Update (January 6, 2022): Google has issued the January security patch for Android, which has a fix for this bug
I’m not gonna sit here and decry current technology, quite the opposite. To this very day, there’s something magical about smartphones. I can use them to watch movies, make music, work… anything, really.
Despite this, I — a caveman — still expect my pocket rectangle to do one basic thing: be a phone.
And this means doing things like calling 911. Normally, this isn’t an issue, but it could be now. If you’re onAndroid. And haveMicrosoftTeams installed. And aren’t logged into the app.
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Yes, friends, last weeka Reddit user shared an issuewith contacting the American emergency services. Specifically, they used a Pixel 3 running Android 11 on Verizon.
Without going into too much detail (you can read the full saga here), the user dialled 911 following a call with their mother. After one ring, their phone stuck and they were unable to “do anything other than click through apps with an emergency phone call running in the background.”
Now,Googlehas confirmed the existence of the bug andresponded to this issue.
In its statement (posted on Reddit, of course), the company pointed to the two aforementioned reasons for this issue:
Google stated that it is working with Microsoft to fix the issue. But if you’re worried about it now? Make sure you “uninstall and reinstall” Microsoft Teams. I’m sure that’s very reassuring for everyone to hear.
Honestly? This is a shitshow.
As I mentioned at the start of the piece, modern smartphones are magical. The reason for this is they’re also mind-bendingly complex. It’s almost impossible for any single person to understand all the intricacies of current mobile operating systems. Saying this, making calls — especially to emergency services — must be foundational.
In other words, this fuck up shouldn’t be possible. But it is. And it happened.
The more I think about it, the more fitting this failure is. Tech has become so advanced, and our devices so integral to how we live, that we’re forgetting what hardware was specifically made for.
So welcome to the modern world, a place where your phone can fail at being a phone.
Story byCallum Booth
Callum Booth is a freelance journalist with over a decade of experience. Previously, he was the Managing Editor of TNW, where his reporting(show all)Callum Booth is a freelance journalist with over a decade of experience. Previously, he was the Managing Editor of TNW, where his reporting was cited widely, including in VICE, the FT, and the BBC.
Callum’s writing has appeared in The Verge, The Daily Telegraph, Time Out, and many more. He covers the full spectrum of technology, with a particular focus on how it shapes our daily lives. And a lot of regulation stuff too.
Outside of work, Callum’s an avid bookworm, a Fisherman’s Friends addict, and resolutely unshaven. Follow him on Twitter @CallumBooth or visit www.callumbooth.net.
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