Summary
- Google Pixel 9 has satellite SOS, similar to the iPhone 14 Pro’s emergency SOS via satellite.
- The new feature shares information with emergency services, but requires Google Messages to be set as the default messaging app.
- Satellite SOS on Pixel 9 is limited to the US and is free for the first two years.
With the launch of the iPhone 14 Pro in 2022, Apple introduced the Emergency SOS by Satellite feature, which allows the phone to connect to emergency services via satellite when outside of the network coverage area. Two years after their debut, Google’s Pixel 9 series is the first major Android flagship to launch in the US to offer similar features. With the phone set to hit retail shelves starting today (August 22) and customers receiving their pre-orders, the company is enabling the Satellite SOS option on the devices.
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A Pixel 9 owner who received his pre-ordered device early reports receiving a “Satellite SOS is now available” notification on his phone. As shown in screenshots shared by Android expert Mishaal Rahman, the feature requires Google Messages to be installed as the default messaging app on your phone.
You can find out more about this feature and see a demo of how it works by going to Settings > Safety & Emergency Menu > Satellite SOS.
When you contact emergency services through Satellite SOS, you’ll need to answer a few questions about the emergency to ensure you get the right help. And when your phone connects to emergency services, your name, email address, phone number, location, device details and emergency contact details will be transmitted.
Like Apple, Google will offer Satellite SOS for free for the first two years. And like Apple, Google has not yet confirmed how much the service will cost after the trial period ends.
Satellite SOS on the Pixel 9 is limited to the US
The Pixel 9’s satellite connectivity is currently limited to the US, but will soon be expanded to other countries. Google has partnered with Skylo to power the satellite connectivity service on the backend, while Garmin handles emergency response.
Despite its usefulness, Satellite SOS probably won’t be available on older Pixels, as they lack the necessary hardware. The Pixel 9 has satellite connectivity thanks to its new Exynos 5400 modem, and the feature should hopefully become much more common on the flagship Android phones that launch next year.
