Apple Adds 2-way Satellite Messaging for iOS 18

[fourfa]

Apple Adds Satellite Messaging for iOS 18 - Expedition Portal

Apple will add off-grid satellite messaging for iOS 18 starting in September 2024 for iPhone 14 and newer devices.

expeditionportal.com

Have to see how well this works. Launch date should be in September

 

[alanymarce]

I read the announcement, and obviously this could be the end of my needing the satphone. However, does anyone know coverage? Thuraya never had global coverage and have reduced coverage recently. Iridium (which we have) does have global coverage. Will the Apple coverage be global?

 

[grizzlypath]

If this is a service/subscription that can turn on/off it would likely meet my quite casual off-grid needs.

 

[fourfa]

IIRC the satellite SOS feature that launched with iPhone 14 in 2022 was initially marketed as "free for two years," so likely we'll find out what that meant this fall. I can't imagine this 2-way mode will be all-you-can-eat free for more than a very short period. Per-message charge, monthly fee, who knows

 

[toddz69]

I was very curious about the costs too - if it's less than my $14.95/mo cost for my InReach, I'll get it. My wife was more excited that I might finally update my iPhone if this works out financially .

Todd Z.

 

[Garyindiane]

Following for sure!

 

[Bill Ruttan]

IIRC the satellite SOS feature that launched with iPhone 14 in 2022 was initially marketed as "free for two years," so likely we'll find out what that meant this fall. I can't imagine this 2-way mode will be all-you-can-eat free for more than a very short period. Per-message charge, monthly fee, who knows

I would be very surprised if Apple decides to charge for “SOS” (not ordinary message) service. This is somewhat akin to 9-1-1 calls that can be made, free of charge, by any phone through any carrier (by Federal mandate I believe).

 

[fourfa]

Personally I would hope so - but given how clearly they spelled it out when it launched as "not free forever" I'm pessimistic. Garmin, Spot, Iridium etc are not free either. This Apple feature seems more like those than the free-to-transmit 406 MHz SARSAT

We should find on September 9 at their launch event

 

[fourfa]

So far we've only learned that 2-way comm will come to all older phones (14 and later) that support satellite. Very basic SMS, no photos, very low bandwidth. You can send to any number, but receiving is more complex (details in this doc below). Sounds like the other party has to be in your favorites or emergency contacts, they have to tap an extra "send by satellite" button, and you have to continue tracking by moving the phone as directed. All makes sense

About Messages via satellite on your iPhone - Apple Support

With iPhone 14 or later, you can send iMessages or SMS messages via satellite when you’re off the grid with no cellular and Wi-Fi coverage.

support.apple.com

2-way messages USA / Canada only for now, 2-way SOS from anywhere as before (except Armenia, Belarus, China mainland, Hong Kong, Macao, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Russia in the small print)

Still no details on what happens after "free for two years" is over

 

[emulous74]

The big question I have, does the two years reset when you buy a new phone?

 

[smbisig]

So this past weekend while camping remotely near the Olympic National Park, I woke up to a popup on my iPhone 15 saying I could share my location via satellite. I didn't because I had already shared my location and wanted to read up on it to make sure it wasn't an SOS feature. Nowhere did it say for emergencies.

The option is under the Find Me section of the phone. It's not available if you have cell or are connected to wifi.

 

[nckwltn]

I’m holding onto my garmin subscription for now.

The iPhone sat coms do work really well. I gave it a test while out ins the San Rafael Swell last week… but it’s tied to my iPhone. That means I have to be able to use it. Wife has an android, kids have no phones.

Anyone can push sos on our garmin mini , which is the main reason I have the garmin… sos services.

In a few years when the kids finally do get phones so I’m not the only one with sat coms in my pocket, perhaps time to retire the garmin subscription.

I do also like that the garmin is a stand alone device that can sit in the off position for a long time and be powered on when needed. iPhone needs daily charging to be useful. Garmin can be dropped from a reasonable height and still work, iPhone is going to become compromised very quickly after a drop. That’s a lot of eggs in one basket.

 

[fourfa]

I used sat messagoing on iOS last night and had a new experience - after starting the sat interface, it geolocated itself, thought for a while, then said ”satellite available in 5 minutes.” Longest “5 minutes” ever, because it was more like 10. Then once in range, it switches to a direction-finding mode where you have to rotate the phone to track the satellite. Sending a simple short text took another 3-4 minutes.

Previous tests, I never had the “wait X minutes” prompt

Still no word on when/if charges will apply

A new phone does start a new 2-year “free” clock, though as we’ve seen, we’re almost 3 years in and no one has yet had to pay