SOS initiative. The majority of that money was spent on developing infrastructure for the feature in collaboration with satellite provider Globalstar. The feature is currently limited to US and Canadian markets, and the brand may expand the availability of the feature in the future. But as of now, the brand does not have any plan to expand outside the US markets.
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