Emergency SOS - Feature Spotlight

[Chris_K]

E M E R G E N C Y   S O S

Over the last few days we’ve seen a lot of people wanting to know more about phone safety features which could help keep you safe, or alert the emergency services to your location and more. Let's explore the 'Emergency SOS' feature on your iPhone, Samsung Galaxy smartphone and other devices.

What is Emergency SOS?
It's a safety feature on your iPhone, Samsung Galaxy phone, and many other devices that when activated, will contact the emergency services automatically and during or afterwards, will sound a high pitch alarm or share vital details with any emergency contacts you have set up. Information shared varies from device to device but may include things such as your location, photos from the front and back cameras, short audio recordings and more.

How do I turn on and use Emergency SOS?
The steps change from device to device, so let's focus on some of most used devices.

• Apple iPhone setup and activation instructions here
• Apple Watch setup and activation video below or here
• More info
• Samsung Galaxy smartphone setup below or here
• More info
• Other devices such as recent smartphones from the likes of OPPO and Xiaomi have similar features, though the exact setup and options available will differ from device to device. We recommend looking through your phone settings for any mention of 'Emergency', 'Emergency SOS', 'SOS Messages' or similar, and following any on-screen instructions.

How much does it cost?
We don't specifically charge for using your phones Emergency SOS feature, and calls made to emergency services will always be free, but when your phone sends location info, photos or audio recordings then this is typically sent as an MMS message which may be chargeable. We're unable to distinguish between a standard MMS our customers send manually, or an MMS sent via your phones Emergency SOS feature and as such both kinds of MMS are chargeable.

If your tariff or plan includes an MMS allowance however, then these Emergency SOS messages will come out of that allowance and you won't be charged - unless you run out of that allowance. If you don't have an inclusive allowance, these messages will be charged at our standard MMS rate. It's also worth considering that if you have a £0 Spend Cap on your account, then sending a chargeable MMS may not work.

If you have any questions, issues or concerns over the use of your phones Emergency SOS features, then let us know in the comments below. Likewise, if you have any of your own phone related tips that could help keep you safe when out & about, please share them with us below.

[Chris_K]

We hope this feature spotlight will help you become more familiar with some phone safety features you may not have been aware of before.

We also wanted to remind everyone that we have made it free to call or browse websites of many support services and organisations. For anyone who needs help or support, help is out there and we've made it as easy for you to access as possible. 

Some of the services we've made free to browse or call:

• Crimestoppers 0800 555111

• Missing People 116000

• 116006 Pan European helplines for victims of crime

• 999 UK Emergency Services

• 112 Emergency Services (Europe)

• NGTS Emergency – 18000/ 18001 + free number (Next generation text relay for hearing impaired customers)

• www.thesurvivorstrust.org

• www.rapecrisis.org.uk

• www.malesurvivor.co.uk

• www.refuge.org.uk

• www.womensaid.org.uk

• www.victimsupport.org.uk

• Welshwomensaid.org.uk

• nationaldahelpline.org.uk