Apple did not fail to emphasize the extent to which its devices saved lives, which was the theme of the very first sequence at the start of yesterday’s keynote. And the manufacturer wants to continue to plow this furrow.
An iPhone can be used for a whole bunch of things: going on the internet, taking photos, playing AAA games… But the smartphone can be a helpful help when you’re lost in the middle of the ocean or while top of a mountain! The iPhone 14 has in fact inaugurated an emergency SOS function which allows you to contact emergency services by satellite.
A helping hand in the middle of nowhere
Apple adds to this feature the possibility of calling road emergency services, always thanks to the satellite network. Very practical when you find yourself with a flat tire or out of gas on a road in the middle of nowhere, with no cellular network. Roadside Assistance works like emergency SOS: you must first give some information (in this case, the make of the vehicle and the nature of the problem) before accessing help.
This new feature, which will be available on both the iPhone 14 and the iPhone 15, will be launched first in the United States with the help of the AAA. The American Automobile Association provides emergency rescue service to its members. Apple explains that iPhone users will be able to subscribe separately without giving details (the AAA subscription costs $65 per year).
New iPhone 14 and 15 customers will be entitled to two free years for these satellite functions (with the caveat that you have to pay for the AAA subscription). Apple has not specified whether this new service will be available elsewhere than in the United States, but the emergency SOS function had quickly extended beyond American borders. It has been available in France since December 2022.