Musk-owned SpaceX is set to launch satellites for Apple's Emergency SOS via Satellite feature basis of a $64 million deal.

Elon Musk’s SpaceX To Assist In Launching Satellites For Apple’s Emergency SOS Feature: Report

Adriana MaraisSeptember 3, 23 Apple, Elon Musk

Elon Musk’s SpaceX is launching satellites to provide communications for Apple’s Emergency SOS via satellite, debuting with the iPhone 14 series. This development comes after Globestar, an Apple partner, signed an agreement with SpaceX, according to the company’s federal filing.

As Nola reports, Globestar will pay a total of $64 million in “launch-related payments on a periodic basis” from now until all satellites are launched in 2025 as part of the signed deal.

For those unfamiliar, Apple released the Emergency Call via Satellite feature with the iPhone 14 series, and is expected to bring the same feature to the iPhone 15 models that will be released this month. The feature allows users in certain areas who may be in an emergency situation and do not have cellular service to contact emergency services using their iPhone.

SpaceX, on the other hand, is a spacecraft manufacturing and launching company founded by billionaire Elon Musk.

Additionally, according to Nola’s report, Globalstar purchased these satellites as early as February 2022 from a Canadian company called “Macdonald Dettwiler and Associates Corp.” for $327 million. The iPhone maker loaned Globalstar $252 million to finance this purchase. This isn’t the first time Musk-owned SpaceX has assisted Globalstar; in the past, it has helped Apple’s partner launch satellites at Cape Canaveral, Florida.

It remains to be seen whether the growing number of satellites will expand the reach of the Satellite Emergency Call feature beyond the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Germany and France – or if this is just a routine exercise to keep the service running smoothly.

In related news, Apple has revealed that the release date for its iPhone 15 series is September 12. At the event, the technology giant is expected to present the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max /Ultra. The event will also see the new Apple Watch Series 9 and the second generation Apple Watch Ultra.