We’ve seen the emergency SOS satellite feature before on iPhones, starting from the iPhone 14. It’s a life-saving feature, and it uses smart satellite connectivity in areas where there is little or no cellular coverage. It allows users to send emergency messages or contact emergency services, all via satellite. It doesn’t need you to stay close to or in the range of a cell tower.
Android phones have a similar feature. However, Emergency SOS on Android doesn’t connect to satellites. Therefore, it’s much less reliable. Adventurers, explorers, wildlife photographers, travelers, hikers, etc, will benefit greatly from this feature. It’s a lifesaver for anyone whose career involves traveling to places with low to zero cellular reception. It’ll also help hobbyists.
Thankfully, a similar feature might soon be added to Samsung phones with One UI 7. The iOS version (on iOS 18 onwards) will have end-to-end encrypted texts via satellite. As per some One UI 7 leaks, some Samsung apps have a couple of hints about satellite connectivity coming to One UI. One UI 7, based on Android 15, should go live in the coming months. Betas will be up for testing really soon.
According to Android Authority, some code lines found in the Samsung Emergency SOS 15.5.00.14 build show some hints. Samsung Messages 15.5.10.39 and Phone version 15.2.80 all have several hints that SOS via satellites is coming to One UI 7.
The code snippet could mean that users will now get the ability to send emergency texts via satellite. The exact line found is below:
“If you call emergency services when you’re out of range or not connected to a mobile network, we’ll connect you via satellite so you can send an emergency text.”
Some code in the phone app also says that users can still send and receive texts in this emergency mode. The following text confirms the same:
“Emergency calls may still connect if a mobile network is available near you.”
The code in the Samsung Messages app suggests that users may have to use Google Messages only if they want the feature to work. At least for the initial phases, Samsung Messages may not support this feature. Google introduced this feature to Android 15, and Samsung is currently making use of it. This is what the line says:
“Samsung Messages doesn’t support satellite messaging. To send and receive texts via satellite, you need to make Google Messages your default messaging app,”