What you need to know
- Google's Satellite SOS feature is rolling out first to the Pixel 9 series and Pixel 9 Pro Fold, but only in the continental US (not Hawaii or Alaska).
- Garmin Response will handle rescue operations, connecting Pixel 9 users with local and international emergency services.
- Skylo’s global satellite network enables Pixel 9 to connect in remote areas, with the potential for global expansion.
Google has partnered with Garmin and Skylo to allow you to send an SOS message via satellite if you're stuck somewhere without a cellular signal.
During the Made by Google event earlier this week, Brian Rakowski, vice president of product management, announced that the new Pixel 9 The series would be the inaugural one Android Devices incorporate SOS by satelliteThis means that users can connect with emergency services and send their location even when there is no cellular signal (via Android Police).
Apple was the first to bring satellite connectivity to smartphones with the Emergency SOS feature on the iPhone 14. It gave users in remote locations a crucial way to get help when cellular coverage was spotty.
Much like Apple's Emergency SOS, Google's Satellite SOS offers a similar safety net. If you don't have cellular coverage, you can use Satellite SOS to contact emergency services. After filling out a quick form about your situation, you'll be able to send a text message to emergency services. Plus, you can let your emergency contacts know what's going on.
Like Apple's satellite service, Google's Satellite SOS is not dependent on your cellular carrier.
The Google Pixel 9 satellite SOS feature is a joint project with Garmin and Skylo. Garmin Response, known for its global emergency management expertise, will be handling rescue operations for Pixel 9 users in the US.
If a Pixel 9 user is in an emergency and doesn’t have a cellular signal, they can use Satellite SOS to contact the Garmin Response emergency team, which is available 24/7. Garmin Response will contact local authorities, such as police, fire, search and rescue teams, and even international agencies if necessary, to provide assistance along the way.
This partnership could be a real game-changer. Not only does it bring satellite SOS closer to Pixel users, but it also suggests that Garmin's emergency response services could reach a broader Android audience, according to Garmin. Press release.
Skylo is also a major player in this collaboration. Its global satellite network allows Pixel 9 users to receive help even in the most remote places. Thanks to this network, there is the possibility that satellite SOS will become global and not just stay in the US.
Skylo has partnered with several satellite operators and worked with Google to create a system where phones can connect directly to satellites. This major technological upgrade makes it possible to communicate in an emergency, even in the most isolated places, according to Skylo. Press release.
While Satellite SOS is an innovative feature, it's still in its early stages. For now, it's only available on the Pixel 9 series and the Pixel 3a. Pixel 9 Pro foldableIt will also launch first in the US, but will not be available in Hawaii and Alaska, according to Google. Support Page.
