T-Mobile’s T-Satellite web service, powered by SpaceX’s Starlink satellites, formally launched on Wednesday, July 23. The direct-to-cell messaging service that allows texting from anyplace is not restricted to T-Mobile clients — AT&T and Verizon cell clients may buy it for $10 a month.T-Mobile says its objective is to “eliminate mobile dead zones for good” by means of 657 Starlink satellites that’ll be used solely for cellphone service. T-Satellite has been in beta testing since December 2024, with almost 1.8 million customers signing up to date.The new satellite tv for pc texting service represents a significant step ahead in cell know-how: It works with most telephones made over the past 4 years, in keeping with T-Mobile, as a substitute of requiring devoted {hardware}. While it is obtainable to all T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon clients for $10 a month, anybody on T-Mobile’s Experience Beyond or Go5G Next plans will get it at no cost. “At the end of the day, it’s nice to be able to send a selfie when you’re in a place where there is no coverage, but it’s vital to be able to connect to emergency services,” Mike Katz, T-Mobile president of selling, technique and merchandise, advised CNET’s Jeff Carlson. “We just think that with a technology like this, no customer should ever be in a situation where they are unconnected in an emergency.”Sadly, T-Mobile has already had a motive to check out this emergency service, when it enabled T-Satellite earlier this week in communities affected by huge flooding in Central Texas. T-Mobile clients within the space are ready to make use of text-to-911 and fundamental textual content messaging, and so they can obtain emergency alerts on suitable units. In the longer term, T-Satellite will likely be free for emergency makes use of throughout the nation. The firm mentioned 911 texting will likely be obtainable later this yr to “any mobile customer with a compatible device, regardless of carrier or whether or not they are subscribed to the service.” What is T-Satellite?T-Satellite is a partnership between T-Mobile and Starlink that may enable direct-to-cell SMS messaging accessibility in areas the place there isn’t any mobile protection. Starlink has greater than 7,000 low-Earth orbit satellites within the sky, and now, 657 of them will likely be devoted completely to T-Satellite. The objective is to broaden protection into the 500,000 sq. miles of the US that conventional cell towers cannot attain, says T-Mobile.”When you leave the terrestrial network and you go to a place where there’s no network, your phone will automatically search for and connect to the satellite network, which is quite different than any other of the satellite systems that are out there that force you to manually connect, and you have to point your phone up to the sky,” says Katz.Satellite connectivity in cellphones is not precisely new — iPhones have had it since 2022 — however it’s usually been reserved for SOS messaging to attach you with an emergency dispatcher. On July 23, T-Satellite customers will be capable of ship SMS texts on iPhone and Android. Android customers can even get MMS instantly, with iPhone help “to follow.” This means customers will be capable of ship pictures and audio clips along with commonplace textual content messages. In October, the service will broaden to incorporate information help in third-party apps like AccuWeather, AllTrails, WhatsApp and X. The entry takes benefit of hooks constructed into iOS and Android software program, so builders could make their apps able to sending information by means of the slim quantities of bandwidth obtainable through satellite tv for pc.This is way past what the opposite cellphone carriers have launched to date within the satellite tv for pc realm — largely as a consequence of T-Mobile’s partnership with Starlink. AT&T and Verizon have each partnered with AST AreaMobile for satellite tv for pc messaging, and Verizon advised CNET’s Eli Blumenthal final yr that it is nonetheless planning on working with Amazon’s Project Kuiper, which launched its first 27 satellites on April 28, 2025.”Despite things that our competitors have said, they are way, way behind on this technology,” says Katz. How a lot does T-Satellite price?T-Satellite is accessible to AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon clients for a standalone $10 per 30 days. But there’s one exception: Customers on T-Mobile’s Experience Beyond plan ($100 per 30 days for one line) or the Go5G Next plan will get the service for included in the price of the plan going ahead, and people on the Experience More plan ($85 per 30 days) will get it by means of the tip of the yr. Even in the event you do not pay the $10 a month, T-Mobile says 911 texting will likely be obtainable later this yr “to any mobile customer with a compatible device, regardless of carrier.”If you are a Verizon or AT&T buyer, you will should activate T-Satellite as a second eSIM in your cellphone to make the most of the service. You can discover directions on establishing the eSIM right here. Which telephones help T-Satellite?Most telephones launched previously couple of years will work with T-Satellite. Here are the units which might be at the moment suitable:AppleiPhone 13, iPhone 14, iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 (all fashions)GoogleGoogle Pixel 9Google Pixel 9AGoogle Pixel 9 ProGoogle Pixel 9 Pro XLGoogle Pixel 9 Pro FoldMotorolaMoto G Stylus 2025Moto Razr 2024 Moto Razr Plus 2024 Moto Razr 2025Moto Razr Plus 2025Moto Razr Ultra 2025Moto Razr Ultra Plus 2025SamsungSamsung Galaxy A25 5G SE*Samsung Galaxy A35 5GSamsung Galaxy A36Samsung Galaxy A36 SESamsung Galaxy A53 5GSamsung Galaxy A54 5G*Samsung Galaxy S21Samsung Galaxy S21 PlusSamsung Galaxy S21 UltraSamsung Galaxy S21 FESamsung Galaxy S22Samsung Galaxy S22 PlusSamsung Galaxy S22 UltraSamsung Galaxy S22 FESamsung Galaxy S23Samsung Galaxy S23 PlusSamsung Galaxy S23 UltraSamsung Galaxy S23 FESamsung Galaxy S24Samsung Galaxy S24 PlusSamsung Galaxy S24 UltraSamsung Galaxy S24 FESamsung Galaxy S25Samsung Galaxy S25 PlusSamsung Galaxy S25 UltraSamsung Galaxy S25 EdgeSamsung Galaxy XCover 7 ProSamsung Galaxy Z Flip 3Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6*Some non-T-Mobile system variants are usually not satellite-capable.MotorolaMotorola Edge 2024Moto G 2024Moto G Stylus 2024Moto G 5G 2024Moto G Stylus 5G 2024SamsungSamsung Galaxy A14Samsung Galaxy A15*Samsung Galaxy A16Samsung Galaxy A35Samsung Galaxy A53*Samsung Galaxy XCover6 Pro*Some non-T-Mobile system variants are usually not satellite-capable.T-MobileT-Mobile Revvl 7T-Mobile Revvl 7 Pro
More