If you have to call 911 emergency services sometime a few months from now, you may get an option to switch on live video, kind of like a FaceTime video call. That’s because emergency platforms RapidSOS and Prepared said they’re integrating support for video calls and photo-sharing following Apple’s iOS 18 announcement of the features last month.
“During a call, participating emergency dispatchers will send you a request to share live video or photos over a secure connection, making it easier and faster to get the help you need,” RapidSOS said in a blog post announcing the updates, which it says will be offered for free to existing emergency services customers.
Prepared similarly said its technology will allow dispatchers to share data with police, fire or emergency services to help them prepare while en route.
RapidSOS said 99% of the US population will be covered by these updates, which is important because the National Emergency Number Association found that in many areas, at least 80% of 911 calls come from mobile devices.
Apple’s expanding partnerships for its emergency-services efforts follow its moves over the past few years to highlight features offering peace of mind to customers. In addition to live video and media sharing over cellular 911 calls, Apple’s also added emergency communication by satellite, allowing people to send texts and location information to emergency services personnel for free with 2022’s iPhone 14 and up. And that’s all in addition to features like car crash detection for the iPhone and Apple Watch, which also has fall detection and abnormal heart rate monitoring built in.
Other tech companies have offered similar features as well. Google’s Pixel phones have supported crash detection for years, and Samsung’s Galaxy Watches offer fall detection and heart-rate sensing too. Meanwhile, Apple continues to add more safety technologies.
With its free iOS 16 software update for iPhones in 2022, Apple added Safety Check to help domestic violence victims more easily escape abusive situations. That same year, the company also added Lockdown Mode, meant to restrict iPhone communication features to protect the owner from a potential hacking attack.
When Apple announced its new SOS emergency video feature last month as part of its free iOS 18 software upgrade coming in the fall, the company said its goal was to make “it easier and faster to get the help you need.”
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