Cannot open location in Emergency SOS SMS

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Level 1

4 points

Cannot open location in Emergency SOS SMS

I have been testing Emergency SOS function in my iPhone 6s with iOS 12.4 and it sends SMSs (in fact, it semds MMSs) to my emergency contacts, but there is no way to access my location information on them.

MMSs have a section indicating "current location", but all we get inside is a message: "more information", but no way to access the location information.

Both contacts use Android phones.

Any idea on what is wrong or how to open the location info???

Regards,

Domingo

iPhone 6s

Posted on Sep 2, 2019 10:10 AM

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Answer 1

ChrisJ4203

Level 10

236,279 points

Sep 2, 2019 11:01 AM in response to domingo260

I cannot answer that, nor comment on it, since I don't know. The support document does not indicate that the emergency contact needs to be an iOS user. You may be better served by contacting Apple Support direct to describe your issue, or if you have an Apple Store nearby, stop in there. Make sure the contact you are sending that to can handle MMS. For some reason, the image you provided does not show that an image was received by the other phone, but there is some type of link provided.

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Answer 2

ChrisJ4203

Level 10

236,279 points

Sep 2, 2019 11:26 AM in response to domingo260

You can report anything you wish using the Feedback link. Feedback - iPhone - Apple If you can find something in the Emergency SOS documents that states that it only works with an iPhone, I would like to see it, since I cannot find it myself.

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Answer 3

domingo260 Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 2, 2019 10:48 AM in response to domingo260

I have just checked my SMSs and have seen what the problem may be (yes, I didn't think on this before).

This what my contacts see in their Android phones:

But, what I see is a small map for each SMS in my iPhone where "current location" text is shown on Android SMS.

If I push the small map, I get another slightly bigger map as well as instructions to open the location in Apple Maps.

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Answer 4

ChrisJ4203

Level 10

236,279 points

Sep 2, 2019 10:19 AM in response to domingo260

I've never used it before, but I believe it sends map info. It may be the Android devices cannot render that information. Do you have Location Services turned on for your device, and also in the Emergency Calls & SOS setting for Location Services?

If you go to Health app, then tap on Medical ID, there is some information there to help define that.

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Answer 5

domingo260 Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 2, 2019 11:22 AM in response to ChrisJ4203

I have been making some test.

If I send a snapshot of my screen as an MMS to my emergency contacts, they get it right, so, yes, they can handle MMSs.

If I share my location from Google Maps, they get the link and can open it.

But, if I share my location from Apple Maps, I get a small MMS with the text "My location" that renders the same that the emergency MMS.

So, it is clear to me that the problem is that Emergency SOS sends an Apple Maps link that cannot be opened on Android smartphones.

I'd like to report this to Apple, but my iPhone warranty is finished, so it looks like I cannot.

Thanks a lot for your help!!!

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Answer 6

domingo260 Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 2, 2019 1:49 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

Great!!

I've just done it and also have left a comment in the help page about the Emergency SOS, https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208076.

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Answer 7

Sep 2, 2019 10:22 AM in response to domingo260

You may please check Settings > Privacy > Location Services > System Services [Check your location sharing settings here and enable where ever you would like to have them]

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Answer 8

domingo260 Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 2, 2019 10:53 AM in response to ChrisJ4203

Thanks a lot, and yes, I have locations services enabled for everything ...

See my latest updates

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Answer 9

ChrisJ4203

Level 10

236,279 points

Sep 2, 2019 10:53 AM in response to domingo260

Again, what they see in Android, is based on their device. If it does not open a map location, that has to do with their maps, and their ability to receive MMS.

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Answer 10

domingo260 Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 2, 2019 10:56 AM in response to domingo260

It looks like the info it sends is only able to be read by apple maps, but not google maps.

If this is true, Emergency SOS would only be useful if your emergency contacts use iPhones.

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Answer 11

domingo260 Author

Level 1

4 points

Sep 2, 2019 11:01 AM in response to ChrisJ4203

Yes, ... OR the info sent is only able to be interpreted by Apple devices.

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Answer 12

ChrisJ4203

Level 10

236,279 points

Sep 2, 2019 11:08 AM in response to domingo260

Again, I cannot be sure of that, and until you speak to Apple, neither can you. That would not make sense anyway, since that information is for emergency responders as well.

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Cannot open location in Emergency SOS SMS

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