**Apple's Satellite-Based Emergency SOS Service**

Apple is set to launch its satellite-based emergency SOS service just two months away from now, which will make communication with emergency services much easier for those who need it most. This feature has been included as a part of the iPhone 14, and it will be available starting in November of this year. The service uses a partnership with Globalstar to connect with phones, and Apple has a deal to use 85% of their network capacity by comparison.

The satellite connection can even update your find my location, which will be available starting in November of this year and is included for free for two years with the purchase of an iPhone 14. However, Apple hasn't hinted how much that service may cost after those two years expire from a user's perspective. The service will allow users to send their location, phone number, and other information directly to emergency services in case of an emergency.

**SpaceX and T-Mobile Satellite-Based Emergency SOS Service**

On the other hand, SpaceX and T-Mobile are working on a satellite-based emergency SOS service that is expected to be available starting late 2023. The early beta version of the service will offer much more standard cell service to almost any 5G phone. Initially, it will only allow text messaging, but eventually, it will also enable phone calls. Unlike Apple's offering, this service won't be limited to just emergency use.

The satellite-based connection will not require aiming your phone at the satellite; instead, it will use the same antennas and some of the same frequencies as standard 5G. The total speed will be limited to between two and four megabits per second, not per phone but per cell, which could have thousands of people in it. This means that even with a large number of users, the data could still be enough to support up to 2,000 phone calls and way more text messages.

T-Mobile will include this satellite-based connection with many of their existing plans for no extra cost. Apple's service, on the other hand, is device-specific, meaning it can only be used with iPhones. However, there may come a time when these two services are one of the same as Elon Musk teased promising conversations with Apple on Twitter about potentially partnering up.

**Technical Comparison**

From a technical side, SpaceX and T-Mobile's satellite-based emergency SOS service will use some of SpaceX's Starlink satellites while SpaceX has already launched thousands of Starlinks into low Earth orbit. However, these second-generation Starlink satellites are too large to launch on SpaceX's existing Workhorse rocket (Falcon 9) due to their larger Deployable antenna specifically for this cell phone connection.

In contrast, Apple uses specialized hardware in the phones to allow satellite connection. SpaceX and T-Mobile, on the other hand, use much larger antennas in the sky to pick up the comparably weak signals from a standard 5G device using T-Mobile's mid-band PCS Spectrum. The second-generation Starlink satellites won't start launching until early next year, and the service won't be available in any capacity until late next year.

**Consumer Perspective**

From a consumer perspective, SpaceX's satellite-based emergency SOS service shouldn't really be a part of a phone purchase decision right now. Although it will be more capable than Apple's offering, it is still a long way away and connected to the carrier rather than the phone. Since SpaceX and T-Mobile's connection will come to standard 5G devices, there is no reason to wait on picking up a new iPhone if you need one.

Apple's service, while limited, will be available just two months from now and will provide enough connection to get emergency services informed of your location and what's wrong so they can get you help. This life-saving feature is invaluable and hopefully none of us will ever have to use it. However, once it becomes available, both services will be invaluable in saving lives.

**Conclusion**

In conclusion, Apple's satellite-based emergency SOS service will make communication with emergency services much easier for those who need it most. While limited, the service will provide enough connection to get emergency services informed of your location and what's wrong so they can get you help. On the other hand, SpaceX and T-Mobile's satellite-based emergency SOS service is expected to be available late next year and will offer a more standard cell service to almost any 5G phone.

While it may take some time before this service becomes widely available, both Apple's and SpaceX and T-Mobile's services are invaluable in saving lives. As always, head over to nine to five mac.com for our full coverage of these satellite-based emergency SOS services. Leave a like if it helped you out, and subscribe to the channel for more from nine to five Mac.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enwith the iPhone 14 lineup apple is finally releasing the long rumored satellite connectivity but a few weeks before they announced these SpaceX and T-Mobile held a joint event where they announced their own direct to satellite communication for cell phones so let's take a look at how these two Services compare Satellite Communication isn't easy most satellite phones are dedicated devices made specifically for communication with satellites not small smartphones for daily use apple and SpaceX have two very different approaches to this so let's start off with the service apple is offering Apple's using Satellite Communication for a feature they're calling emergency SOS via satellite after attempting to call Emergency Services in an area without any signal you'll be presented with the option to send emergency text messages via satellite you fill out a few responses to help describe the situation you're in and your phone will guide you to aim your phone at one of the globalstar satellites when it makes the connection it sends your responses your medical ID information emergency contacts your location and even your phone's remaining battery life if the local dispatch in your area supports text-based communication it can send that directly to them however if it doesn't Apple will have call centers that can place the emergency call for you the satellite connection can even update your find my location it will be available starting in November of this year and is included for free for two years with the purchase of an iPhone 14. though Apple hasn't hinted how much that service May cost after those two years expire from a user's perspective SpaceX and T-Mobile service will be quite a bit different an early beta version of the service will be available starting in late 2023 and will offer a much more standard cell service to almost any 5G phone it will allow text messaging at first and eventually phone calls and it won't be limited to just emergency use unlike Apple's offering it also won't require aiming your phone at the satellite it just uses the same antennas and some of the same frequencies as standard 5G it's not meant to offer high speed data or anything like that the total speed will be limited to between two and four megabits per second not per phone but per cell which could have thousands and thousands of people in it still that much data could be enough to support up to 2 000 phone calls and way more text messages T-Mobile will include this satellite-based connection with many of their existing plans for no extra cost both apple and spacex's service will be able to save lives by offering connection when far off the grid but apples will be far more limited as it only allows communication with Emergency Services with that being said Apple's solution is just two months away and it makes that communication with Emergency Services much easier while SpaceX and T-Mobile solution while more capable is optimistically at least a year away it's hard to really consider these Services direct competitors while both aim to be life-saving when you most need them one is a device specific offering while the other is a carrier specific offering by the end of next year some people with iPhones on T-Mobile plans may be able to make use of both Apple's connection and SpaceX and T-Mobile's offering there may even come a time when these two services are one of the same as Elon Musk teased promising conversations with apple on Twitter exactly how a partnership between SpaceX and apple would work however remains to be seen so how do these two Services compare from a bit more of a technical side for the satellites apple is making use of a partnership with globalstar to connect with phones globalstar has 24 operating satellites in low earth orbit that it uses for satellite phones and low-speed data connections apple and globalstar will use those to connect between iPhone 14 units and ground stations apple has a deal to use 85 of their network capacity by comparison SpaceX and T-Mobile use some of spacex's starlink satellites while SpaceX has already launched thousands of starlinks into low earth orbit for the cell phone service they need the second generation satellites which will have a large Deployable antenna specifically for this cell phone connection while Apple uses specialized Hardware in the phones to allow satellite connection SpaceX and T-Mobile are using much larger antennas in the sky to be able to pick up the comparably weak signals from a standard 5G device and antenna using T-Mobile's mid-band PCS Spectrum these second generation Starling satellites are too large to launch on spacex's existing Workhorse rocket the Falcon 9. and instead they have to launch on spacex's larger Starship super heavy rocket which has yet to fly to orbit in part because of this spacex's Satellites with this capability to connect with phones won't start launching until early next year and the service won't be available in any capacity until late next year overall from any sort of consumer perspective spacex's service shouldn't really be a part of a phone purchase decision right now while the service will be more capable than what Apple's offering it's a long way away and connected to the carrier rather than the phone and since SpaceX and T-Mobile's connection will come to standard 5G devices it's no reason to wait on picking up a new iPhone if you need one Apple service while limited is going to be here in just a couple months it will be active for people that most need to communicate in an emergency and will provide enough connection to get Emergency Services informed of your location and what's wrong so they can get you help for a life-saving feature that's all that will be needed hopefully none of us will ever have to use emergency SOS via satellite but once you need it either service will be invaluable if you want to know more about these two Services head over to nine to fivemac.com for our full coverage leave this video a like if it helped you out and subscribe to the channel for more from nine to five Macwith the iPhone 14 lineup apple is finally releasing the long rumored satellite connectivity but a few weeks before they announced these SpaceX and T-Mobile held a joint event where they announced their own direct to satellite communication for cell phones so let's take a look at how these two Services compare Satellite Communication isn't easy most satellite phones are dedicated devices made specifically for communication with satellites not small smartphones for daily use apple and SpaceX have two very different approaches to this so let's start off with the service apple is offering Apple's using Satellite Communication for a feature they're calling emergency SOS via satellite after attempting to call Emergency Services in an area without any signal you'll be presented with the option to send emergency text messages via satellite you fill out a few responses to help describe the situation you're in and your phone will guide you to aim your phone at one of the globalstar satellites when it makes the connection it sends your responses your medical ID information emergency contacts your location and even your phone's remaining battery life if the local dispatch in your area supports text-based communication it can send that directly to them however if it doesn't Apple will have call centers that can place the emergency call for you the satellite connection can even update your find my location it will be available starting in November of this year and is included for free for two years with the purchase of an iPhone 14. though Apple hasn't hinted how much that service May cost after those two years expire from a user's perspective SpaceX and T-Mobile service will be quite a bit different an early beta version of the service will be available starting in late 2023 and will offer a much more standard cell service to almost any 5G phone it will allow text messaging at first and eventually phone calls and it won't be limited to just emergency use unlike Apple's offering it also won't require aiming your phone at the satellite it just uses the same antennas and some of the same frequencies as standard 5G it's not meant to offer high speed data or anything like that the total speed will be limited to between two and four megabits per second not per phone but per cell which could have thousands and thousands of people in it still that much data could be enough to support up to 2 000 phone calls and way more text messages T-Mobile will include this satellite-based connection with many of their existing plans for no extra cost both apple and spacex's service will be able to save lives by offering connection when far off the grid but apples will be far more limited as it only allows communication with Emergency Services with that being said Apple's solution is just two months away and it makes that communication with Emergency Services much easier while SpaceX and T-Mobile solution while more capable is optimistically at least a year away it's hard to really consider these Services direct competitors while both aim to be life-saving when you most need them one is a device specific offering while the other is a carrier specific offering by the end of next year some people with iPhones on T-Mobile plans may be able to make use of both Apple's connection and SpaceX and T-Mobile's offering there may even come a time when these two services are one of the same as Elon Musk teased promising conversations with apple on Twitter exactly how a partnership between SpaceX and apple would work however remains to be seen so how do these two Services compare from a bit more of a technical side for the satellites apple is making use of a partnership with globalstar to connect with phones globalstar has 24 operating satellites in low earth orbit that it uses for satellite phones and low-speed data connections apple and globalstar will use those to connect between iPhone 14 units and ground stations apple has a deal to use 85 of their network capacity by comparison SpaceX and T-Mobile use some of spacex's starlink satellites while SpaceX has already launched thousands of starlinks into low earth orbit for the cell phone service they need the second generation satellites which will have a large Deployable antenna specifically for this cell phone connection while Apple uses specialized Hardware in the phones to allow satellite connection SpaceX and T-Mobile are using much larger antennas in the sky to be able to pick up the comparably weak signals from a standard 5G device and antenna using T-Mobile's mid-band PCS Spectrum these second generation Starling satellites are too large to launch on spacex's existing Workhorse rocket the Falcon 9. and instead they have to launch on spacex's larger Starship super heavy rocket which has yet to fly to orbit in part because of this spacex's Satellites with this capability to connect with phones won't start launching until early next year and the service won't be available in any capacity until late next year overall from any sort of consumer perspective spacex's service shouldn't really be a part of a phone purchase decision right now while the service will be more capable than what Apple's offering it's a long way away and connected to the carrier rather than the phone and since SpaceX and T-Mobile's connection will come to standard 5G devices it's no reason to wait on picking up a new iPhone if you need one Apple service while limited is going to be here in just a couple months it will be active for people that most need to communicate in an emergency and will provide enough connection to get Emergency Services informed of your location and what's wrong so they can get you help for a life-saving feature that's all that will be needed hopefully none of us will ever have to use emergency SOS via satellite but once you need it either service will be invaluable if you want to know more about these two Services head over to nine to fivemac.com for our full coverage leave this video a like if it helped you out and subscribe to the channel for more from nine to five Mac\n"