When COVID-19 hit, I dove into climbing, tenting, and backpacking since that was one factor you possibly can do with out being round different folks. Now, being within the backcountry is one thing that I completely like to do, and I attempt to guarantee I do it a minimum of as soon as each couple of months.
One of many issues that permits me to really feel protected out there’s my Garmin inReach, Garmin’s tiny satellite tv for pc communicator that not solely lets me alert emergency companies if I discovered myself in a foul scenario but in addition lets me textual content my household and mates to remain in contact.
Whereas the inReach has been a supply of consolation, it’s additionally include a price. Not solely is the inReach itself tons of of {dollars}, however the messaging, monitoring, and SOS options include a subscription of a minimum of $15 per 30 days relying on what number of messages, and so forth it’s good to use.
Whereas I can message my household and mates, the consumer expertise can also be not nice. It requires the Garmin Earthmate app which, whereas practical, is actually previous and in want of an replace. I additionally generally run into points utilizing somebody’s cellphone quantity and have as an alternative needed to resort to emailing folks to make sure our messages get to one another.
Enter iOS 18 and Messages by way of satellite tv for pc
I’ve been hoping that Apple would finally construct out its personal know-how that might render my inReach ineffective, and it seems that’s precisely what Apple is doing.
The corporate already launched Emergency SOS by way of satellite tv for pc some time in the past which lets you use your iPhone to message emergency companies if you end up and not using a Wi-Fi or mobile connection. The function additionally tracks your location and pings your emergency contacts, all by a reference to a satellite tv for pc. It’s principally the identical factor you get with Garmin’s SOS function.
Whereas that was nice, I nonetheless wanted the inReach to message my family and friends with the intention to keep in touch and allow them to know I wasn’t eaten by a bear. I’ve been ready for Apple to launch related messaging capabilities for the iPhone and, with iOS 18, it’s lastly right here. At WWDC 2024, the corporate announced Messages by way of satellite tv for pc.
Not solely will the function allow you to message your loved ones and mates, however you’ll additionally be capable to do it straight by the Messages app by your current conversations slightly than by a separate app just like the Garmin Earthmate app. You’ll be capable to use some iMessage options like emoji and Tapbacks and, after all, all your iMessages shall be end-to-end encrypted.
If the particular person you’re messaging doesn’t use an iPhone, you’ll nonetheless be capable to ship messages over SMS. They only received’t get these privateness protections or further options like iMessage has.
iOS 18 introduces Messages by way of satellite tv for pc for the occasions when mobile and Wi-Fi connections aren’t obtainable. Powered by the identical groundbreaking know-how as current iPhone satellite tv for pc capabilities, Messages by way of satellite tv for pc routinely prompts customers to connect with their nearest satellite tv for pc proper from the Messages app to ship and obtain texts, emoji, and Tapbacks over iMessage and SMS.3 With Dynamic Island, customers all the time know when they’re linked to a satellite tv for pc. As a result of iMessage was constructed to guard consumer privateness, iMessages despatched by way of satellite tv for pc are end-to-end encrypted.
This messaging expertise is a big improve in contrast to what’s at the moment provided by Garmin. With each SOS and messaging options, I can’t see a purpose to proceed to make use of the Garmin inReach anymore besides as redundancy in case my iPhone exploded. Being that I additionally solely go backpacking and tenting with mates who even have satellite tv for pc communicators, I don’t assume I’ll want the redundancy.
We’ll must see what Apple costs for Messages by way of satellite tv for pc. The corporate has but to cost for Emergency SOS by way of Satellite tv for pc but it surely appears to plan to, regardless that we don’t know what the value shall be simply but. With messaging on the horizon, nevertheless, I think about that pricing may lastly make itself identified.
Simply do not forget that, because of requiring the {hardware} to assist the satellite tv for pc options, Messages by way of satellite tv for pc will solely be supported on the iPhone 14 or newer. So long as the service isn’t greater than $15 per 30 days (truly, I might in all probability tolerate a bit of greater than that because of the higher function set), I feel I’ll be dumping my inReach and heading into the backcountry with simply my iPhone sooner or later. What a world!
