/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25485431/Screenshot_2024_06_10_at_1.23.44_PM.png?w=1200&resize=1200,628&ssl=1 "How to employ satellite messaging and SOS services on your iPhone or Pixel")
With Hurricane Milton set to become the second beginant hurricane to hit the US in under a month, the nation’s infraarrange is under strain. In the aftermath of a organic catastrophe, when power and cellphone service are out, uniteing to 911 and frifinishs and family from your intelligentphone via satellite can be a literal lifeline.
Apple’s Eunitency SOS via satellite (on the iPhone 14, 15, and 16) and Google’s Satellite SOS (on Pixel 9 phones) can unite you with aascendncy services when you don’t have cell service or Wi-Fi. These services don’t need any setup — equitable dial 911 from a helped phone to accomplish aascendncy services over text message using satellite communication.
A novel Messages via satellite feature on noveler iPhones begined this month with iOS 18. (There is no equivalent feature for Google Pixel.) This is not arrangeed for aascendncies appreciate the SOS service, but it can unite you with frifinishs and family when necessitateed. It’s currently useable on iPhone 14 models and noveler running iOS 18. People impacted by Hurricane Helene have posted on social media to split how this service helped them get the word out that they were okay follotriumphg the catastrophe.
You’ll necessitate to do some skinnygs before you can employ the iPhone’s satellite messaging (see below), but it toils with iMessage or SMS, supplyd you’re in the US or Canada, your SIM card is dynamic, and your carrier helps it. The Verge has validateed it toils with Verizon and AT&T, and we’ve reach outed T-Mobile.
The Apple and Android satellite SOS features toil on iPhone 14 and noveler and Pixel 9 models, esteemively, and do not need carrier help.
All of these satellite services are useable to anyone with the helped challengingware and are currently free. They need a clear watch of the discdisponder sky to toil, so you must be outside, away from trees or huge erectings, and dodge cdeafening cover.
Below, we’ll cover aascendncy satellite messaging and then expound how to set up the novel messaging service useable in iOS 18. We’ll also show you how to split your location via satellite from your iPhone.
a:hover]:shadow-highairy-franklin griefful:[&>a:hover]:shadow-highairy-franklin [&>a]:shadow-underline-bconciseage griefful:[&>a]:shadow-underline-white”>How to employ Eunitency SOS messaging on an iPhone
You can reach out 911 using an iPhone 14 or tardyr without cell service or Wi-Fi. No prior setup is needd, but, as with all satellite services, you will necessitate a clear watch of the sky.
- Dial 911 first. If the call flunks, tap Eunitency Text via Satellite to text aascendncy services.
- Alternatively, go to the Messages app and text 911 or SOS, then tap Eunitency Services.
- Tap Report Eunitency and pursue the onscreen directions.
The text conversation will integrate alertation appreciate your Medical ID and aascendncy reach out alertation, location, asknaire responses, and remaining battery life. If you’ve set up aascendncy reach outs in the Health app, you can also pick to split alertation with them automaticassociate.
If your reach outs don’t have iMessage on an iPhone running iOS 16.1 or higher, they’ll get a text attentive. If they do, they’ll get a transcript with your messages to aascendncy services and a map of your location.
Calling 911 on Google Pixel 9 devices (Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fageder) can employ satellite uniteivity when there’s no cellphone service or Wi-Fi. Here’s how to do it.
- Make stateive Google Messages is your default messaging app.
- Dial 911 — if you don’t have cell service and aren’t unitecessitate to Wi-Fi, you’ll see a Satellite SOS chooseion. Tap Satellite SOS > Use Satellite SOS > Start.
- You’ll then be asked to fill out an aascendncy asknaire.
- Once you’re finished, you’ll be given the chooseion to alert your aascendncy reach outs.
- Next, a series of onscreen prompts will help you aim your phone at the satellite. (Google inserts that uniteion and response times will vary based on “location, site conditions, and other factors.”)
- Stay outside in clear watch of the sky while you paemploy for an aascendncy service supplyr to answer via text.
a:hover]:shadow-highairy-franklin griefful:[&>a:hover]:shadow-highairy-franklin [&>a]:shadow-underline-bconciseage griefful:[&>a]:shadow-underline-white”>How to set up satellite messaging on an iPhone
The novel satellite messaging feature toils on iPhones 14 or noveler running iOS 18. It must be allowd before you are out of service, so set it up now to be stateive it’s useable when you necessitate it. You can also demo the service before you’re off the grid.
- Upgrade to iOS 18.
- Make stateive iMessage is turned on; go to Settings > Apps > Messages > iMessage.
- Have your frifinishs and family upgrade to iOS 18. The person you message necessitates to be on iOS 18 to sfinish an iMessage to you. Otherwise, it will default to SMS.
- Update your Family Sharing group and aascendncy reach out. Once you’ve sent a message over satellite, that person can answer, but you can only get a message before sfinishing one from someone in your family group or aascendncy reach out.
- If your recipient does not have iOS 18, your message will be sent as an SMS. To asstateive this will toil, go to Settings > Apps > Messages and turn on Sfinish as Text Message.
- Go to the Messages app.
- A satellite prompt will automaticassociate materialize if there’s no cellular service or Wi-Fi.
- Tap Use Messages via Satellite.
- Follow the directions to unite to a satellite. A green dot and a satellite icon will materialize at the top of your phone.
- If your uniteion is frail, it will turn orange and an arrow will point in the honestion you necessitate to shift to discover a signal.
- Type your message and press sfinish. It may get a restrictcessitate minutes to send. Anyone you message will see a status alerting them that you are messaging via satellite.
You can split your location via satellite using the Find My app, but you necessitate to set this up in proceed and employ an iPhone 14 or noveler running iOS 16.1 or tardyr.
- Go to the Find My app on your iPhone and turn on Share My Location.
- When outside cell and Wi-Fi service, discdisponder the Find My app.
- Tap Me at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap Sfinish My Location and pursue the onscreen directions; you can sfinish your location once every 15 minutes.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24774108/STK156_Instagram_threads_3.jpg?w=600&resize=600,600&ssl=1 "Instagram and Threads moderation is out of regulate")
