According to Bloomberg, Apple plans to bring satellite connectivity to the Apple Watch in the future, which will allow emergency SMS and SOS response capabilities to be implemented directly on the wearer’s wrist. Prior to the release of the iPhone 13 last fall, there were numerous reports that the 2021 iPhone line would have “LEO” or satellite connectivity capabilities. The satellite connection will enable the iPhone to send short messages to emergency contacts over a satellite network without having to go through the carrier.
The feature didn’t end up being implemented in the iPhone 13 series, but Bloomberg reported today that the feature could be rolled out as early as this year’s iPhone 14. After the launch of the iPhone, Apple is planning to bring the technology to the Apple Watch.
apple’s plan consists of two parts, allowing users to take advantage of satellite connections. the first part, called “sending emergency messages through contacts,” lets users send short text messages to emergency services and contacts over a satellite network without a cell phone signal, a feature that will appear in the messages app in the form of gray bubbles.
according to a Bloomberg report the last august, the new component will allow users to report crimes to authorities, such as car accidents, ship crashes, or plane crashes, with a focus on getting users to report crises. the phone asks what kind of emergency has occurred, such as whether a car, boat, plane, or fire is involved.
the system can also obtain more specific information, such as people falling into the water or ship sinking. it will ask users if they need search and rescue services, whether suspicious behavior or weapons are involved, and whether a person has suffered trauma.
As expected, the feature will depend on local regulation and availability, and they are not designed to be available in every country.