Get all the latest news, reviews, deals and buying guides on gorgeous tech, home and active products from the T3 experts
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
When Apple first launched the Emergency SOS via Satellite service last year, it received a lot of genuine praise. It's a feature which has the potential to save many lives, with a few stories already making headlines in the first few weeks of it being available.
The service is currently available to anyone with a current generation iPhone – that's the iPhone 14, the iPhone 14 Plus, the iPhone 14 Pro and the iPhone 14 Pro Max – located in one of the six countries currently supported. Those are the USA, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland and the UK, with support for more countries set to roll-out in due course. It's also free for the first two years.
Of course, it was never going to be long before Android phones got in on the act. Qualcomm have just announced their own satellite SOS platform at CES 2023, which should see similar functionality come to handsets equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset in the near future.
But that chip is still reserved for flagship handsets – the Samsung Galaxy S23, the OnePlus 11 and the Vivo X90 Pro+, for example – meaning you'll need to shell out for a premium handset to enjoy the benefits. That's about to change though.
A UK-based company called Bullitt has also just unveiled its own satellite messaging service, called Bullitt Satellite Connect. The service works in much the same way as others, with users able send messages via a satellite when they have a clear view of the sky. The service is free for the first year, with affordable plans available thereafter. The cost is all deducted from the subscribers plan, with no cost to the recipient.
The first phone to feature this technology will be the new Motorola Defy model. Designed to withstand just about anything you can throw at it, the Defy is the ultimate phone for explorers and anyone spending lots of time in the wilderness. What's more, the current model has an RRP of just £249, putting this life saving technology in the hands of anyone.
The service should be available in the first quarter of 2023.
Get all the latest news, reviews, deals and buying guides on gorgeous tech, home and active products from the T3 experts
Sam Cross is an award-winning journalist, with nine years of experience in the media industry. His work can be found in publications as diverse as Oracle Time, Metro and Last Word on Sports.
Here at T3, Sam is best known as the brand’s go-to guy for all things luxurious – from exquisite watches to fine fragrances; the latest performance vehicles to intricate audio equipment, and more.
He’s often found travelling around the world to test new launches, complete with high-end backpacks and suitcases in tow. And when he’s not adding to his air miles, Sam can be found in front of a video camera, bringing his distinctive brand of storytelling to T3’s social media channels.
Sam also loves all things analogue including listening to music on vinyl or cassette, and photography on vintage film cameras.