When Apple made the surprise announcement that its iPhone 13 series was suddenly compatible with carrier-supported satellite connectivity, it was ushering in a new way to stay connected. The first network to support this, T-Mobile, has just gone live with its new T-Satellite service for iPhones and other handsets.
Apple iPhone 13 Pro now has satellite connectivity with T-Mobile.
T-Satellite works by connecting your phone to Starlink satellites (though, please note, it doesn’t install Starlink on your phone as rumor-mongers previously claimed).
T-Mobile’s CEO Mike Sievert said in a post on X, “Today marks a huge step in @TMobile’s mission to end dead zones. T-Satellite is officially out of beta and available to anyone who wants it — including Verizon and AT&T customers,” he exclaimed.
That’s an important point: subscribers on other networks can sign up to T-Satellite by paying a monthly fee. Note that Verizon and AT&T are expected to offer their own versions of this service, but for now, T-Mobile has first-mover advantage.
“With 650+ satellites in orbit, the largest satellite-to-mobile constellation on the planet aims to connect you almost anywhere you can see the sky. It’s already helping save lives during disasters and providing an extra level of safety for those who love to explore the great outdoors,” Sievert goes on.
The service is available for compatible handsets, and that includes most current Android phones as well as all iPhones from iPhone 13 onwards.
It went live on Wednesday, July 23, right on schedule — though had already been offered to customers impacted by the recent floods in Texas — and the new service has been called a game-changer because, unlike rival satellite options, including Apple’s own Globalstar service, it doesn’t require users to point their phone at the satellite. It works just like regular cell connections do, even in your pocket.
If T-Mobile is your carrier and you have the Experience Beyond service, you get this new capability included. Others, including AT&T and Verizon customers, can access the service for $10 per month. The T-Mobile satellite service is limited to texting with iMessage and SMS, and data is not supported, though more capabilities may follow.
For now, this is the beginning of a new way to stay in touch wherever you are, even if your phone is in your pocket.
This post was created with our nice and easy submission form. Create your post!
