T-Mobile is making its 'Text to 911' service free for AT&T and Verizon customers, instead of just its own. As T-Mobile President of Marketing, Strategy, and Products, Mike Katz, puts it, "it's too important to keep gated".

'Text to 911' uses Starlink's satellites to let customers send an emergency text to 911 when they can't get reliable coverage. Users can type out and send a message to 911 by inputting the three digits in their phone's messaging app's number field.

To sign up for 'Text to 911' as a T-Mobile customer, follow these steps:

1: Use the T-Life app or sign into your T-Mobile account on a browser

2: Navigate to 'Manage Data & Add-Ons'

3: Add the 'Text to 911' service to your account

To enroll for the service for free as an AT&T or Verizon customer, follow these steps instead:

1: Visit this T-Mobile page

2: Provide all the information asked of you

3: Follow all on-screen prompts until done

Please note that only modern smartphones capable of satellite connectivity will be eligible for enrollment. Some users may experience odd problems, like errors stating iPhones with Apple Satellite support are not eligible.

Additional T-Satellite services, such as regular messaging, data, and location services, remain exclusive to T-Mobile customers, and need to be paid for.

[image|center|1762367653600-j1ix9451geg.jpg|Text to 911 option on T-Mobile T-Life app|You can sign up for 'Text to 911' from the T-Life app.]

How this affects you

This is huge. The FCC does not mandate satellite texting to emergency services. T-Mobile is doing a public service, but the publicity won't hurt either.

If you are an AT&T or Verizon user who's not looking to switch anytime soon, signing up for 'Text to 911' could save your life. Literally. It is the single most important feature you could enroll in today to safeguard your future. Do not sleep on it.

As of this moment, T-Mobile is dominating the satellite service market. AT&T and Verizon will have their competing offerings up and running soon, but T-Satellite is your only option for now. T-Mobile may offer cheaper prices for a while too, so you wouldn't want to ditch it just yet anyway.

Images courtesy of T-Mobile and Reddit