Your smartphone has a hidden feature that can save your life in an emergency – TTY (TeleTYpewriter) mode. If you think it is just a technical option that you will never use, you are wrong! It has practical uses in many countries like USA, UK, Canada, Australia, especially when you find it difficult to communicate or want to contact someone who cannot hear.
The TTY mode feature has been reviewed by several tech experts on YouTube and tech blog articles, but nobody has yet explained how to use this feature practically on mobile phones during the emergencies.
What do you need to turn on TTY mode?
- TTY-supported phone: Most modern Androids and iPhones have this feature (check Settings > Accessibility).
- TTY adapter (optional): If you want to use an external TTY device (such as a teletypewriter), it needs to be connected to the phone. But just a smartphone can do the job.
- TTY support of the receiver: The person you are calling must also have TTY enabled on his phone, otherwise text communication will not be possible.
How to call in TTY mode?
Suppose you need to contact a family member (like wife, father or friend) in an emergency, and you can’t talk in voice. Here is how to use TTY mode:
Step 1: Turn on TTY mode:
- On Android: Settings > Accessibility > TTY mode > Select TTY Full/HCO/VCO.
- On iPhone: Settings > Accessibility > Turn on RTT/TTY (Real-Time Text).
Step 2: Now dial the number of the person you want to talk to via text.
Step 3: Start the conversation by typing text:
- Once the call is connected, a text box will appear on your phone screen.
- What you type will be visible to the receiver, and he can also type and reply.
So the thing is, the tty mode should be enabled on both sender and receiver phone. Now dial the number, if both phones support RTT/TTY, the text chat option will appear as soon as the call starts. There you can type your messages and communicate with your friend or family member in real time.
Is it possible to use TTY mode in India?
TTY mode is almost useless in India, because network providers in India like Jio, Airtel, Vi do not support TTY calls. As these companies don’t offer this facility, you can use it on your mobile phones!
Instead TTY mode, you can use the latest messaging apps like Whatsapp, Skype, Zoom, Telegram to communicate. These apps need mobile data or wi-fi internet and using them you can easily send texts, do video or audio calls, and keep in touch with your family or friends.
Alternative: Using RTT (Real-Time Text)
If TTY doesn’t work, RTT (Real-Time Text) is a better option. This feature is available in newer smartphones and allows you to make text calls without any external device. But again this feature is not supported in India.
TTY mode is reliable in America, the USA has a TTY call facility to 911. If you cannot hear or speak, turn on TTY mode and dial 911. Emergency services will read your text message and respond.
Conclusion
Although TTY mode is less commonly used, it is an important feature that can save lives when needed. If someone in your family has a hearing or speech impairment, be sure to know about this function. Only the right use of technology can ensure safety in an emergency.
The facility of TTY mode can be used in countries like USA, UK, Canada. You can activate it on your phone and use for text-based communication over phone lines. But in countries like India, this feature can’t be used due to the lack of support from mobile network providers.
Based on your region, make the most of tty mode. It is a useful feature that you can’t ignore during emergency situations. If the network providers support it, then use it and let others know about it.
