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Is Verizon down? User reports indicate phone and SMS outages

File / Illustration (CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images)

Verizon users across the country reported an apparent outage Monday morning.

Commenters on DownDetector.com, which monitors online complaints about technology outages, noticed a spike in the number of users reporting problems with texting and calling starting around 9:30 a.m. ET.

Many people reported being stuck in SOS mode on their phone and unable to send messages or make calls.

Verizon did not appear to immediately acknowledge outages on its social media channels, and its network status website did not load until 10:30 a.m. FOX TV Stations has reached out to Verizon for further details.

What is SOS mode?

Starting with the iPhone 14, Apple released a feature that allows users to be notified of emergency calls via satellite, even when they are out of range of cellular and Wi-Fi networks or during network outages.

The messages are relayed directly via satellite to dispatchers who take text messages or to relay centers with Apple-trained specialists who can call for help on the user's behalf, FOX News reports.

SOS mode will automatically turn off once cellular service is restored.

Google has announced that a similar feature will be available starting with the Google Pixel 9.

This is a developing story. Stay with FOX for all updates.