Apple’s Emergency SOS via Satellite feature is now accessible in 17 countries.
Apple released the iOS 17.6 update for eligible iPhone models on Monday. The company previewed the upcoming iOS 18 update at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2024 on June 10, but the latest iOS 17 update doesn’t introduce any groundbreaking new features. However, it does expand the potentially life-saving Emergency SOS via Satellite feature to another country.
Japan Gets Emergency SOS Via Satellite Feature
Apple announced that eligible iPhone users in Japan can now access the Emergency SOS via Satellite feature after updating to iOS 17.6. This feature allows users to contact emergency services using satellite communication, even in areas without cellular network or Wi-Fi connectivity.
This feature was first introduced in November 2022 in the US and Canada and was gradually expanded to other regions. Initially, Apple offered Emergency SOS via Satellite free of charge for two years, and the company has now extended this period by another year, making it free to use until at least 2025.
Emergency SOS Via Satellite Availability
Apple states that the Emergency SOS via Satellite feature is now available in the following regions: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, the UK, and the US. It is compatible only with iPhone 14 and later models.
In addition to expanding the satellite-based communication feature, the iOS 17.6 update also includes bug fixes for known issues. According to Apple’s release notes, it addresses problems related to the AVFoundation Capture subsystem and MarketplaceKit, which are features accessible only to developers.
