I spent final Friday morning turning round in circles atop a hill in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park. I had an iPhone 14 in hand, and I used to be attempting to catch a transparent view of the sky so I may join with a satellite tv for pc. I wasn’t precisely alone or misplaced within the wilderness, however I pretended like I used to be in an effort to get a really feel for Apple’s new Emergency SOS through satellite tv for pc.

Whereas this function was introduced again in September, it’ll formally begin rolling out later in the present day. The pitch is straightforward: if you happen to’re in a sticky scenario with out Wi-Fi or a mobile sign, you possibly can nonetheless ship for assist. Nonetheless, it’s not precisely like a satellite tv for pc telephone. The principle distinction is you possibly can’t make a voice name — you possibly can solely textual content.

Full disclosure: I didn’t really textual content my native emergency dispatchers when testing out the function. That might be a dick transfer and distract from individuals who need assistance. As a substitute, Apple gave me a demo telephone, and any texts had been despatched to its personal relay service heart. In an actual occasion, your texts are despatched to the closest emergency companies. If there aren’t any close by that settle for texts, Apple’s relay service will kick in to name them in your behalf. Additionally, whereas the service will probably be free for the primary two years, you’ll ultimately should pay for it — although we don’t know pricing simply but.

To start out an emergency SOS textual content, it’s a must to attempt calling 911 first. Even when your provider isn’t obtainable, emergency calls may be despatched by means of one other provider’s community if obtainable. In case your iPhone 14 can’t join by any means, you’ll see an “Emergency Textual content through Satellite tv for pc” SOS icon within the decrease right-hand nook. This took round 30 seconds to pop up.

When you faucet that button, you’ll see a immediate to “Report Emergency.” After that, you’ll be taken by means of a short questionnaire the place you possibly can specify what sort of scenario you’re in. At this level, you possibly can select if you happen to additionally wish to notify your emergency contacts. The questionnaire is straightforward to grasp general, although I used to be of sound thoughts and unhurt throughout my demo. I’d think about it being tougher if you happen to’re in ache or delirious.

After that, you’ll see a graphic of a grayed-out satellite tv for pc with an arrow indicating which method it’s best to flip. Your job is to level your telephone in that path till it turns inexperienced. After which… you wait. Rather a lot.

Common texting is fairly instantaneous, however texting through satellite tv for pc requires extra endurance. When you’re blessed with clear open skies, it takes round 15-30 seconds to ship a message. But when there are hills blocking the horizon otherwise you’re in an space with dense foliage, you would be ready for a minute or longer. I used to be on a hill beneath a giant oak tree in Prospect Park. Typically my messages despatched comparatively shortly. (And by shortly, I imply about 15-30 seconds.) Different occasions, I used to be distinctly reminded of loading pages on 56K dial-up.

The preliminary textual content you ship will embody the Emergency Questionnaire, your Medical ID (if you happen to’ve set that up), and your location. There’ll be a number of back-and-forths, primarily so that you can provide emergency companies an outline of your location. After you’ve been alerted that emergency companies are en route, you possibly can sit tight and wait some extra.

I went by means of the method a few occasions, and there actually isn’t any predicting how lengthy every message will take to ship or obtain. After a bit, you be taught to maintain your texts descriptive and snappy to attenuate ready. For instance, it’ll be a lot quicker if you happen to ship “Close to huge rock on hill subsequent to an oak tree” than a number of sentences. It feels sluggish in comparison with common texting, however on common, the entire course of solely took about three to 5 minutes.

As a result of texts take some time to ship — and obtain — I’ll admit I zoned out a number of occasions. Fortunately, there’s additionally a useful mini standing bar, so I may preserve monitor of whether or not a message despatched and the satellite tv for pc’s place. I additionally appreciated that there was a haptic buzz at any time when I unknowingly moved out of satellite tv for pc vary.

I used to be satisfied to seek out out you don’t have to lift your arm or maintain your telephone in any explicit method to hook up with a satellite tv for pc. As long as it’s not in a backpack or pocket, you possibly can maintain your telephone usually. My arms acquired a bit drained, however that’s solely as a result of I used to be attempting to movie the demo and take photos.

As a result of satellites transfer shortly throughout the sky, there’s a excessive likelihood you’ll have to show round lots, kind of like a canine chasing its tail. I used to be involved about that, given you may not be capable of transfer round simply if you happen to break a leg. So it was reassuring to know that you would be able to rotate the telephone round if you happen to’re motionless. It’s simply best to get the clearest sign if you happen to can transfer.

The very last thing you need is to learn to use this throughout an emergency. Fortunately, there’s a demo mode. You’ll be able to entry it by going to Settings > Emergency SOS > Emergency SOS through Satellite tv for pc > Strive Demo.

The demo mode offers you a good suggestion of how the precise function works. You’ll be proven a short overview of the way it works, after which you possibly can quickly flip off your mobile to attempt connecting to a satellite tv for pc. After that, you’ll get to partake in a pattern dialog with fake emergency companies.

When you frequent a selected tenting or mountain climbing location, it’s a wise concept to offer the demo mode a whirl the subsequent time you go to. That method, you possibly can familiarize your self with the function and likewise get a way of your iPhone’s satellite tv for pc connectivity in that space. If it’s crap, you could wish to take into account another or backup machine just like the Garmin InReach.

Though satellite tv for pc connectivity is generally for emergencies, you should use it in different methods through the Discover My app. Say you’re in command of establishing a picnic at a state park, however your telephone’s acquired zero bars, and also you’ve no technique to talk the place you might be. You’ll be able to as a substitute ship your location through satellite tv for pc to anybody you share your location with within the Discover My app. You in all probability received’t use it a lot if you happen to stay in a metropolis, however I can see it coming in useful in rural areas.

To ship your location, you simply open the Discover My app, navigate to the Me tab, scroll all the way down to My Location through Satellite tv for pc, and faucet Ship My Location. As soon as once more, you’ll should orient your self towards a satellite tv for pc and anticipate all the things to ship. It’s simple to do, however I seen you may also solely ship your location as soon as each quarter-hour or so.

Ideally, you’ll by no means have to truly use emergency satellite tv for pc texting. That mentioned, it labored relatively properly, and I’d relatively have this in my again pocket than nothing. I’ll caveat that my expertise was in a metropolis park, and I used to be by no means in any actual hazard, so your mileage might fluctuate in a tougher location or throughout an precise emergency. My solely “gripe” is that it requires a number of endurance, however that’s to be anticipated while you’re sending issues through satellite tv for pc. If it is a function you possibly can see your self utilizing, I extremely advocate attempting the demo and taking the time to arrange your Medical ID and emergency contacts beforehand. , because the Boy and Lady Scouts say — it pays to be ready.

Pictures by Victoria Track / The Verge