O'Grady's PowerPage

Tag: SOS

  • Verizon offers $20 account credit following the cellular service outage on Wednesday

    Verizon offers $20 account credit following the cellular service outage on Wednesday

    If you were plagued by the Verizon outage this week, the company has a $20 account credit coming your way.

    The outage, which took place on Wednesday around 12:30 PM ET, knocked out cell service to millions of customers,with iPhone owners reporting an “SOS” where their network icon should have been.

    While users could still make calls and send texts via Wi-Fi, those away from an access point were left without service for up to ten hours.

    Per AppleInsider, Verizon is now offering affected users a $20 account credit. Users will receive a text message with instructions on how to claim the credit. The company has also stated that the credit applies at the overall account level, and not per line.

    Verizon reported the outage as resolved at 10:20 PM ET on Wednesday. The cause is still not publicly known.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via AppleInsider and @VerizonNews

  • Apple launches Emergency SOS via Satellite feature in Mexico, continues expansion of service

    Apple launches Emergency SOS via Satellite feature in Mexico, continues expansion of service

    If you’re headed south of the border, this could come in handy.

    Back in October, Apple announced that Emergency SOS via satellite would be coming to Mexico before the end of the year. As of Tuesday, that feature has now officially launched in Mexico.

    The Emergency SOS via Satellite feature is currently available on the iPhone 14 and later and is also available on the Apple Watch Ultra 3.

    Like in the other supported countries, Emergency SOS via satellite lets users text emergency services and notify emergency contacts in situations they have no cellular or Wi-Fi connection.

    Apple’s Greg Joswiak offered the following announcement via X:

    After Tuesday’s Mexico launch, Emergency SOS via satellite is now available in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, the U.K., and the United States.

    If you’re down in Mexico and have a chance to try it out, please let us know about the experience in the comments.

    Via 9to5Mac and support.apple.com

  • Apple announces expansion of Emergency SOS via satellite feature into Mexico later this year

    Apple announces expansion of Emergency SOS via satellite feature into Mexico later this year

    If you’re heading south of the border, this might come in handy.

    Apple on Thursday announced a significant expansion of its Emergency SOS via satellite feature for iPhone and Apple Watch Ultra. The company says the feature will launch to users in Mexico later this year, joining the existing availability of Find My via satellite and Messages via satellite in the country.

    The Emergency SOS via satellite feature is currently available in the following countries:

    Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, the U.K., and the U.S.

    In a statement to 9to5Mac, Apple explained that the feature will be present in the iPhone 14 and later models, and will also be available on the new Apple Watch Ultra 3.

    The feature itself kicks in when a user is in an area with no cellular or Wi-Fi coverage and tries to call or text emergency services. The user will be presented with a questionnaire that gathers information about their emergency. iOS then guides users through the process of where to point their iPhone or Apple Watch to connect to a satellite. Once connected, the responses are sent to an Apple-trained relay center that contacts emergency services on the user’s behalf.

    The Emergency SOS via satellite feature is free for two years after the activation of an iPhone 14 or later or Apple Watch 3 smartwatch. Apple once again extended that free period last month for iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 users.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via 9to5Mac

  • Apple expands Emergency SOS via satellite feature to Japan

    Apple expands Emergency SOS via satellite feature to Japan

    If you’re heading to Japan, this could potentially save your life.

    Apple has announced that it has extended its Emergency SOS via satellite feature to Japan through the iOS 17.6 update that was released earlier this week. Japanese customers with an iPhone 14 or an iPhone 15 can use Emergency SOS via satellite to get in touch with emergency services even when a Wi-Fi or cellular connection is unavailable.

    The feature was first released in 2022 alongside Apple’s iPhone 14 models, albeit it was initially limited to the United States and Canada. Apple has been working to expand it to additional countries over the past two years since its launch.

    Japan has several different emergency contact numbers, and all of them work with Emergency SOS via satellite, including 119 for contacting fire and ambulance services, 110 for contacting the police, and 118 for contacting the coast guard. Satellite connectivity can also be used for updating Find My location when out of range of cellular or Wi-Fi connectivity. The feature works for people living in Japan, as well as visitors to the country.

    The feature works through a partnership with Globalstar, and the service is free for two years after activating an iPhone 14 or iPhone 15. Apple has yet to announce the specific price point for the service after the two-year period expires.

    The Emergency SOS via satellite feature is currently available in the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, the UK, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Portugal, Switzerland, Spain, and the Netherlands.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors and Apple

  • RapidSOS announces support for Emergency SOS video feature in iOS 18

    RapidSOS announces support for Emergency SOS video feature in iOS 18

    This should come in handy.

    Apple’s forthcoming video expansion to its Emergency SOS via Satellite feature for iOS 18 will be supported by RapidSOS, a platform linking millions of users to 911 and other emergency services.

    Apple’s Emergency SOS via Satellite feature launched with the iPhone 14, and helps to connect stranded users to first responders and allow very brief text message exchanges. With iOS 18, Apple is adding support for longer messages and video. RapidSOS has announced its support for the forthcoming change.

    Per RapidSOS:

    “[Emergency Communications Centers (ECC)] telecommunicators will be able to access Emergency SOS Live Video from within RapidSOS UNITE. This service will be at no cost to ECCs and available to the 5700+ ECCs who use RapidSOS UNITE core modules, which cover over 99 percent of the US population.”

    RapidSOS is a clearing house that routes callers to 911 or other emergency services. Even before the new Live Video option, RapidSOS would simultaneously route the call to 911 and transmit what it calls “hybridized emergency location” information to the first responders.

    With the new Live Video feature in Emergency SOS, first responders will be able to better assess any injuries a caller has, and see the terrain they are stranded in. This, in turn, can help first responders decide on an appropriate rescue technique and the best assets to deploy given the situation.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via AppleInsider and RapidSOS.com