• Erasmus@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    I did read the article but maybe I am confused so feel free to clarify for me.

    The article states:

    ‘Apple extends Emergency SOS via satellite for an additional free year for existing iPhone 14 users’

    So the implication is it isn’t free after that time. What about other iPhone users? Is this free for everyone irregardless who has any model iPhone or just the 14?

    • limonfiesta@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      The implication is that Apple’s language is very specifically implying this is a fee-for-service product, but that they are waiving that cost for a defined time period. They may extend that again, or several more times, but they are going out of their way to NOT say it’s just free, or simply an included feature e.g. FindMy.

      If their intent was to have it be an included service, they would NOT include the language about how long it will remain free.

      • Nogami@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Releasing too much info gives your competitors an advantage. Keeping them in the dark keeps them guessing.

        Guessing they’ll be moving to starlink at some point in the future and it will get even more affordable.

        I don’t see it being an incredibly expensive service for them to provide given the obvious public relations gains, especially when they just said they’d be opening it for auto incidents too. Super high volume compared to a few (hundred?) rescues.

        That said, I could see the auto coverage being a paid service down the road. Pun intended.

    • cosmic_slate@dmv.social
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      1 year ago

      iPhone 15 users were given 2 years when they bought the device. This would align last year’s iphone 14 owners with a potential monetization plan next year.

      Source:

      1. Go to https://www.apple.com/iphone/
      2. Click the “Emergency SOS via satellite (4)” feature in the list
      3. Read Footnote:

      Service is included for free for two years with the activation of any iPhone 14 or iPhone 15 model. Connection and response times vary based on location, site conditions, and other factors. See support.apple.com/kb/HT213885 for more information.

          • Nogami@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            Apple bashing. It’s kinda transparent when you know that Apple has upwards of 80% of the smartphone market in North America (source Daily Tech News Show).

            Low budget smear campaigns are literally all the competition has left…