How to use your iPhone’s emergency satellite features if you lose cell coverage
Kerry Wan/ZDNETAs Florida faces Hurricane Milton right on the heels of Hurricane Helene, communications is one critical area likely to be affected. People in the state may not be able to rely on cellular or Wi-Fi service to call emergency personnel for help or loved ones for comfort. Also: How to use Android’s emergency satellite texting if you lose cell signalTo deal with disruptions to cellular connectivity, iPhone owners can instead turn to satellite connections. Apple offers three features that can help help.1. Emergency SOS via SatelliteWith Emergency SOS via Satellite, iPhone users can send text messages to emergency responders. But rather than travel through a cellular or Wi-Fi network, the messages use satellites to go back and forth. Introduced late last year with iOS 16.1, this feature is available on all iPhone 14, 15, and 16 models. There’s no need for a separate app or software update; Emergency SOS via Satellite works automatically when needed.Also: 5 hurricane-tracking apps I’m using to keep an eye on Hurricane Milton from South FloridaOnce your phone has access to the satellite service, you’ll see a notification badge in the Settings app and an item labeled “Get Help During an Emergency.” You can also check the feature by opening the Settings app and selecting “Emergency SOS.” Swipe to the bottom of the page where you’ll see “Emergency SOS via Satellite” and an option to try the demo (more on that in a minute). More
