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Garmin makes dedicated devices for this. They start at $350.[0] Plans start at $15/month.[1]

[0]: https://www.garmin.com/en-US/c/outdoor-recreation/satellite-...

[1]: https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/837461

With garmin gps phones you can text any number, not just emergency services. Did anyone catch if this would be possible with the new iphone's emergency satellite plan?

It is not, at least not in what they announced today. It's just for emergency services at this point.

EDIT: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213426

Covers many of the particulars.

yeah, i had hope with the "open Messages" prompt on the satellite finder view, but then they didn't mention it unfortunately

I've also seen them discounted as low as $250 at REI. I plan to purchase one before my next cross country drive, a lot of places without cellular reception and many of those are sufficiently isolated I wouldn't want to have to wait for assistance to happen by.

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