4 ms·

Google Pixel 'Satellite SOS' support may be free for two years

18 points by axiomdata316 2y ago

ggm 2y ago
isn't use of an ePIRB free? sure, the station isn't but I always assumed pulling the ripcord was not when money entered the room: Thats when the helicopter takes off.
prepend 2y ago
Free on Apple forever, right? Why would I pay for this feature? It seems so cheap to actually market since it’s so rarely used.
- OatmealDome 2y ago
  It's technically supposed to be a paid service on iPhones too, but Apple recently extended the free trial, so nobody is actually paying for it yet. [0] [0] https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2023/11/apple-extends-emergency-sos-via-satellite-for-an-additional-free-year/ https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2023/11/apple-extends-emergen...
- sweca 2y ago
  Apple is also free for 2 years[0], but last year they extended it for another[1]. [0]: https://www.apple.com/ca/newsroom/2022/11/emergency-sos-via-satellite-available-today-on-iphone-14-lineup/ https://www.apple.com/ca/newsroom/2022/11/emergency-sos-via-... [1]: https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2023/11/apple-extends-emergency-sos-via-satellite-for-an-additional-free-year/ https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2023/11/apple-extends-emergen...
- katbyte 2y ago
  Apple is launching satellite iMessage this fall, I imagine that’s what they will start to charge for after X years. SOS uses do little data in comparison it’s not worth charging
  - SirMaster 2y ago
    Well doesn't SOS basically call rescue services to your location? So seems like it would be very rare for people to abuse as you would likely have to pay a lot for the rescue services rendered.
mjevans 2y ago
This seems more like a feature that should be regulated into existence. Satellite providers that offer coverage to handheld devices should be compelled to, free of charge, relay _emergency_ requests that are in the correct format to the relevant authorities with as much information as possible. On the same note, abuse of that service should be a crime worth going after. Not a 'parent with kids that played with all the buttons' goes to jail level thing, but no one should be going out of their way to activate it either. That way, just like any phone can contact emergency services, even without a plan, so too could they use that part of the new service. A service which might offer data and messaging for NON emergency use as well (that one paid for by the consumer directly).
- pretext-1 2y ago
  This is exactly what’s already happening, without any regulation. I doubt they’ll ever charge for emergency calls, this would only give bad PR. I think we’ll get more information about the paid plans from Apple really soon, possibly during the September keynote. Google seems to be about 2 years behind: introducing emergency calls now, Apple did that 2 years ago. But it’ll come. That’s why Apple said free for the first year (and later extended for another year), because they weren’t ready yet to open it up more (for non-emergency communication, which will cause _a lot_ more traffic).
- charles_f 2y ago
  You can already get that with a Garmin inreach and similar devices - but for a monthly fee. But satellite comms are extremely expensive, I don't see how you would compel iridium whose whole business is precisely comms in non covered areas to abandon their revenue
thanatos519 2y ago
It should always work, just like every table saw should have an anti-finger-removal sensor. Pay-per-use might make sense if the incremental cost wasn't vanishingly small unlike, say, teams of people searching the woods or calling an ambulance helicopter. "Did not pay" or "no insurance" should never be a reason to not save a life.
aaron695 2y ago
Google probably/might use AST SpaceMobile which will be 725 - 740 km Apple - Globalstar 1400 km Starlink 550 km, approval for 340 to 360km
hulitu 2y ago
> Google Pixel 'Satellite SOS' support may be free for two years What kind of antenna do you need for this ?

18 points by axiomdata316 2y ago

ggm 2y ago

isn't use of an ePIRB free? sure, the station isn't but I always assumed pulling the ripcord was not when money entered the room: Thats when the helicopter takes off.

prepend 2y ago

Free on Apple forever, right? Why would I pay for this feature? It seems so cheap to actually market since it’s so rarely used.

OatmealDome 2y ago
It's technically supposed to be a paid service on iPhones too, but Apple recently extended the free trial, so nobody is actually paying for it yet. [0] [0] https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2023/11/apple-extends-emergency-sos-via-satellite-for-an-additional-free-year/ https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2023/11/apple-extends-emergen...
sweca 2y ago
Apple is also free for 2 years[0], but last year they extended it for another[1]. [0]: https://www.apple.com/ca/newsroom/2022/11/emergency-sos-via-satellite-available-today-on-iphone-14-lineup/ https://www.apple.com/ca/newsroom/2022/11/emergency-sos-via-... [1]: https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2023/11/apple-extends-emergency-sos-via-satellite-for-an-additional-free-year/ https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2023/11/apple-extends-emergen...
katbyte 2y ago
Apple is launching satellite iMessage this fall, I imagine that’s what they will start to charge for after X years. SOS uses do little data in comparison it’s not worth charging
- SirMaster 2y ago
  Well doesn't SOS basically call rescue services to your location? So seems like it would be very rare for people to abuse as you would likely have to pay a lot for the rescue services rendered.

mjevans 2y ago

This seems more like a feature that should be regulated into existence. Satellite providers that offer coverage to handheld devices should be compelled to, free of charge, relay _emergency_ requests that are in the correct format to the relevant authorities with as much information as possible. On the same note, abuse of that service should be a crime worth going after. Not a 'parent with kids that played with all the buttons' goes to jail level thing, but no one should be going out of their way to activate it either. That way, just like any phone can contact emergency services, even without a plan, so too could they use that part of the new service. A service which might offer data and messaging for NON emergency use as well (that one paid for by the consumer directly).

pretext-1 2y ago
This is exactly what’s already happening, without any regulation. I doubt they’ll ever charge for emergency calls, this would only give bad PR. I think we’ll get more information about the paid plans from Apple really soon, possibly during the September keynote. Google seems to be about 2 years behind: introducing emergency calls now, Apple did that 2 years ago. But it’ll come. That’s why Apple said free for the first year (and later extended for another year), because they weren’t ready yet to open it up more (for non-emergency communication, which will cause _a lot_ more traffic).
charles_f 2y ago
You can already get that with a Garmin inreach and similar devices - but for a monthly fee. But satellite comms are extremely expensive, I don't see how you would compel iridium whose whole business is precisely comms in non covered areas to abandon their revenue

thanatos519 2y ago

It should always work, just like every table saw should have an anti-finger-removal sensor. Pay-per-use might make sense if the incremental cost wasn't vanishingly small unlike, say, teams of people searching the woods or calling an ambulance helicopter. "Did not pay" or "no insurance" should never be a reason to not save a life.

aaron695 2y ago

Google probably/might use AST SpaceMobile which will be 725 - 740 km Apple - Globalstar 1400 km Starlink 550 km, approval for 340 to 360km

hulitu 2y ago

> Google Pixel 'Satellite SOS' support may be free for two years What kind of antenna do you need for this ?