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If you find yourself in trouble and without cellular service, you now have several ways to connect with emergency services thanks to companies including Apple, Google and T-Mobile. On Wednesday, T-Mobile announced that the emergency texting feature of its T-Satellite service is free, even if you're not one of the carrier's customers. But where T-Satellite stands out is its ease of connection and compatibility with phones that don't include dedicated satellite hardware.
T-Satellite uses Starlink's network of satellites to communicate directly with recent smartphone models. The new T-Mobile Text to 911 service is now live for customers of any carrier and whether or not you have an iPhone or Android phone.
Read more: Why I had to drive 120 miles out of town to test T-Satellite.
"We just think that with a technology like this, no customer should ever be in a situation where they are unconnected in an emergency," said Mike Katz, president of marketing, strategy and products, in an interview with CNET back in June
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T-Mobile launched its T-Satellite service in July, which began as a way to text others and receive emergency assistance when outside cellular and Wi-Fi coverage. It then expanded the feature set to support data within apps, including in-app phone and video calls, such as in WhatsApp. Nearly any smartphone model released in the last four years can connect to the Starlink satellite network.
T-Satellite is included for subscribers of T-Mobile's Experience Beyond and Go5G Next plans, and it can be added to other plans for $10 a month.
But the carrier hasn't kept the technology to itself. At launch, it announced that AT&T and Verizon customers can also add T-Satellite for the same $10 monthly cost. It's activated as a secondary eSIM on the phone.
T-Mobile Text to 911 uses the same framework. After signing up for the free service, enrollees set it up on their phone as a second active eSIM.
In the event help is needed off grid, when the phone is connected to the T-Satellite network, sending a text to the number 911 in your default messages app will direct it to emergency services.
According to T-Mobile, existing customers can add Text to 911 to their plans by going to Manage Data and Add-Ons in the T-Life app or their account. Customers of other providers can sign up at T-Mobile's site. New business customers can call 866-380-7511.
Owners of iPhone 14 and later models and Pixel 9 and 10 models can currently connect to satellite services provided by Apple and Google for emergencies. The T-Mobile Text to 911 service provides a backup option for those who are out of cellular range. T-Mobile touts the T-Satellite service as a more compatible, easier-to-use option that does not require pointing at a moving satellite to maintain a connection. On compatible iPhone models, the system prioritizes a third-party satellite option like T-Satellite for connection, and offers its built-in service as backup.
