Google may be gearing up to introduce a feature very similar to Apple's emergency SOS functionality on the Pixel 9 and the next generation Pixel Fold. According to leaks reported by Kamila Wojciechowska for Android Authority, Google is set to collaborate with T-Mobile to provide this feature, with the possibility of adding other service providers later on.
Reportedly, similar to Apple's system, Google's SOS feature will also present a series of questions to future Pixel users to determine what's happening, rather than having users select from a list with their thumbs. A snippet of video showcased in an Android Authority article demonstrates the animations Google will display to help users align their phones with satellites.
According to Wojciechowska, here are some of the questions the device will pose:
T-Mobile announced over a year ago its collaboration with SpaceX to roll out satellite messaging services, but the exact pricing remains unspecified. As of January this year, the service is still in testing phase.
Last year, a developer stumbled upon some Google information code indicating an upcoming feature, with Garmin as the provider. Garmin offers this service for its InReach two-way messaging devices through the Iridium satellite network, touted by Iridium as reaching "anywhere on Earth."
However, whether through T-Mobile or Garmin, the service may not necessarily be free - for instance, Garmin's service starts at $15 per month. However, Apple is currently subsidizing its service, so Google might follow suit.
