Apple unveiled its new satellite-based Emergency SOS feature during the launch of the iPhone 14 series in September and made it available on its latest phones in the US and Canada in November. Since then, the emergency SOS function via satellite has already helped people in need, according to news reports. A new patent Apple acquired on Tuesday suggests the company could offer even more satellite-based capabilities in the future. According to one report, the patent “goes well beyond 911 SOS service, and satellite functionality could extend to video streaming, phone calls and more.
According to a Patently Apple reportthe tech giant’s new patent hints at future services related to satellite communications, including streaming, calls and TV data. Apple acquired the new patent entitled “Communication Terminal” on December 13 from the US Patent and Trademark Office.
“Satellite communications data transmitted by #28 transceivers and #30 antenna radiators may include media data (e.g., streaming video, television data, satellite radio data, etc.), voice data (e.g., telephone voice data), Internet data, and/or other desired data,” the report quoted the patent as saying. The report also said the patent lists some of the inventors who worked on Apple’s Emergency SOS via Satellite feature.
California tech giant Cupertino’s satellite technology has recently been developed activated on iPhone 14 Models in UK, Germany, France and Ireland. The service is already active in the US and Canada.
The feature is text-only in its current state and allows users to contact emergency services in emergency situations when cellular and Wi-Fi networks are unavailable. The service also allows users to share their location via satellite through the Find My app on their iPhones. The emergency SOS function via satellite is free for the first two years. Just this month, the satellite SOS feature came to the iPhone 14 rescue of a man stranded in Alaska.
