If you're one of those who bought a new iPhone in 2022, your device might now seem a little less useful, at least in emergency situations.
That's because the two-year free trial of Apple's Emergency SOS Satellite feature, a revolutionary technology introduced with the iPhone 14 series, has officially expired.
Even though Apple has granted users an additional year of free access, time is running out and the long-term cost of the service remains a mystery.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Apple's Emergency SOS Satellite feature debuted in November 2022, positioning the company as a leader in integrating satellite telecommunications into flagship phones.
Powered by a partnership with Globalstar, the technology allows users to connect to emergency services or share their location via the Find My app in areas without cellular or WiFi coverage.
When launching the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, Apple promised a two-year free trial of the Emergency SOS Satellite feature. This period is now over.
However, Apple has extended free usage until at least November 2025, giving users a temporary reprieve before fees are introduced.
As of now, Apple has not revealed how much the service will cost once the expansion is complete.
Foundry
For now, iPhone 14 series owners can continue to rely on the Emergency SOS Satellite feature without any immediate cost.
Keep in mind, however, that the expiration of the initial free period is a reminder that this critical service may not stay free forever.
Ultimately, users may have to decide whether they want to pay for continued access if Apple introduces pricing after 2025.
But before that happens, we also expect to finally see the iPhone SE 4 in early 2025, as well as the iPhone 17 series in September next year.
