Need for connecting with smartphone in emergency situation

While I understand that the smartphone is required to compose and read sms messges, but what about in the case of emergency, when I just want to send out a SOS message to the authority, so they would received my SOS with my GPS location, just like the SPOT Tracker does, would I still need to pair up the smartphone for this purpose?

The reason I ask is, in some cases of emergency, the simplest thing to do is to just reach for the inReach, and press that emergency button, the smartphone may not even be reachable, or working at that point.

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twolpert over 5 years ago +1 verified

Johnrg56 is correct. SOS works standalone. You can also read AND send messages directly on the Mini. However, composing messages on the Mini is painful. The virtual keyboard consists of a single column…

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0 johnrg56 over 5 years ago

No. It works standalone. Open the hatch on the SOS and Hold the button down till you see the SOS countdown...

+1 twolpert over 5 years ago

Johnrg56 is correct. SOS works standalone. You can also read AND send messages directly on the Mini. However, composing messages on the Mini is painful. The virtual keyboard consists of a single column of characters. Scrolling up and down the column to select each character is tedious.

Unlike the SPOT, you can interact with the GEOS rescue center after sending the SOS. Messages from GEOS appear on the device. You can, and should if you are able to do so, respond. If your phone is available and working, you can use it. But it is not necessary for the interaction.

0 CowboySlim over 5 years ago in reply to twolpert

I agree with the above..