This fall, Apple expanded its iPhone satellite tv for pc companies portfolio by including Roadside Help by way of Satellite tv for pc, a brand new characteristic that permits drivers to summon non-emergency assist when stranded away from mobile or Wi-Fi connectivity.
The brand new roadside help characteristic joins the Emergency SOS by way of Satellite tv for pc characteristic that was introduced for the iPhone 14 in late 2022. Whereas Apple used its September iPhone 15 launch occasion to point out off the brand new service, it’s a part of iOS 17 and is accessible to all satellite-equipped iPhone fashions — which incorporates the complete iPhone 14 lineup.
Not like Emergency SOS by way of Satellite tv for pc, which took till November 15 to launch, Roadside Help was obtainable as quickly as iOS 17 landed, albeit solely within the US. It’s obtainable at no further cost from Apple as a part of its total satellite tv for pc companies, though the precise roadside help is supplied by AAA beneath its commonplace membership and billing insurance policies. In different phrases, there’s no further cost for the satellite tv for pc portion of the decision, however you’ll nonetheless must pay AAA for the service simply as you’ll in case you referred to as them up usually — both by already being a paid member or paying for the person service name.
Whereas the method of summoning roadside help by way of satellite tv for pc is comparatively easy — you want solely open up Messages and ship a textual content to “Roadside Help” whereas in an space that’s open sufficient to get a satellite tv for pc repair — YouTuber Brian Tong has simply given us a reside video walkthrough of the characteristic in motion.
In Tong’s case, he performed out a situation the place he returned to his automobile from a hike to search out the battery useless in an space the place his iPhone was restricted to satellite tv for pc protection. He then walks via the method of contacting AAA by way of satellite tv for pc to come back and jump-start his automobile.
Though Apple supplies directions on the right way to request Roadside Help by way of Satellite tv for pc, Tong’s video gives a extra in-depth have a look at what occurs after the preliminary request is made, together with the textual content message dialog (by way of satellite tv for pc) with the AAA service heart.
Whereas Roadside Help by way of Satellite tv for pc is presently solely obtainable within the US, it appears possible a Canadian enlargement may very well be within the playing cards for the following part. As Tong’s video reveals, the preliminary request asks if he’s an “AAA or CAA member,” with the latter being the Canadian Car Affiliation.
Nevertheless, that’s related at this stage solely as a result of CAA members additionally qualify for AAA roadside help when touring within the US, that means Canadian iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 CAA members ought to be capable of benefit from Roadside Help by way of Satellite tv for pc when driving south of the border (though you could have to set your iPhone’s Area to the US to entry it).
Tong’s request was for somebody to come back and examine his battery, however he provides that another AAA service would even be coated, together with lockouts, flat tires, and operating out of gasoline. In spite of everything, Apple’s Roadside Help by way of Satellite tv for pc characteristic merely supplies a further manner of contacting AAA; the companies obtainable are the identical as in case you referred to as them straight.
As with Emergency SOS by way of Satellite tv for pc, Roadside Help by way of Satellite tv for pc is obtainable by Apple at no cost for 2 years with the acquisition of any new iPhone 14 or iPhone 15. Final week, Apple additionally prolonged Emergency SOS by way of Satellite tv for pc availability for a further 12 months for iPhone 14 customers, that means that each one appropriate iPhones must be coated by free satellite tv for pc companies till no less than November 15, 2025.