UKC

I've been looking at buying/ renting a satellite phone for use in emergencies travelling around Morocco initially but possibly to more remote bits of the planet.The usual garmin phones are being suggested but I've found the my i phone(15) will also act as a satellite phone if there is no other signal about(or if I turn off wifi and 4g etc). Apple suggest this is easy to use but are unclear about where. Generally the response from friends and the internet is that it works in US/Canada/Mexico and possibly in the UK. Apple also state that the i phones they sell in some countries(eg China) don't come with this facility. Does anybody have further info of best thing to use as sat phone or any further info on i phone  satellite ability? I do like the demo!

There is a difference between the ability to send messages via satellite, which is limited to the countries you quote, and the ability to send an SOS to emergency services, which has wider support:

“U.S. or Canada

iOS 16.2 or later in France, Germany, Ireland, and the U.K.

iOS 16.4 or later in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, and Switzerland

iOS 17.6 or later in Japan”

Doesnt look like either system will help in Morocco though. 

Its not really a satellite phone (no calls or SMS) but rather two-way text messaging with a national responder (that Apple routes the phone to via a satellite) so it really is only a 999 alternative rather than a general sat phone.

Support is only in a limited number of countries.  Listed here - https://support.apple.com/en-gb/101573

Fun isn’t it!

As you have implied, the Apple system won't have coverage in Morocco. Get an inReach, you don't need a full-blown sat phone if it's just for SOS or saying you'll be late back. 

I understand that with some specific iPhones, Samsungs and Motorolas you can use Starlink to send sms and totally for free, even if you are in the middle of the Sahara.