Smartphones can do just about anything, but where they fall short is in the backcountry where cell service is limited and oft-times nonexistent. That’s where the SATcase comes in.

Made in the UK, SATcase is a ruggedized device that fits around a standard smartphone and turns it into a high-tech satellite phone. After installing the app, users can communicate with family and friends anywhere around the world via talk, text or email.

It also comes with a smart mix of rescue and personal security features, including an SOS button, online tracking and tracing, two-way rescue communications, silent alarms and infrared strobes. It’s compact and small enough to fit in a jacket pocket.

SATcase was the brainchild of Jim Thomson, a helicopter pilot with many years of experience in telecommunications. Thomson was working on a quick way to deploy helicopters for search and rescue operations when he came up with the idea for a device that would help improve rescue response time and keep outdoor enthusiasts safe when they venture off the grid.

The company that makes SATcase (appropriately named SATcase) is based in Oxfordshire, England, but the device is available by pre-order in Canada. The only apparent downside is that right now, SATcase is only available for the Samsung Galaxy S4, S5 and Alpha and the Apple iPhone 6.

For more information, see the website.