BERLIN: Exactly one year ago, Apple launched its satellite-based emergency SOS service, allowing anyone with the latest iPhone to call for help even if they found themselves in a remote area with no signal.

The two-year free trial phase of the service for the iPhone 14 promised at the time is now being extended by a further year for existing customers, the company has announced.

Anyone who turns on a new iPhone 14 or 15 will also be still able to use the emergency SOS service via satellite free of charge for two years after activating the device.

The feature, a first in mainstream smartphones, is designed to help whenever no other network is available, be it in a dead zone or in the wilderness.

Apple has increasingly leaned into safety offerings, marketing potentially life-saving features of its devices, such as the claimed ability of the iPhone to detect a car accident or the Apple Watch to detect when the wearer falls.

Users of newer iPhones can also inform others of their location via satellite, regardless of an emergency situation, if they are travelling outside of other networks. This works via the map display in Apple's Find My app.

The service is currently available and can be used in 16 countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, the UK and the US.

 - dpa