Don’t leave home without checking that this Verizon feature is active

I’m not someone who pays attention to most carrier features. As long as I get a signal and can enjoy decent mobile data speeds, I’m pleased.

However, most major carriers provide excellent coverage, so you’ll need other ways to determine which service is best for you.

Without additional cost, Verizon offers satellite SMS messaging through the Skylo service. It’s definitely not a feature you’ll use every day, but it’s one you’ll notice when it’s not there.

It’s not supported by all phones, so please make sure you have a compatible device.

I was able to test it on my Galaxy S25 Ultra, and the latest Samsung and Google phones can access the network. The included Skylo service would make me consider choosing Verizon over other carriers. Here’s why.

Never feel alone, even when you are

I worry about injuries

Unfortunately, I have a bad back. I was in a car accident a few years ago, and my discs like to act up on occasion.

As anyone with a trick back will tell you, you never know when and where it’s going to go bad. And, if you’re like me, you’re unable to walk or get to safety sometimes if you’re far from help.

With the Skylo service through Verizon, it’s a little easier to contact help when you’re out on a trail or in an area without reception. As long as you’re outdoors, your phone will connect to a satellite for you to send messages for help.

It’s not only useful for personal injury out in the wilderness.

There are numerous dead zones in rural areas, and I recall a particularly long stretch of road in Vermont where I never received service. If your car breaks down in that stretch, you’re out of luck.

With the ability to get out a message via satellite, you can at least have a friend or family member contact help for you.

It’s not something you’ll use every day, but I enjoy having the peace of mind that it’s there when I need it.

Communications during natural disasters and emergencies

You never know when the towers will go down

Thankfully, I don’t live in an area plagued by tornadoes or hurricanes, but if you do, satellite access makes sense.

With natural disasters, service can be disrupted for days or weeks, leaving you without a way to communicate with loved ones.

Being uprooted from your home or forced to evacuate is stressful enough, so you don’t want the additional worry of how to contact people to let them know where you’re staying.

Unlike other services, you’re not limited to contacting emergency services. You don’t always need an ambulance or fire department when you’re without a signal.

I love the flexibility of being able to text your contacts, letting a friend know you need some gas on the side of the road or a place to stay during a storm.

Not every vital situation is solved with a call to 911, and I’m glad Verizon gives that flexibility.

Testing went smoothly with varied times

Hard to find a remote spot

Testing required some effort, as identifying a dead zone in 2025 proved challenging. Eventually, I found a remote spot off a lake near my home that was ideal for testing.

When you’re without service and try to send a message, you’re prompted to connect to the satellite. Keep your phone (and self) oriented towards the satellite, and you’ll be able to send SMS messages.

Message times varied, but it never took me more than a minute to get a text through, which I found to be decent considering the journey my message went on.

The service is limited to text only, so don’t expect to be sending pictures in the wilderness. I didn’t find that limiting, as I want the service as a security blanket, not a way to idly chat with friends.

Unfortunately, the service doesn’t work with just any phone, but thankfully, newer Samsung and Google devices are compatible.

If you have an S25 series phone or Galaxy Z Flip 7 or Fold 7, it’ll work. A Pixel 9 or newer Google smartphone is also supported. I tested the service on my Galaxy S25 Ultra without issues.

All told, it works as designed. It’s a way to get messages out when conventional mobile service isn’t available, and it’s an added benefit of choosing Verizon.

To check connectivity on your Samsung device, look under Settings > Connections > Satellite networks to confirm your active status. On a Google Pixel device, it’s located under the Safety and Emergency tab in settings.

You never know when you need extra coverage

It’s certainly not a feature you’ll use every day, but I love the security blanket provided by backup systems.

The next time I’m driving through hilly terrain or want to take that remote trail in the woods, I know that if something goes wrong, I’ll still be able to contact the outside world.

It’s not a reason I’d pick Verizon over another carrier, but it serves as a worthy tiebreaker.