Jan. 14, 2026, 7:28 p.m. ET
More than 150,000 Verizon customers reported outages on Wednesday, Jan. 14, according to Downdetector.
As of 6 p.m. ET, the number of reported outages hovered around 50,000, according to Downdetector’s data. The outages were acknowledged by Verizon, which said it is working to “solve the issue quickly.”
“We are aware of an issue impacting wireless voice and data services for some customers,” Verizon told USA TODAY in a statement. “Our engineers are engaged and are working to identify and solve the issue quickly. We understand how important reliable connectivity is and apologize for the inconvenience.”
For many, the ongoing network issues have left them without service, preventing them from sending texts or making calls. As Verizon customers continue to experience these technological difficulties, the App Store and Google Play offer applications that allow you to connect to friends and family.
Here are some options.
Alternative applications for text messaging
If you have a Wi-Fi connection and an iPhone, you’re in luck, as iMessages can be sent over Wi-Fi. However, if you don’t have an iPhone or prefer using a specific messaging application, there are multiple options available.
WhatsApp is an instant messaging and voice-over platform, while Telegram is a “cloud-based and cross-platform encrypted messaging system.” Both applications are available to Android and iPhone users.
PCMag has ranked WhatsApp, Telegram and Signal Private Messenger as three of its top private messaging platforms.
Alternative applications for calling
A versatile option, WhatsApp is also a good choice for calling as it allows users to make voice and video calls, in addition to its messaging feature. Another iPhone feature, FaceTime, can also be used over Wi-Fi, allowing Apple users to make video or voice calls during the outage.
A third option is Google Voice, which assigns users a phone number by simply signing up via its website and choosing a number with a specific area code tied to a certain city. Once it’s established, it works just like a regular phone. Users can make and receive calls, texts and voicemails.
Most Google Voice calls made in the United States to other users in the United States or Canada are free; however, some domestic and international calls have a fee.
USA TODAY’s Jonathan Limehouse and Cody Goodwin contributed to this report.
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
