Emergency SOS by Satellite expanding to six more EU countries

Apple's emergency satellite messaging service is doubling the number of countries it works in, to a total of 12 including the US, Canada, and now across Europe.

Announced alongside the new yellow iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus, Apple's emergency service will be expanded before the end of March 2023. The new territories being added are:

Austria
Belgium
Italy
Luxembourg
The Netherlands
Portugal

"iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus offer critical safety capabilities that can provide emergency assistance when it matters most," said Apple. "Emergency SOS via satellite allows users to message with emergency services when cellular and Wi-Fi coverage are not available through a combination of custom-designed components and deeply integrated software."

"Additionally, if users want to reassure friends and family of their whereabouts while off the grid," continues the company, "they can open the Find My app and share their location via satellite."

The new countries join the six existing ones:

USA
Canada
France
Germany
Ireland
UK

Apple originally launched the service in the US and Canada in November 2022. The latest expansion marks the first since the addition of France, Germany, Ireland, and the UK, in December 2022.