Tucked away in Apple’s iPhone 17 press releases was a bonus for off-grid house owners of older fashions. The corporate gave iPhone 14 and 15 house owners free entry to satellite tv for pc options for one more 12 months. That is Apple’s third extension since Emergency SOS by way of satellite tv for pc launched with the iPhone 14.
“The free trial can be prolonged for iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 customers who’ve activated their gadget in a rustic that helps Apple’s satellite tv for pc options previous to 12AM PT on September 9, 2025,” the corporate’s copy reads. An Apple help web page lists Armenia, Belarus, China mainland, Hong Kong, Macao, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Russia as unsupported nations.
Apple’s off-grid characteristic set started in 2022 with Emergency SOS by way of satellite tv for pc. In iOS 18, it expanded to incorporate Messages by way of satellite tv for pc, Discover My entry and roadside help. The options work by a partnership with Globalstar.
As for why Apple retains extending the free entry, a Redditor floated a logical-sounding idea after final 12 months’s announcement. “I can not see Apple ever charging for [Emergency SOS via satellite],” u/rotates-potatoes posted. “The constructive PR of ‘saved by Apple’ is simply too good, and the adverse PR of ‘died as a result of they did not pay $3’ is simply too unhealthy.” (It is price noting that the pricing was speculative. Apple hasn’t stated how a lot it plans to cost.)
You’ll be able to demo the options in your iPhone proper now. To check Emergency SOS, head to Settings > Emergency SOS, and scroll right down to “Attempt Demo” (on the backside). For the texting characteristic, go to Settings > Apps > Messages, and scroll right down to “Satellite tv for pc Connection Demo.”
