Phone and Tablet Tips
Brilliant things to do on your device
iOS
Get roadside assistance via satellite
A year after it launched in the US, Apple has made its ‘Roadside Assistance via Satellite’ emergency feature available in the UK – slightly too late for our ‘10 apps that could save your life’ feature in Issue 695 (page 60). This allows you to contact Green Flag when when you’re having trouble with your car and can’t get a reliable mobile or Wi-Fi signal.
As the name suggests, ‘Roadside Assistance via Satellite’ works by connecting your iPhone to a satellite so you can make calls and send messages. You must be outside “with a clear view of the sky and horizon”.
To use the feature, you need an iPhone 14 or newer, running iOS 17 or later. To access it, swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen to open the Control Centre, tap the Mobile Data button and select Satellite. Alternatively, open the Settings app and choose Satellite.
Follow the on-screen instructions to connect to a satellite, then tap Roadside Assistance and specify the type of problem you’re experiencing, such as Locked Out, Flat Tyre or Vehicle Does Not Start (see screenshot below). These details, as well as your location, are then passed to the roadside assistance company.