Apple's satellite emergency call now works in Switzerland

 

Apple's emergency call service via satellite is now also available in Switzerland. You need an iPhone 14 or iPhone 15 with iOS 17.

From today you can also use Apple's satellite emergency call in Switzerland and Spain. The company announced this in a press release on Friday morning. The feature allows emergency services to be alerted in areas without cellular reception. It works with all iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 models and is built directly into the iOS operating system. The service will be free for two years, after which it is unclear how much it will cost.

How it works

When you dial 911 and have no reception, the iPhone automatically switches to satellite mode. It only works outdoors and you need as clear a view of the sky as possible. Clouds are no problem, but large buildings can be an obstacle. Important to know: To use the service in Switzerland, you need iOS 17.

Since the bandwidth via satellite is not sufficient for a voice call, a text message is transmitted instead. In a short questionnaire, you provide important information about your emergency situation with a few clicks. For example, what kind of emergency it is, who needs help or whether you can still breathe normally. The iPhone compresses this information into a specially small format.

An interface then shows you how to point your smartphone to establish a satellite connection as quickly as possible. If you can't move, it works too, but may take longer. As soon as a connection is established, the iPhone sends the text message to a special relay centre - this also contains your location, your emergency passport and your emergency contacts. >

Unlike a specialised satellite phone, an iPhone doesn't have a big antenna. Because satellites move fast and are far away, it can take several minutes for the message to be transmitted. In clear weather conditions, the best case is about 15 seconds. As soon as the Relay Centre has received the distress call, you will also receive a confirmation via text message. The employees can also ask you questions about your situation. If you have defined emergency contacts, they can read the conversation.

The Relay Centre uses the information collected to contact the local emergency services. In Switzerland, for example, the police, the rescue service or the Rega. They will then move out and come to your aid.

Where it works everywhere

Apple's Satellite Emergency Call is currently available in the following countries: USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, UK, Ireland, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Luxembourg, Netherlands, France, Italy, Portugal and Spain. Apple wants to expand the service further. For the satellite connection, the Californians are working with Globalstar. Their network covers large parts of all five continents.

Where you bought your iPhone doesn't matter. Even a device from the Czech Republic can call for help via satellite in Switzerland, for example. Exceptions are iPhones from China, Hong Kong and Macao - the feature does not work with these.

How to prepare

To make sure you're already familiar with Satellite Emergency Call, you can try out the function in a demo mode. The iPhone will guide you through the whole process and provide various explanations. You'll have to point your device at a satellite, just like in a real emergency, and you'll be able to talk to a bot.

What you should also do before an emergency: Fill out your emergency passport and define your emergency contacts. You can do this in the "Health" app. You will find the option on the overview page if you scroll down a little. You can find detailed instructions here. The emergency passport includes information such as your blood type, allergies and whether you would like to donate your organs in the event of your death. >.

Even without an emergency: "Where is?" by satellite

In the "Find My" app, you can use the iPhone's satellite connection even without an emergency to share your location with friends and family without a mobile data connection. This is useful, for example, if you want to signal that all is well in an area with no reception.

You can find the option in the app under the "Me" tab. Location sharing via satellite is not continuous, but one-time. The recipients of your location cannot track it live, as would be possible with a data connection.

Open questions

Apple is not yet giving details on some points - such as the price. The satellite function is free for two years after buying an iPhone 14 or iPhone 15. If you already have an iPhone 14, that time period only starts now. Apple either doesn't know exactly what will happen after that, or is keeping quiet about it. It is hard to imagine that the iPhone will refuse to make an emergency call if you have not paid a subscription fee. It is therefore conceivable that in such a case, a one-off fee will be charged instead.

The messages are said to have been sent to you.

According to Apple, the messages are sent in encrypted form and only decrypted at the relay centre. Where these stations are located and who exactly operates them is not known. Apple speaks of "trained emergency specialists". The diversions via a relay centre is necessary because certain emergency services only accept voice calls.