Technologies

T-Mobile Offers Free Emergency 911 Satellite Texting for Anyone With a Compatible Phone

One of the most important features of T-Mobile’s T-Satellite service is that it allows 911 access for everyone, whether you’re on T-Mobile, AT&T or Verizon.

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

Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.

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.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Strands Hints, Answers and Help for Dec. 12 #649

Here are hints and answers for the NYT Strands puzzle for Dec. 12, No. 649.

Looking for the most recent Strands answer? Click here for our daily Strands hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Today’s NYT Strands puzzle will appeal to literature lovers and English majors (like me). Some of the answers are difficult to unscramble, so if you need hints and answers, read on.

I go into depth about the rules for Strands in this story.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections and Mini Crossword answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: NYT Connections Turns 1: These Are the 5 Toughest Puzzles So Far

Hint for today’s Strands puzzle

Today’s Strands theme is: Shakespearean titles.

If that doesn’t help you, here’s a clue: Famous plays.

Clue words to unlock in-game hints

Your goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle’s theme. If you’re stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints but any words of four or more letters that you find will work:

MUST, CANT, RANT, RACE, CARE, CHARD, CHANT, HARD, SIDE, HIDE

Answers for today’s Strands puzzle

These are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you have all of them (I originally thought there were always eight but learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board will be used. Here are the nonspangram answers:

MERRY, SHREW, TEMPEST, TWELFTH, MERCHANT, MIDSUMMER

Today’s Strands spangram

Today’s Strands spangram is THEBARD. To find it, start with the T that’s four letters down on the far-left row, and wind across.

Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.

Toughest Strands puzzles

Here are some of the Strands topics I’ve found to be the toughest in recent weeks.

#1: Dated slang, Jan. 21. Maybe you didn’t even use this lingo when it was cool. Toughest word: PHAT.

#2: Thar she blows! Jan.15. I guess marine biologists might ace this one. Toughest word: BALEEN or RIGHT.

#3: Off the hook, Jan. 9. Similar to the Jan. 15 puzzle in that it helps to know a lot about sea creatures. Sorry, Charlie. Toughest word: BIGEYE or SKIPJACK.

Technologies

I Love Super Mario Bros Wonder and It’s at a New All-Time Low, but Only for Today

One of the most inventive Switch games made is down to just $40 right now.

The holidays are nearly here, and that means it’s time to lock in and sort out the gifts you need to get. If you’re looking to buy something the whole family can enjoy, then looking to the best gaming gifts makes perfect sense. There are some amazing deals on right now, and if you’re buying for someone with a Switch, this one is a must-have.

Woot has a deal that knocks the amazing Super Mario Bros Wonder down to $40, which is the lowest price it’s ever been. This is a whimsical and wonderful platform game that’s going to have you all laughing out loud in each level, but the deal is only on until the end of the day. So, if you want it, don’t wait around.

Super Mario Bros Wonder takes the classic platformer and puts an incredible twist on it in every single level. The story has you following Bowser as he causes chaos in a new kingdom, but with Wonder Seeds all over the place, reality itself often ends up changing. It’s a fun and intensely silly affair, and you can even play it with up to four players, making it the perfect game for the holiday season.

This being the lowest price we’ve seen for this amazing game easily makes it one of the best Nintendo Switch deals. It’s going to end tonight, though, so if you want it, get it quickly.

Why this deal matters

Super Mario Bros Wonder is undoubtedly one of the coolest Mario games we’ve had in a very long time, and one of the best games released for the Nintendo Switch. It’s rare to see first-party Nintendo games go on sale with this much off, so this is a very rare chance.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Friday, Dec. 12

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Dec. 12.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? Read on. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.