The new feature will be part of iOS 12, the upcoming software update for the iPhone and iPad, and will help emergency services locate a person more quickly when in need. It will be available to users in the U.S. only.
“Communities rely on 911 centers in an emergency, and we believe they should have the best available technology at their disposal,” Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, said.
In 2015, Apple launched Hybridized Emergency Location (HELO), which uses cell towers and other information like Wi-Fi access points to determine a 911 caller’s location. The new update will use technology developed by a company called RapidSOS to share that location data with emergency services.