It is free for the time being.
As time goes on, Apple is gradually transforming the iPhone into a satellite communications device that is fairly capable. Emergency SOS via Satellite was initially made available on the iPhone 14 range after it was released. In the past, you were only able to rely on the satellite for communications when you were phoning emergency services. However, with the release of iOS 18, this functionality will be applicable to any circumstance in which you are not inside the range of cellular or Wi-Fi coverage. I had the opportunity to test out the renovated experience at Apple Park; the following is an explanation of how it will function with iMessage or SMS texts.
You will receive a notification informing you that you will be required to connect to satellite communications in order to send messages if you have been disconnected from cellular or Wi-Fi for an extended period of time. The new connection assistant, which includes all of your satellite-powered utilities such as Find My, roadside help, and emergency SOS, is activated when you tap on this notification.
A popup will show in the Dynamic Island of the Messages app, instructing you on how to locate an overhead satellite. You can start a chat from this page, or you can just go to the Messages app that is available on your device. Additionally, in the event that cellular or Wi-Fi signals are unavailable, you can set up your device by going to the Satellite option inside the Settings menu or within the Control Center.
The experience of connecting here is not significantly different from what it was in the past; you will be instructed on which way to point your iPhone, and you will also be given recommendations on how to avoid blockages. An indicator in the dynamic island will display a green check mark after you have successfully joined up, and it will continue to change colors and forms regardless of whether or not your connection is becoming weaker.
Apple has implemented a system that allows those who are not connected to the grid to initiate SMS chats over satellite. This is done with the intention of preventing networks from becoming overloaded with promotional SMS messages. In other words, with the exception of individuals who are included in your emergency contacts or who are members of your iCloud family. You will still be able to receive their messages even if you are connected to the internet via satellite. It does not matter if you are using iMessage or SMS; the only things you will be able to send are messages, emoticons, or tapback reactions. Even without taking into account the addition of images and video, it is already difficult to compress these into packets that are small enough to be transmitted by satellite.
As part of my demonstration, I used an iPhone that had been modified so that it was unable to connect to Wi-Fi or cellular networks. I then witnessed an Apple representative connect to a satellite that was available through the interface of Dynamic Island, and then send a text message to another individual. The phrase “iMessage. Satellite” appeared on the phone of the sender, which was located above the blue bubble, and the same phrase appeared on the phone of the recipient, which was located beyond the gray bubble. Considering that read receipts are not available over satellite, the only status labels that I was able to see were “delivered” and “sent” under the bubbles.
Even if only iMessage is secured from beginning to end, it is nevertheless a pleasant surprise to learn that both SMS and iMessage are supported over satellite. It is a wise decision on Apple’s part to include SMS, and although I would want to see RCS included as well, the messages on that network are either too huge or too intricate to compress properly. After all, they are going to satellite equipment that is located more than 800 miles away from the Earth, and they are going to target spacecraft that are traveling at a speed of 15,000 miles per hour.
The firm has not yet disclosed the specifics of the cost of satellite connectivity and other services associated with it after the free trial period has ended; however, for the time being, users who possess an iPhone 14 or a newer model will be able to make use of these functions without incurring any costs. Despite the fact that Apple’s offer in this regard is a little bit ambiguous at the moment, fundamentally, you are entitled to free satellite service for a period of two years beginning with the purchase of your new iPhone. Additionally, in November 2023, the business extended its free trial period by an additional year. In theory, that is a window of a total of three years; however, it may depend on when you purchased your iPhone because Apple did not initially give a two-year period of coverage.
At some point before the release of iOS 18, which is anticipated to arrive on iPhones this fall, we will definitely acquire additional information on Messages by Satellite. Every time we obtain new information, we will add it to this post and update it accordingly.