GOOGLE is bringing a life-saving feature to Android – and has revealed the exact phone models that get it.
It is designed to provide emergency help even when you have no cell signal.
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The feature is called Satellite SOS, allowing you to connect with emergency responders and share your location – but via space rather than cell towers.
At its Made by Google event on Tuesday, August 13, the search engine giant revealed that the feature would be coming to its Pixel 9 series of phones.
This includes the Google Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
“The entire Pixel 9 lineup is also the first Android phones to include our new Satellite SOS,” said Google’s Brian Rakowski, speaking at the event.
“So you can contact emergency responders and share your location, even without cell service.
“It’s the kind of feature we hope you never need.
“But it allows you to go off-grid with the assurance that the grid will be there if you need it.”
The feature means that when you don’t have a cell signal, you can connect to a satellite passing overhead.
This means it won’t work without a clear vision of the sky (as if you were trapped at the bottom of a cave).
If you can establish a connection, you can contact emergency services and even share your location.
This should help you get life-saving support when you would otherwise have no way to contact help.
The feature is initially only available in the US (on any carrier plan) with any of the new Pixel 9 devices.
Google also notes that the feature will be available for free for the first two years after activating your device.
This suggests the feature will end up costing moneybut Google hasn’t said how much it will cost.
HOW TO ACCESS SOS SATELLITE ON GOOGLE PIXEL
Here’s what you need to know.
First, note that the feature is only available in the US (except Hawaii and Alaska) at the moment.
And it is also only available for Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL and Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
If you’re eligible, just follow these official steps from Google:
To contact emergency services when you have no network coverage on your Pixel phone:
- Dial 911 immediately.
- If you don’t have a mobile network or Wi-Fi, you will find the option to use Satellite SOS in the dialer.
- Tap Satellite SOS > Use satellite SOS > To start.
- To describe your emergency, complete the emergency questionnaire.
- To share your emergency with your emergency contacts, answer the questions on the screen.
- To notify your emergency contacts, tap Notify.
- If you don’t want your emergency contacts to receive your location and emergency information, tap Don’t warn.
- To connect to the satellite, follow the on-screen instructions to correctly position your phone.
- Connection and response times vary depending on location, site conditions and other factors.
- Once you’re connected, your emergency services provider should respond via text message within a few minutes.
- To receive answers, stay outdoors with a clear view of the sky.
- When you want to end the satellite text conversation, press the End button and follow the instructions.
Fans have already shown great interest in the news.
Google teased the launch earlier this year – but hadn’t confirmed availability at the time.
A fan responding to the original news story on Reddit wrote: “This is fantastic. Especially for rural areas/emergency services that are off the beaten path.”
And another said: “Ahh, it’s a good time to be a Pixel owner! I’m so happy once again that I never used a Samsung phone like most other people!”
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APPLE SNAP!
If the feature looks familiar, that’s because Litter already offers this technology in iPhone.
Apple activated its Satellite Emergency SOS feature in the US and Canada on November 15, 2022.
And the feature launched in the UK, France, Germany and Ireland soon after.
Like Google, Apple said the feature would only be free for an initial period – but the company has since extended the time of free availability.
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It’s possible that Apple will also start charging for the feature at some point in the future. future.
For Apple users, the feature is only available on iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 15or iPhone 15 Pro.
Experts said the feature has already saved lives and it seems likely that Google’s version will too.
If you want a new Google Pixel phone, you can pre-order it right now.
See how prices compare in the US and UK:
- Pixel 9 – $799 / £799
- Pixel 9 Pro – $999 / £999
- Pixel 9 Pro XL – $1,099 / £1,099
- Pixel 9 Pro Fold – $1,799 / £1,749
The Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro XL will launch on August 22, with the remaining devices arriving in September.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
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