Google’s Pixel 9 Gets a Lifesaving Feature: Satellite SOS
As I sat in the audience at the Made By Google event, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement and trepidation as the company unveiled its latest flagship phone, the Pixel 9. Amidst the hype surrounding the new Gemini chat AI assistant, I found myself drawn to a feature that, in my opinion, has the potential to be a real game-changer: Satellite SOS.
What is Satellite SOS?
For those who may be unfamiliar, Satellite SOS is a feature that allows users to contact emergency services even when they’re out of range of mobile networks and Wi-Fi. It works similarly to Apple’s Emergency SOS, but with a few key differences. Users can tap the Satellite SOS button to fill out a questionnaire describing their emergency, and then get connected with an emergency service provider for back-and-forth text exchanges. They can also optionally notify their emergency contacts.
Satellite emergency services are becoming increasingly important for people who venture into remote areas.
How Does it Work?
Satellite SOS uses satellite service provider Skylo to place these emergency calls. Skylo has partnerships with multiple satellite partners worldwide and worked with the Google and Android teams to create a “direct-to-device” satellite connectivity experience. This means that users in crisis have only to worry about sending and receiving messages to emergency services, without having to worry about the technical details of how it all works.
Skylo’s satellite network provides the connectivity needed for Satellite SOS to work.
Limitations and Future Plans
While Satellite SOS is an exciting feature, it’s not without its limitations. Currently, it’s only available on the Pixel 9 series of phones and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, and only in the continental US. Users also need to have Google Messages selected as their default messaging app in order to use the feature.
The Pixel 9 series of phones is the first to feature Satellite SOS.
Google has promised to support Satellite SOS for at least two years, but hasn’t explained how much it will cost thereafter. It’s also unclear whether other Pixel or non-Pixel Android phones will be able to use Satellite SOS in the future, or which areas beyond the continental US will get support for the service.
Conclusion
Satellite SOS is a feature that has the potential to save lives, and I’m excited to see it become a standard feature on more phones in the future. While it’s not perfect, and there are still many questions surrounding its implementation and future plans, I believe it’s a step in the right direction towards making emergency services more accessible to everyone.
Satellite SOS is just one example of how technology can be used to improve emergency services.
