T-Mobile and Starlink finally set a date. T-Mobile's long-awaited partnership with Elon Musk's Starlink service is currently in beta testing, but it will officially launch on July 23 — and at a surprisingly low cost.
At a press conference this week, T-Mobile announced that T-Satellite, the satellite-to-mobile service, will soon be commercially available nationwide. And to entice customers, T-Mobile will offer satellite texting to T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T customers with compatible Android and iOS devices for just $10 a month. Michael Kan, a senior reporter at our sister site, PCMag, got a chance to test the service in the middle of nowhere.
Historically, the telecom company has lagged behind rivals like Verizon and AT&T in terms of mobile coverage. But it believes it's found a competitive edge in the Starlink partnership, which provides connectivity via satellite instead of cell towers. T-Mobile says this will extend coverage into "more than 500,000 square miles of U.S. territory," including dead zones that cell towers can't reach.
"With T-Satellite, T-Mobile is the first and only wireless provider in the U.S. with a satellite-to-mobile network that automatically connects to most smartphones made in the last four years, with no special equipment or setup required," a press release stated.
Satellite-enabled messaging begins July 23
Starting on July 23, both iOS and Android users with T-Satellite will be able to send SMS text messages by satellite. Android users will also get MMS, picturing messaging, and short audio clips, with iOS support "to follow."
Then, beginning on Oct. 1, T-Satellite will introduce data-based service, letting users access select apps by satellite. T-Mobile said it anticipates "satellite enabled apps from AccuWeather, AllTrails, Apple, Google, WhatsApp and X," with more to come in the future.
The service will also include 911 emergency texting via satellite, and later this year, 911 texting will be available to everyone with a compatible phone, including non-subscribers and customers using a different carrier.
The free beta program with text support (no calls) launched in January, and T-Mobile eventually expanded access to the service to include Verizon and AT&T customers as well. T-Mobile says it now has 1.8 million users enrolled in the program.
How much will T-Satellite cost?
If you're on a select T-Mobile plan, you'll be able to access T-Satellite at no additional cost. The T-Mobile Starlink service is included in the T-Mobile Experience Beyond subscription, which costs about $100 a month for one phone line. (Depending on how you look at it, that makes T-Satellite free — free at a cost of $100 a month.)
However, T-Mobile users on other plans (and Verizon and AT&T customers) can subscribe to the service for just $10 a month. Initially, when the beta program was announced, T-Mobile charged customers $15 a month as an add-on, and Verizon and AT&T customers $20 a month.
Happy texting, wherever you are.
Topics Gadgets
