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A Google Pixel 8 professional telephone is displayed throughout a product launch occasion for the Google Pixel 8, and … [+]
After rolling out highly effective new AI instruments to pick out Pixel telephones, Google has quietly launched a brand new satellite tv for pc name characteristic, which all of a sudden appeared on Pixel handsets within the final week.
Noticed by the Google Information channel on Telegram and known as “Satellite tv for pc SOS,” the characteristic will seemingly make it doable to make emergency service calls when customers are out of mobile and W-Fi vary.
We don’t know precisely how the characteristic will work as a result of it’s not accessible to make use of proper now, however it’s doable to see it. The choice will be discovered within the security and emergency settings sub-menu on a Pixel telephone (at, least on my Pixel 8 Professional), but when I faucet it nothing occurs. Clearly, the characteristic isn’t prepared for prime time but, so Google could have by accident added it in throughout an replace, or it’s teasing the upcoming characteristic.
9To5Google managed to dig a bit deeper into the characteristic by way of a rooted Pixel telephone, which reveals that individuals will be capable of name or textual content emergency providers by way of satellite tv for pc communication. A Google Maps location will even be shared, alongside some particulars from the caller’s Google account corresponding to their title, IMEI quantity, battery stage, e mail tackle, emergency contact particulars and telephone quantity.
Customers can have the choice to decide on what info is shared with emergency providers based on the app screenshots 9to5Google took. Curiously, Garmin is talked about within the settings menu, alongside a suggestion to join Garmin’s search and rescue insurance coverage plan. Google had been rumored to be working with Garmin on offering satellite tv for pc communication providers for Android as early as final 12 months.
This is able to be a significant new characteristic for Google’s Pixel telephones, and for Android, if it’s rolled out that broadly. Not only for the plain security causes, however as a result of Apple launched the very same characteristic to its current iPhones. There have already been a number of tales of misplaced hikers being saved by a satellite tv for pc name to first responders from their iPhone 14. These providers is usually a real life saver and an apparent, in-built, advertising and marketing alternative for a tool once they work correctly.
Apple has solely dedicated to offering the iPhone’s satellite tv for pc name characteristic for free, for 3 years. It’s not clear if Apple will cost customers for entry to it in 2026, however clearly, the corporate desires to maintain that possibility open. On Pixel telephones, the truth that a Garmin insurance coverage plan is talked about makes me marvel if Google can be contemplating a paid subscription for the characteristic in some unspecified time in the future sooner or later too.
We’ll must see if that’s the case, however there’s legit purpose to be involved about paying a subscription for options in your telephone as a result of that’s exactly what corporations like Samsung are hinting at.
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