T-Mobile makes satellite 911 texting free for everyone — even Verizon and A

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Credit: Joe Maring / Android Authority


TL;DR

• T-Mobile now lets anyone use Text to 911 via satellite, including Verizon and AT&T customers.
• Enabling the service is free, but you’ll need to sign up via T-Mobile’s enrollment page.
• Text to 911 works on most recent phones with satellite connectivity, although some iPhones and Pixels have their own version.

If you spend time hiking, driving cross-country, or exploring anywhere off the grid, this one’s worth knowing about. T-Mobile now lets anyone text 911 via satellite, even if you’re on Verizon or AT&T. The important thing to know is that you’ll need to sign up first, as it’s free but not automatic.

In its press release, T-Mobile explains to those unfamiliar that the Text to 911 feature is part of its T-Satellite system, which connects phones directly to Starlink’s 650-plus low-Earth orbit satellites. That network covers roughly half a million square miles of the US where normal cell service doesn’t reach. Once you’ve enrolled, your phone will automatically connect to “T-Mobile TXT911” when you’re outside tower range, showing a satellite icon on Android or “LTE” on the iPhone 13.




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