Apple Adds Satellite Roadside Assistance to IPhone
Last year, Apple introduced Emergency SOS via Satellite , an iPhone 14 exclusive feature that uses satellite communications to connect to emergency services. With the release of iPhone 15 and 15 Pro, Apple is expanding its Emergency SOS feature to include satellite roadside assistance. Here’s how it works.
Roadside assistance on iPhone via satellite
Like Satellite Emergency Assistance, Satellite Roadside Assistance is available to you when your iPhone 14 or iPhone 15 doesn’t have Wi-Fi or cellular service to work with. Instead, your iPhone will contact the nearest satellite in the sky so you can contact it and provide assistance.
Let’s say you’re not in a life-or-death emergency, but instead are dealing with a “vehicle malfunction” (which could potentially escalate into a life-or-death emergency). When you don’t have access to the network, Roadside Assistance allows you to contact AAA via satellite. Since satellite connectivity is limited compared to standard service, iOS will give you options you can choose to let AAA know what’s going on. For example, you can select “Locked”, “No fuel and charging” or “Flat tire” among other options:
Roadside Assistance will transmit your exact location via satellite to AAA, so they will have all the information they need to send you assistance. If you don’t have a clear satellite signal, your iPhone will even tell you where to go to make sure your connection is getting through.
Is it worth paying anything for satellite roadside assistance?
Apple says the service is free for two years from the time you activate your iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max, 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro or 14 Pro Max. However, the company notes that AAA may charge for any roadside assistance if you are not a member of AAA, and that this will be on a pay-per-use basis. The company has not revealed details about what this pricing model will be.
To access this particular feature, you’ll need iOS 17 , although Emergency SOS via satellite still works with iOS 16.