SFR iPhone 14 will offer satellite connectivity for emergency location and communication...

Sorta fishing-related
Josh

Josh

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The newly announced iPhone 14 and 14 Pro will offer the ability to use satellites to communicate and share locations in an emergency away from cell towers. This is huge for me (and I suspect for many of us). I pay $25/mo to garmin for the same service but with a second device that I have to remember to charge and bring with me.

It should be noted that this IS NOT the same as having full cell connectivity. This is for very short chunks of data. Txt messages and location type stuff. No photos/videos/web-browsing. But that's not what I need when I'm somewhere outside of cell coverage. I just want to be able to reach someone in an emergency (or have someone reach me). Yes, tmobile and SpaceX announced a different sat connectivity that would give you, more or less, full cell bandwidth from space. But at the moment, that's just vaporware. Could be very cool, but doesn't exist yet (sort of like the Cybertruck).


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Pricing is free for the first two years with no mention of what it will be after that. I will be genuinely curious to compare coverage and capability of the iPhone 14 as compared to the Garmin InReach (before I hopefully cancel the Garmin). I suspect there's lots of info still to come. But there's a decent article on TechCrunch about what we know so far.

Anyway, for as much as I care about any electronic device, I'm stoked about this. And yes, at $800-1000, this is an expensive phone. All high end phones are these days. So goes life.


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Dang it, I was just getting ready to buy a 13 when they get obsoleted.
 
This is the only feature that will tempt me to buy a flagship phone, in the last 3 years or so. I'm still not sure I can justify it; I have a Garmin InReach, already.
 
Last month, I didn’t renew the annual contract on my old SPOT device as it wasn’t working well anymore. I have been researching the various devices: InReach, Bivvy Stick, Zoleo, a newer SPOT, a PLB, etc. However, now I will definitely consider upgrading my old iPhone!
 
I have an inReach and prior to today's announcements I was excited about the possibility of getting rid of it. Its emergency features are nice for peace of mind, but I've really come to depend on its texting capability so that I can check in with the wife and kids at home, and they can reach me in case of an emergency. It doesn't look like Apple's plan includes two-way communication of any kind, so I'll be hanging on to the inReach for a while longer.
 
Just bought a Samsung S22. Never, ever wanted anything to do with iPhone. This feature is the first time I've second guessed that. But I suspect the Android phones will follow suit. I hope so at least.
 
Can I get updates on what Taylor Swift is doing with this feature? I mean, I like going off grid but a man has to know certain things at all times...


I gotta say it was pretty entertaining getting 2020 election results via in touch texts on a 9 day GR float though.
 
I have a ZOLEO for this purpose. It is $20/month for the service after you purchase the device and integrates with an app on my phone for sending text messages. I can suspend the service in the off season and reduce the payment to $4/month.

I hike alone fairly often so it gives me peace of mind. I slipped and tore my quad 3 years ago. 3 miles from the car, no cell coverage, no other hikers around. I was able to limp out, but it got me thinking about my options if something worse had happened.

I probably won’t rush to replace the ZOLEO with a new phone, but nice to know my next phone could have this feature built in.
 
Lakedude said:
It doesn't look like Apple's plan includes two-way communication of any kind, so I'll be hanging on to the inReach for a while longer.
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Holy shit, you may be right. As more information is shared in the tech media, I'm not seeing anything about receiving text messages. That reduces the usefulness of this feature by a significant amount. Not every backcountry "emergency" needs a 911 response. But most of them require a little communication to sort out. I've got friends who will drive into the backcountry to jump start my truck. But they aren't going to do that without some back and forth to sort it out.
 
Evan B said:
Just bought a Samsung S22. Never, ever wanted anything to do with iPhone. This feature is the first time I've second guessed that. But I suspect the Android phones will follow suit. I hope so at least.
Click to expand...

I’m in the exact same situation … my wife/daughter use iphones and I’ve never been interested until now. But with a new phone just a few months back, it’ll be 5 years before I replace, unless lost.
 
I’d hold off.
The iPhone 15 with optional adventure / out of cell range headgear is already on the drawing board.
Two way communication capabilities soon to be confirmed.
SF

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It's just kind of a bummer because it's starting to look like this will not be a replacement for the Garmin InReach.

I don't need to call 911 just to get a buddy out to some trailhead parking lot to pick me up because the truck stolen or someone sprained an ankle..
 
I have an S22, never had apple products and don't plan to start. Mostly because I'm used to android and any time I try to use apple it frustrates the hell out of me. I'm sure Android will come out with something.
 
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