Eat Spot's lunch? Not today... but maybe later?
I think the emergency SOS via satellite functionality built into the new iPhone 14 models will be exactly that: an emergency SOS via satellite. Apple says they are providing the service to iPhone 14 buyers for a period of two years, its launching only in Canada & the United States, and the contracted partner provider Globalstar said in a SEC filing that they are reserving 85% of their capacity for the Apple contract. That's interesting.
Spot's devices, Garmin's inReach line, Zoleo, ACR Bivy Stick, Somewhere Global Hotspot, all do two-way messaging with third parties. Yes, they also provide emergency SOS, but so much of their marketing efforts are based around sending messages to loved ones. "Hi partner, I got to the camp site ok." The new iPhone 14 models are more like the ACR ResQLink: a SOS beacon, with capacity to send & receive messages to the emergency services operation center.
Now, one can imagine looking forward a year or two... perhaps Apple expands their satellite network access to include other kinds of data service? Perhaps access to regular iMessage with third parties (friends, family, etc) via satellite for a fee? And including satellite communications on future Watch models? Huh.
And for the more casual outdoors people, if you are looking around MEC or REI and seeing emergency satellite beacons for $200 or more... perhaps you think you don't need it because your iPhone already has that kind of capability? Only time will tell.