Apple did not say when asked if sending such messages would cost users a fee or if there were any restrictions. He has not yet paid for sending urgent texts via satellite outside of cellular service, a feature debuting in 2022.
If the new satellite text will work similarly to that SOS feature, Apple support “You should be outside in a relatively open area with a clear view of the sky,” the website says. Tree foliage can slow or block connectivity, as can hills, mountains, or canyons.
iOS 18 release will also be introduced new tools for hikers and forest swimmers, Apple said. Apple Maps, in particular, will include thousands of hiking routes in America’s national parks, allowing users to filter them by details such as length or elevation. Hikers will also be able to create custom routes, access trails offline, and organize them in a new “Places Library.”
Kevin Long, CEO of the camp program Expensive, called the announced updates “a huge win for helping people get outside,” especially at a time when America’s interest in camping is high and camping reservations are more competitive. This has encouraged more people to try camping in places where service is non-existent and uncommon.
Increased connectivity “will help keep people safe — especially the millions of first-time campers we’ve seen every year since 2020 — as they explore broken campsites,” Long wrote in an email.
Justin Wood, REI’s co-op director of experiences, said increased connectivity can give loved ones at home reassurance and better quality time in nature. But having the ability to text isn’t an excuse to cut corners to do homework before a trip, he said.
“Most importantly, anyone playing outside should plan ahead, prepare carefully, and choose activities and destinations appropriate to their ability level to avoid problems regardless of the technology available,” Wood wrote in an email.
Before officially debuting as a software update for iPhone Xs and newer models, the public beta version of iOS 18 will be available for testing next month through the Apple Beta Software Program.