Apple has announced that Emergency SOS via satellite is available in Mexico starting today, on iPhone 14 models and newer and the Apple Watch Ultra 3.


Until now, only Find My via satellite and Messages via satellite were available in Mexico.

Emergency SOS via satellite lets you send text messages to emergency operators when you are in an area without Wi-Fi or cellular coverage, so long as you have a clear view of the sky. The feature is powered by Globalstar's satellites.

In Mexico, the feature requires an iPhone 14 or newer running iOS 18.4 or later, or an Apple Watch Ultra 3 running watchOS 26.0.1 or later.

To use the feature on an iPhone in Mexico, begin to send a text message to 911 in the Messages app, and tap on Emergency Services. Alternatively, open Control Center and scroll down to the page with a cellular symbol. Then, tap on "Satellite" to open Apple's Connection Assistant, and choose Emergency SOS via satellite.

Apple has yet to charge a fee for any of its satellite features. In September, the company announced it is providing existing iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 users with an additional year of free access to the entire suite of satellite features on those devices.

Emergency SOS via satellite is also available in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

The minimum iOS version required for each feature varies by country.

International travelers who visit a country where the features are available can use the feature while visiting, except if they bought their iPhone in Armenia, Belarus, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, or Russia, according to Apple.
This article, "Apple's Emergency Satellite Feature Available in Mexico Starting Today" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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At least some new iPhone models launching next year may support full 5G satellite internet, according to a report this week from The Information.


"Apple plans to add support in upcoming iPhones as early as next year for 5G networks that aren't tethered to Earth's surface, which includes satellites," the report said. "That would give the iPhone full internet access over satellite," it added.

If the earliest 2026 timeframe is met, that means the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the long-rumored foldable iPhone would likely be the first models to support full 5G satellite internet, followed by the standard iPhone 18 around March 2027.

Even if support is added, there is currently no service that delivers full 5G satellite internet directly to a smartphone. Apple's own satellite features on iPhone 14 models and newer are limited to the Emergency SOS feature, the Find My and Messages apps, and roadside assistance, while T-Mobile's Starlink service is also limited to select functions and apps. Both options require you to have a clear view of the sky.

iPhones can already achieve high-speed internet speeds over a satellite connection, when used in conjunction with a Starlink satellite dish, which creates a Wi-Fi network. In the U.S., Starlink charges $50 per month for 50GB of data and $165 per month for unlimited data, while the portable Starlink Mini dish is currently on sale for $299.

The long-term vision is that iPhones would eventually be able to achieve full 5G satellite internet directly, without Starlink hardware.

Apple partners with Globalstar for its iPhone satellite features, while Starlink is offered by SpaceX.

The report outlined four "hints" that suggest a deal between Apple and SpaceX could eventually "be back on the table," despite the fact that Apple and SpaceX's CEO Elon Musk have had a rocky relationship over the years.

Those hints, according to the report:

• SpaceX recently added support for the same radio spectrum that Apple uses for its iPhone satellite features.


• Globalstar's executive chairman Jay Monroe has apparently discussed the idea of selling the company for more than $10 billion.


• Globalstar's most recent quarterly earnings report includes a new warning about how the loss of a major customer — believed to be Apple — would likely have a material adverse impact on its finances.


• Apple plans to add full 5G satellite internet support to iPhones as early as next year.

However, it remains to be seen if Apple and Musk can truly bury the bad blood between them.
This article, "iPhone 18 Pro Rumored to Support Full 5G Satellite Internet" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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A little more than three months ago, MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris discovered references to an unreleased "Weather via satellite" feature in the code for the first iOS 26 developer beta. However, just one day before iOS 26 is set to be widely released, the feature has yet to be released or even announced by Apple.


The references have not been removed from the code, as of the iOS 26 Release Candidate, so it is possible that Apple will introduce the feature eventually. Perhaps the feature will be added in a follow-up update, such as iOS 26.1 or iOS 26.2.

The feature would let you view the forecast and other weather information in the Weather app, in supported areas without Wi-Fi and cellular range. Apple's other satellite features include Emergency SOS via satellite, Messages via satellite, Find My via satellite, and Roadside Assistance via satellite, with availability varying by country.

Apple has yet to charge a fee for any of its satellite features. Last week, the company announced it is providing existing iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 users with an additional year of free access to the entire suite of satellite features on those devices.
This article, "Apple's Weather via Satellite Feature in iOS 26 Beta Code is Still Missing" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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