Berlin (dpa/tmn) – Exactly one year ago, Apple launched its emergency SOS service via satellite. The two-year free trial phase of the iPhone 14 service that was promised at the time will now be extended by another year for existing customers, as the company announced.

For everyone using a new iPhone 14 or 15 these days, the SOS emergency service via satellite can be used free of charge for two years after activating the device.

Emergency calls from the dead zone or from nature

The service is intended to help when no other network is available, whether in a dead zone or in the wild. Above all, emergency calls should be able to be made, if necessary automatically, if the iPhone detects a car accident or an Apple Watch detects that the user has fallen.

Regardless of an emergency situation, users can easily inform others of their location via satellite if they travel outside of other networks. This works through the map display in the “Where is it?” app.

The service works in 16 countries.

Currently, the service is available and usable in 16 countries: Australia, Belgium, Germany, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Canada, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Austria, Portugal, Switzerland, Spain and the United States.

© dpa-infocom, dpa:231115-99-954403/3