With the iPhone 14 series, Apple first introduced the so-called "Emergency SOS via satellite" feature. Although this feature will not be available in the US until November, Apple has prepared to release it with iOS 16.1 - which will also include a corresponding demo that lets you try out the satellite connection without actually notifying emergency services.
Apple released iOS 16.1 Beta 3 to developers on Tuesday evening. During the code analysis, the US blog 9to5Mac found outthat Apple has added several satellite communication features to the iPhone 14 models, but they are not yet enabled. At this point, it is unclear if satellite emergency SOS will be available with iOS 16.1, as the update is expected to be released in October while Apple says satellite features will be made available in November. But iOS 16.1 beta 3 also reveals something that hasn't been mentioned before: a "satellite connection demo." This feature will allow users to see how satellite emergency calling works without having to go to a remote area without WiFi and cellular signal.
iPhone 14 satellite support: German launch still unclear
The code suggests that the demo feature works pretty much the same as it would in a real emergency, so it can also show users how to use it in a real-world situation. The satellite connection demo can be accessed at any time via the Emergency SOS menu in the Settings app once it is available. To find the satellite connection, the user must be outside and have a clear view of the sky. Of course, once the iPhone has connected to the satellite, it will not make emergency calls while using the demo. According to Apple, the feature will be introduced in the US and Canada and expanded to other countries later. It is currently unclear when the new emergency call feature will be available here. (Photo by ms_pics_and_more / Bigstockphoto)
