Emergency SOS via Satellite Launches in Japan

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Emergency SOS via satellite expanded to Japan with the iOS 17.6 update that was released yesterday, according to Apple. Japanese customers with an iPhone 14 or an ‌iPhone‌ 15 can use Emergency SOS via satellite to get in touch with emergency services even when a Wi-Fi or cellular connection is unavailable.

japan emergency sos via satellite
Apple first introduced Emergency SOS via satellite in 2022 alongside the ‌iPhone‌ 14 models, but it was initially limited to the United States and Canada. Apple has been working to bring it to additional countries since then.

Japan has several different emergency contact numbers, and all of them work with Emergency SOS via satellite, including 119 for contacting fire and ambulance services, 110 for contacting the police, and 118 for contacting the coast guard. Satellite connectivity can also be used for updating Find My location when out of range of cellular or Wi-Fi connectivity. The feature works for people living in Japan, as well as visitors to the country.

Emergency SOS via satellite works through a partnership with Globalstar, with ‌iPhone‌ 14 and ‌iPhone‌ 15 models able to connect to Globalstar satellites in countries where the feature has launched. The service is free for two years after activating an ‌iPhone‌ 14 or ‌iPhone‌ 15. Apple has not announced pricing for Emergency SOS via satellite after the two-year period expires.

Emergency SOS via satellite is available in the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, the UK, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Portugal, Switzerland, Spain, and the Netherlands.

Tags: Emergency SOS via Satellite, Japan

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Top Rated Comments

pbau Avatar
pbau
18 months ago
Apple, time to bring it to Poland ;) (Also, Siri in Polish please!)
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
svish Avatar
svish
18 months ago
Good to see it expand. Still waiting for it to be available in my region
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
lkrupp Avatar
lkrupp
18 months ago

I'm looking forward to the day where we can get reliable high speed internet on our phones, anywhere in the world, via satellite. Truly break carrier monopolies and make dead zones a thing of the past.
Oh good grief, the carrier “monopolies”? Really? Anyway, those companies will likely be the ones providing the satellite access. Apple uses the Globalstar system for their satellite access and pays 95% of the cost of those services. There are a number of other low-orbit satellite services too so you won’t be getting away from “monopolies” as you call them. Oh and do you realize the gross latency involved in using a satellite connection? Ask a few Starlink customers about that.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JapanApple Avatar
JapanApple
18 months ago
Very happy to see it go live in Japan here. It’s free for the first two years. And since in Japan we haven’t had it until now the two-year period starts now.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
wegorz9 Avatar
wegorz9
18 months ago
Yeah. Siri in Poland, about the time.
Tim, come on!
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
corey407woc Avatar
corey407woc
18 months ago
AST Spacemobile is launching their satellites next month for ATT and Verizon. I would also recommend investing in this stock if you want to be rich
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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