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iPhone 15, iPhone 14 Models Now Offer Roadside Assistance via Satellite in the US With AAA: How It Works

iPhone 15, iPhone 14 Models Now Offer Roadside Assistance via Satellite in the US With AAA: How It Works

Apple has partnered with the American Automobile Association (AAA) to provide the Roadside Assistance via satellite feature to iPhone owners in the US.

Written by David Delima, Edited by Siddharth Suvarna | Updated: 14 September 2023 14:28 IST

iPhone 15, iPhone 14 Models Now Offer Roadside Assistance via Satellite in the US With AAA: How It Works

Photo Credit: Apple

iPhone 14 users can also use Roadside Assistance via satellite after updating to iOS 17

Highlights

iPhone 15 and iPhone 14 series both support satellite connectivity
Apple will let iPhone owners connect to AAA via a satellite network
Only iPhone 15 and iPhone 14 owners in the US can use this feature

iPhone 15 series of smartphones was launched on Tuesday with a handful of noteworthy hardware upgrades over the company's previous models. At its 'Wonderlust' launch event, Apple announced a new feature that expands the functionality of the 'Emergency SOS via satellite' feature that was introduced with the iPhone 14 series of smartphones last year. Dubbed 'Roadside Assistance via satellite', it will let iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 owners seek assistance when their car breaks down and they have no cellular connectivity.

Apple announced the Roadside Assistance via satellite feature during its September launch event while unveiling the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus. The firm explained that the feature is designed to help iPhone owners who are locked out of their vehicle or have car troubles like running out of fuel or charge, or a flat tyre, in areas where cellular network coverage or Wi-Fi access are unavailable.

The company has partnered with the American Automobile Association (AAA) to provide assistance to iPhone owners in the US. Customers don't need to have a AAA membership and pricing information will be detailed on the smartphone before AAA dispatches roadside assistance, according to Apple's support page that was published shortly after the launch event.

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In order for Roadside Assistance via satellite to work, Apple says that you need to be outdoors and have a clear view of the sky and the horizon, similar to the Emergency SOS via satellite feature introduced last year with the iPhone 14 series of smartphones.

Apple's says its satellite services will be free for two years with iPhone 15 purchases
Photo Credit: Apple

Apple's support page says that you must tap the New Message button and type "Roadside" in the address field to see a Roadside Assistance option show up when you have no cellular network or Wi-Fi coverage. By following the on-screen instructions and providing the required details, you can request help using the Roadside Assistance via satellite feature.

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At the moment, the feature only works in the US (except the US Virgin Islands) but Apple states that international travellers in the US can also use the feature while they are in the country, unless they purchased their iPhone 14 or iPhone 15 in Armenia, Belarus, China, Hong Kong, Macao, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia, according to the company.

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iPhone 15

REVIEW
KEY SPECS
NEWS

Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery Life
Camera
Value for Money

Good
Big upgrades over the 14
Excellent ergonomics, build quality
Very good all-round performance
Apple ecosystem benefits

Bad
Relatively slow charging
Expensive
Still a 60Hz display

Read detailed Apple iPhone 15 review

Display 6.10-inch

Processor Apple A16 Bionic

Front Camera 12-megapixel

Rear Camera 48-megapixel + 12-megapixel

RAM 6GB

Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB

OS iOS 17

Resolution 1179x2556 pixels

More Apple mobiles Apple mobiles price in India

Apple iPhone 15 Plus

KEY SPECS
NEWS

Display 6.70-inch

Processor Apple A16 Bionic

Front Camera 12-megapixel

Rear Camera 48-megapixel + 12-megapixel

RAM 8GB

Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB

OS iOS 17

Resolution 1290x2796 pixels

More Apple mobiles Apple mobiles price in India

Apple iPhone 15 Pro

KEY SPECS
NEWS

Display 6.10-inch

Processor Apple A17 Pro

Front Camera 12-megapixel

Rear Camera 48-megapixel + 12-megapixel + 12-megapixel

RAM 8GB

Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB

OS iOS 17

Resolution 1179x2556 pixels

More Apple mobiles Apple mobiles price in India

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

REVIEW
KEY SPECS
NEWS

Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery Life
Camera
Value for Money

Good
Excellent display
USB Type-C
AAA gaming
Excellent all-round performance
Good primary and telephoto camera
Customisable Action Button

Bad
Gets hot quickly when stressed
Slow wired charging
Expensive

Read detailed Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max review

Display 6.70-inch

Processor Apple A17 Pro

Front Camera 12-megapixel

Rear Camera 48-megapixel + 12-megapixel + 12-megapixel

RAM 8GB

Storage 256GB, 512GB, 1TB

OS iOS 17

Resolution 1290x2796 pixels

More Apple mobiles Apple mobiles price in India

iPhone 14

REVIEW
KEY SPECS
NEWS

Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery Life
Camera
Value for Money

Good
Good overall performance
Great camera quality in daylight
iOS ecosystem and ease of use

Bad
Dated design and notch
Very similar to iPhone 13
Relatively slow charging
Expensive

Read detailed Apple iPhone 14 review

Display 6.06-inch

Processor Apple A15 Bionic

Front Camera 12-megapixel

Rear Camera 12-megapixel + 12-megapixel

Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB

OS iOS 16

Resolution 1170x2532 pixels

More Apple mobiles Apple mobiles price in India

iPhone 14 Plus

REVIEW
KEY SPECS
NEWS

Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery Life
Camera
Value for Money

Good
Good overall performance
Great camera quality in daylight
iOS ecosystem and ease of use
Excellent battery life

Bad
Dated design and notch
Same SoC as iPhone 13 series
Relatively slow charging
Expensive

Read detailed Apple iPhone 14 Plus review

Display 6.68-inch

Processor Apple A15 Bionic

Front Camera 12-megapixel

Rear Camera 12-megapixel + 12-megapixel

Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB

OS iOS 16

Resolution 1284x2778 pixels

More Apple mobiles Apple mobiles price in India

iPhone 14 Pro

REVIEW
KEY SPECS
NEWS

Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery Life
Camera
Value for Money

Good
Superb display with always-on mode
Excellent overall performance
Good battery life
All cameras take high-quality stills and video
Regular iOS updates for many years

Bad
Extremely expensive
Relatively slow charging and transfer speed
Gets warm under heavy workloads
Limited customisation for Dynamic Island

Read detailed Apple iPhone 14 Pro review

Display 6.10-inch

Processor Apple A16 Bionic

Front Camera 12-megapixel

Rear Camera 48-megapixel + 12-megapixel + 12-megapixel

RAM 6GB

Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB

OS iOS 16

Resolution 1179x2556 pixels

More Apple mobiles Apple mobiles price in India

iPhone 14 Pro Max

KEY SPECS
NEWS

Display 6.70-inch

Processor Apple A16 Bionic

Front Camera 12-megapixel

Rear Camera 48-megapixel + 12-megapixel + 12-megapixel

Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB

OS iOS 16

Resolution 2796x1290 pixels

More Apple mobiles Apple mobiles price in India

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Further reading: iPhone 15, iPhone 14, Roadside assistance via satellite, Roadside assistance, Satellite Services, Apple Services, Apple Satellite Services, AAA, Satellite connectivity, Apple Event, Apple

David Delima

Email David Delima

As a writer on technology with Gadgets 360, David Delima is interested in open-source technology, cybersecurity, consumer privacy, and loves to read and write about how the Internet works. David can be contacted via email at DavidD@ndtv.com, on Twitter at @DxDavey, and Mastodon at mstdn.social/@delima. More