- T-Mobile is working to improve the 988 system so callers are connected with centers that are closest to them.
- The new process uses georouting to obtain your local region, without actually indemnifying your exact location.
- This new system works better than the old, which relied solely on area codes to connect users.
In order to make emergency services more accessible, the US uses three digit numbers that are easy to remember. For example, you can dial 911 anywhere in the US to contact the police and report an emergency. While lesser known than the former number, 988 is equally important for those facing a mental health crisis. Today T-Mobile has announced a new move that will greatly improve this service for its customers.
Right now if you call 988 you are directed to mental health services based around the caller’s area code. Of course, in the digital age this matters less, as many people keep their old area codes even if they move multiple states away. This means that the services they are connected with might be too far away to provide meaningful help in the time of a crisis.