- Google may add a feature similar to Apple’s Emergency SOS feature to the upcoming Pixel 9 and Pixel Fold smartphones.
- The company would partner with T-Mobile to offer the feature but may add other providers later.
- T-Mobile announced a year ago that it was partnering with SpaceX to provide a satellite messaging service, and as of January of this year, the service was still in testing.
Google may add a feature very similar to Apple’s Emergency SOS feature to the Pixel 9 and the next-generation Pixel Fold.
The new SOS feature
According to leaker Kamila Wojciechowska, who writes for Android Authority, Google’s SOS feature will provide future Pixel users with a series of questions to determine what’s going on, rather than let users thumb one out.
As mentioned by a video in the Android Authority article, it appears to show the animation Google will display to assist users with aligning their phone with a satellite.
Based on the leaked information, it is predicted that the feature may ask the following questions. Are you breathing? How many people are trapped? Are there weapons involved?
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Cooperation with T mobile
Wojciechowska said the company would partner with T-Mobile to offer the feature but may add other providers later.
T-Mobile announced a year ago that it was partnering with SpaceX to provide satellite messaging services. As of January, this was still in testing, and pricing was not revealed.
Last year, a developer discovered some Google messaging code that implied the feature would be provided by Garmin. Garmin currently offers a similar service for its InReach 2-way messaging devices and uses the Iridium satellite network.
However, this feature is not necessarily free, whether T-Mobile or Garmin offers it. Garmin’s price is currently known to start at US$15 per month.
