I Tried Google's Satellite SOS for the Pixel 9

[@georgeh6856]

After the free period, this service should be sold on a per-use basis. Requiring a subscription is likely going to lead to horror stories of people who tried to use it in an emergency but could not because they did not have the subscription and ended up dying instead. VW had an SOS feature which they sold by subscription. Then someone got into trouble and were unable to get help because they did not have the subscription first. That made VW look very bad.

[@ysts3452]

it should be able to post-paid even in high price like $100 per sms if it can save life

[@Mmuhterem]

What do you expect from backward Germans?

[@MasterKey2004]

I like the idea but that’s stupid. In an emergency the only way you could pay to use the service is if you already have access to the service, and no way there are enough satellites to handle all the phones

[@MasterKey2004]

Also per use is gonna bring in wayyyyyyy less money than a subscription which means that the price will be like 100x higher to help manage the costs of the satellite which is going to always operate

[@georgeh6856]

@@MasterKey2004 OK, then. You want people to die because they did not already subscribe to a service. That says a lot about you.

[@elliot3751]

I hope they make a demo for anyone to try. Like Apple does. My family didn’t even know Satellite SOS was a thing on their iPhones until I showed them with the Demo. They were impressed and they have it on at all times now. I wish I could show my Android friends how to use their Satellite SOS.

[@thewolfieboie]

yes this can become a major feature for smartphones as it is essential for communication in difficult situations

[@BrandonWatkinsBmW13294]

I just don't understand why this feature is limited to 911 calls only. If it's potentially a paid service later on. I mean you have 7 years of guaranteed updates. However, you only get this service for 2 years, and then an unknown amount after that time. If it's something I'm going to be paying for, it's something that I would like to use more frequently than hopefully never like in an emergency 911 call scenario. Garmin's new inreach message plus allows for cause text and even photos to be transferred to any user at any point in time. If you're going to make a really cool feature like this, enable it for daily use. A good start for sure but I'm already looking forward to Gen 2 or 3. Doesn't quite make me want to swap from my pixel 7 pro yet.

[@zachb1706]

Yeah if you have to pay for it, might as well get a cell service with StarLink. Then you get full internet connectivity

[@moisessilva2343]

Satellite connectivity is definitely my #1 thing to look for in an new phone.

[@stevetech1949]

Once or twice a year I go backpacking in remote areas and will buy this phone for this purpose and a few other things I like.

[@antonywalter2710]

I use the Motorola defy satellite link with the Bullitt Satellite messenger app, not just SOS but 2 way messaging to any smartphone.

[@dman7895]

what about other environmental hazards besides fire? tornado? some could fall within 'trapped' like flash flood or hazards like downed power lines

[@ngb802]

How can you use this if you’re trapped then ? If you can’t even stand behind a building

[@hdtravel1]

You must have a clear line of sight to the satellites for it to work - does not work in buildings - caves - canyons - too much tree cover - etc....

[@AlternateAccount-i4i]

I wondered the same!

[@intothebeyond8763]

Good luck staying still in a huge clearing or open field while being chased by a lions , tigers and bears 🐻 . Oh my.

[@GabeOW]

That feature is a must on my next phone purchase. Phones these days just don't have enough in them to validate an upgrade. The iPhone XR is like 6 years old and still gets software updates. It's also fast enough for everything you can do on a phone. Once my phone stops getting updates then I'll upgrade.

[@AlienSasquatch14]

Of course Starlink direct to cell connection will make this pointless.

[@hdtravel1]

StarLink satellite connectivity will only work for T-Mobile customers - exclusive deal between StarLink & T-Mobile

[@AlienSasquatch14]

@@hdtravel1 At first, yes. But it will progress to others and be a much better service overall then these emergency only options like this.

[@hdtravel1]

This is an extremely useful feature - I would only buy a new phone that offers this - there are many areas that I go that have no cellular service - this feature saves lives.

[@AndreiBelski-fs6ot]

Do people in Google really think that if there is no service people will try to dial 911? Are they drunk there, they should take the same approach as apple did

[@Themeparkanxiety]

How in the world did we survive so many years before smartphones 😂

[@jevonsims900]

Nope, if Google can use software instead of paying for hardware they will. Google is extremely cheap.

[@rosariodagosto6484]

to my iPhone already does this connection to any satellites even Elon musks 😊

[@xenofastiq]

You seem to be someone who doesn't understand what "No service" means. Just because your phone is telling you there isn't any service doesn't necessarily mean you can't reach 911. No service means there's no service from YOUR provider. You should ALWAYS attempt to still call 911 as your phone is allowed to connect to ANY cell tower for the purpose of calling 911. Chances are you might still be able to connect to some tower temporarily in order to reach 911. This satellite SOS option is great as a backup in case you really aren't able to connect to ANY tower at all.

[@TheRealAfroRick]

It's not a feature I would look for, but definitely one I'm glad is out there.

[@vin.k.k]

I have a question for Aisha, the software manager, why do they limit usage of essential features to only select countries? Features like VoLTE etc.

[@TheAegisClaw]

Would this work at sea, if youre rolling about in a storm or would that movement break the connection?

[@killjoy2k2]

0:09 A shielded box to block radio signals? How will that help the radio signals send and receive to the satellite.

[@LC34999]

Seems like it is worse than Apple before it even launches. Apple lets you sent messages to anyone

[@TraugottSandmeyer49]

Only above 9 series 😢

[@acm0045]

4:05 who has bought a pixel and have gotten lost within a month of having the phone? This is a new phone and you're also telling me after they’ve had an emergency within this month ans the second thing they do is , they contact pixel to thank them? That’s not believable that multiple people have done that. I've own only Google phones since the nexus devices and still don't belive that. Lol

[@jevonsims900]

Crazy part is you don't have to have signal to call 911 you just have to have enough battery life.

[@jevonsims900]

WHO IN ACTUAL DESTRESS IS GOING TO FILL OUT A QUESTIONNAIRE?!?!🤦♂️ Just Plain Dumb.😔

[@AllTheBestVideos]

*“Bebebebe”* 🗣️🗣️

[@BrothaNeo]

Is this a coincidence that Google added this to their Pixel after Apple did the same thing before? Or did Google pixels have this before Apple? 🤔

[@benedictuswinner3995]

its a mandatory

[@AllConcord]

cool story. SOS things will never exist if Qualcomm didnt make it. this is not an Apple Exclusive feature. there are no innovations in Apple. this is all created by Qualcomm Telecommunication

[@BrothaNeo]

@benedictuswinner3995 Ahhh ok. Thanks.

[@jevonsims900]

Google uses software which in an emergency can get hacked or straight up fail. Apple did it correctly by putting a dedicated physical satellite chip into the iPhone.

[@Mousta_alpha94]

They only technology that android is far behind of ios

[@superiortoall22]

I wonder if Apple will release satellite calling with this next generation.

[@Madeintheshade65]

Apple had satellite calling first they introduced it on the iPhone 14 Pro and now they have introduced satellite messaging with the iPhone 16

[@superiortoall22]

@ that’s SOS messaging, they never had satellite calling. That’s very hard to implement in non-satellite phones

[@VieleGuteFahrer]

@@Madeintheshade65 Interesting profile picture. 😂

[@TechnologyWizard82]

Sounds like google it’s just copy catting Apple on this feature…. A wanna be apple…..

[@BrokenBonesRBLX]

Apple or Google 👇

[@keisugimoto571]

Apple

[@maximusg88]

Both! Competition is good for us.

[@matthewlovesbritney]

Apple

[@owadasaoluwafemi8819]

Google

[@BrandonWatkinsBmW13294]

Google

[@carlosquirozmedia]

Apple did it first and better 🍎

[@realRichod]

So… a copy of Apple?

[@jph.j5183]

Basically but worse because you can iMessage and send short videos.

[@angryshadowdrummer]

Yes

[@Kane_Arron]

why do you lot always say "copy" all the time

[@realRichod]

@ not sure who “you lot” are, but in this instance this is a replication (UI/X and all) of what Apple released 2 years ago.

[@AzumiRM]

Nope. Satellite phone services have been around a lot lot longer than apple have been using them. Apple are a copy of the original.