The initial two-year period for free SOS Satellite emergency features on the iPhone has expired – but Apple hasn’t started charging yet

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Credit: Future

Satellite features were originally only free for two years
12 additional free months were added last November
Questions remain about long-term access to these features

We’ve just celebrated the second anniversary of the launch of Emergency SOS via satellite on the iPhone 14 – and although Apple initially said the service would only be free for two years, access to it remains free, with an extension of ‘one year added last. November.

This milestone has been highlighted by MacRumors and others, and it’s worth highlighting because it raises the question of what Apple plans to do with this in the long term. The feature’s official support page still states that “Emergency SOS via Satellite is free for two years after activating an iPhone 14 or later.”

Although Apple apparently always planned to get users to cover the cost of satellite connectivity, the problem with starting to charge money for access is that it can literally save someone’s life – this So isn’t quite the same thing as forgetting to renew your Netflix or Spotify subscription.

With the Google Pixel 9 series now offering a similar feature and Samsung expected to follow suit next year, it’s something all major phone makers need to weigh. They either absorb the cost themselves or charge money to users.

Additional Features

Google Pixel 9

Satellite connectivity launched alongside the iPhone 14 in 2022 and has since been expanded. The feature has been rolled out to more countries and now includes the ability to get roadside assistance via satellite (in addition to contacting emergency services).

With the introduction of iOS 18, Apple added the ability to send messages to anyone you want over a satellite connection, if you don’t have a cellular or Wi-Fi signal. Again, the functionality was announced as being free for two years, although Apple never gave any indication of what pricing structure might eventually be introduced.

Some of these additional features, such as roadside assistance and satellite messaging, may eventually require a subscription, while the emergency SOS features, which might just save your life one day, remain free. As of yet, however, Apple has not officially announced what might happen.

In November 2025, the free period for iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 owners will end, so we’ll see what happens then – and whether or not the satellite options will be bundled with an Apple One subscription.

Additional Features

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