Apple's satellite-based SOS emergency response service is almost here, as long as you have an iPhone 14.

There were early rumors that the next iPhone would use satellite communications, which Apple later confirmed, but now Emergency SOS via Satellite is almost ready to go live. Emergency SOS itself isn’t a new feature, and it’s not the first time an iPhone has been supported by satellites, but this is the first time the two elements have come together. The result of that combination is something that Apple – and partner Globalstar, which is providing the satellites – believe will save lives.

Once available, iPhone 14 users who find themselves in a dire situation (without a strong enough signal to call for help) will be able to use their phone to place an emergency SOS request. That message will be picked up by one of Globalstar’s satellites, routed to one of its ground stations on Earth, and then transmitted to nearby emergency services or an Apple emergency specialist.

It is important to keep in mind that there are limitations to using satellites and depending on the situations you are in, it may still take some effort to connect. It may not work above 62 degrees latitude (i.e. some areas of Northern Canada or Alaska) and it requires a fairly clear line of sight to the sky. Mountains, dense vegetation, trees and other potential obstacles can delay, disrupt or even block a signal from reaching one of Globalstar’s satellites.