emergency

Apple Extends Free iPhone Satellite SOS: What It Means for Every iPhone User

Off-Grid Lifesaver: Inside Apple’s iPhone Satellite SOS, Free Service Extensions & How It Works What Are Apple’s Satellite Features in iPhones? Apple’s recent iPhones come with specialized antennas and software that enable direct satellite communication for specific uses when you’re outside cellular or Wi-Fi coverage. Here are the key satellite-powered features Apple offers in the iPhone lineup: In summary, Apple’s satellite features turn an iPhone into an emergency beacon and basic text messenger using satellites when no other connection exists. They are tightly integrated into iOS (no separate app or device needed) and are designed with an assistive UI to

10 September 2025

Satellite Phones: A Comprehensive Report

Iridium, a LEO network, started service in 1998 and operates 66 active cross-linked satellites, delivering near-global coverage, with the Iridium NEXT second-generation network launched in 2019. Globalstar uses 48 satellites (24 second-generation as of 2013), has no inter-satellite links and relies on ground gateways, and Apple’s Emergency SOS on iPhone 14 uses about 85% of Globalstar’s capacity for emergency texts. Inmarsat operates a GEO fleet of about 11 satellites, offers IsatPhone handheld services, the IsatPhone 2 provides ~8 hours of talk time and 160 hours of standby, and Inmarsat expanded with I-4/I-6 series after its 2023 acquisition by Viasat. Thuraya

2 June 2025

Communication · Gadgets · Mobile Devices · Satellite · Technology