iOS 18 will give your iPhone a life-saving feature with Emergency SOS live video calls

Video context comes to SOS calls

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There are times when, during an emergency call, it’d be helpful to be able to show dispatchers and first responders where you are, what kind of help you need, and your general situation.Appleseems to be aware of this, as the company is integrating 911 support platforms likeRapidSOS UniteandPreparedinto its Emergency SOS feature – with plans to do the same in countries outside the US, too.

WheniOS 18lands later this year, you’ll be able to share a live video stream with a 911 dispatcher. The idea is that this will provide contextual assistance to the first responder, giving them a much better idea of where you are and helping them reach you faster.

With support from RapidSOS Unite and Prepared in the US, emergency services that use these platforms will be able to send you a request to share video while you’re on a call.

The feature was first announced at Apple’sWWDC 2024in June 2024. There, Apple said that you’ll not only be able to share live video, but also media already saved to your camera roll. Either way, the idea is to give first responders a little extra context – something that could make all the difference.

RapidSOS Unite says that emergency communications centers will be able to access Emergency SOS Live Video from within its platform for no extra cost and that it covers 99% of the US population. Previously, Apple has announced that the feature would be coming to other regionslike the UK, so hopefully we’ll hear more out its global potential in the run-up to iOS 18’s full launch.

A suite of emergency features

Over the past few years, Apple has been steadily introducing safety features to its devices. There’sEmergency SOS via Satellite, which provides you with cell service in remote areas not normally covered by carriers. There’s alsoCrash Detection, which can automatically call emergency services if your device thinks you’ve been in a collision, andFall Detection, which lets yourApple Watchdo the same thing if you trip and fall.

As well as that, iOS 18 is adding some fresh emergency assistance features to your devices. As well as calls,iMessage will also soon support satellite communications. And you’ll be able to call for roadside assistance using satellites in the latest version of Apple’s iPhoneoperating system, too.

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Apple has made Emergency SOS via Satellitefree for its first two years, and it doesn’t seem that there will be a charge for any of the new emergency features that are coming in iOS 18. That’s good – when you’re in a tight spot, the last thing you want to worry about is being denied help because you haven’t renewed an Emergency SOS via Satellite subscription.

When Apple launches iOS 18out of betaand into a full release, its new safety features will help make it an even more valuable device for getting you out of trouble. Combined with the wide selection ofother new features, fromApple IntelligencetoHome screen customizations, it looks like iOS 18 is going to be one of thelargest overhaulsof Apple’s iPhone operating system in years.

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Alex Blake has been fooling around with computers since the early 1990s, and since that time he’s learned a thing or two about tech. No more than two things, though. That’s all his brain can hold. As well as TechRadar, Alex writes for iMore, Digital Trends and Creative Bloq, among others. He was previously commissioning editor at MacFormat magazine. That means he mostly covers the world of Apple and its latest products, but also Windows, computer peripherals, mobile apps, and much more beyond. When not writing, you can find him hiking the English countryside and gaming on his PC.

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