Apple Watch Gains 'SOS' Emergency Call Feature With WatchOS 3

Today at it's WWDC keynote, Apple announced a brand new feature for watchOS 3 called SOS. The emergency call feature works similar to LifeAlert, allowing a user to easily call emergency services when they need it quickly and easily.

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A user just has to press and hold the side button underneath the Digital Crown, and the emergency call will countdown from three. The Watch will then automatically call 911, or the equivalent for the country the user is in. The call will go through the paired iPhone, but it'll also be able to call directly from the Apple Watch if the Watch is on a Wi-Fi network.

SOS will also send your location to your emergency contacts, alerting them that you're in need of help. The Watch itself can also display a user's MedicalID, easily displaying a user's name, age, date-of-birth, medical conditions and other medical information.

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Top Rated Comments

Johnny907 Avatar
121 months ago
And there had better be a way to disable this, or else I'm going to be wrist-dialing 911 everytime I do pushups. Having to go through my photos and delete a page full of watch face screen shots after every workout is annoying enough, but this could be extremely embarrassing plus potentially criminal in some areas.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Z400Racer37 Avatar
121 months ago
Could have saved my friend's dad's life... Amazing.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AVEGA Avatar
121 months ago
This is a fantastic idea , I wonder how many idiots will cry and call this a junk app . I assume this is not exclusive to watch but iOS 10 update .

Watch this Jon Oliver Segment on 911 and this app will make so much more sense .
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
artfossil Avatar
121 months ago
You don't think about needing assistance . . . until you do.

For me, it's living alone in a 1920's cottage with steep basement stairs . . . And having a campus studio in a building that's often deserted after hours or on holidays . . . and having a bad hip (now recoving from hip replacement surgery).

I welcome this app. The ability to communicate in an emergency is one of the reasons I got the Watch.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Benjamin Frost Avatar
121 months ago
You don't think about needing assistance . . . until you do.

For me, it's living alone in a 1920's cottage with steep basement stairs . . . And having a campus studio in a building that's often deserted after hours or on holidays . . . and having a bad hip (now recoving from hip replacement surgery).

I welcome this app. The ability to communicate in an emergency is one of the reasons I got the Watch.
Hope your hip gets better and you're hopping around soon.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Z400Racer37 Avatar
121 months ago
I'm sorry for your loss.
Many thanks.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)