Apple’s life-saving feature called Emergency SOS via Satellite is now available for iPhone users in Japan.
iPhone Users in Japan can Now Access Emergency SOS via Satellite with the New iOS 17.6 Update
iPhone users in Japan should download and install iOS 17.6 right away. Emergency SOS via Satellite is now available and you can use your iPhone 14 or iPhone 15 to contact emergency services if you’re somewhere that has no cellular or Wi-Fi connectivity. Your iPhone will directly connect to a satellite and you’ll be able to text first-responders the type of emergency you are in along with your location so that help can arrive on time.
If you want to download and install iOS 17.6 right now, just to go Settings > General > Software Update on your iPhone. The update will show up and you can download it immediately without waiting. Apart from the above mentioned feature, the update also includes bug fixes and other under the hood improvements.
With iOS 18, Apple is taking Emergency SOS via Satellite one step further by allowing iPhone users to send SMS and iMessage using a satellite connection. Even if you’re away from cell service or Wi-Fi, you can stay connected to your friends and family so that they know exactly where you are. This is the sort of thing that should be an industry standard. However, this feature is only coming with iOS 18 later this year. It’s not that far away and it’s going to be worth the wait.
