Technology No service? Here are apps for Verizon customers affected by outages By Fernando Cervantes Jr., . 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. #Whatsapp logo is seen in this illustration taken, August 22, 2022. By DADO RUVIC, REUTERS 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. More: Is Verizon down? Outage reported by thousands of users Jan. 14 Alternative applications for calling A versatile option, WhatsApp is also a good choice for calling