Apple, without making official statements, together with SpaceX and T-Mobile, provided on the iPhone support for connecting to the Starlink satellite network in the latest IOS version. The function is still tested and available only to a small number of users. It will become an alternative to the Globalstar IPhone satellite, Bloomberg reports citing informed sources.
The companies experienced the work of the SpaceX Starlink network on the iPhone, and in the latest iOS update, Apple smartphones received satellite communications in this network. Previously, only emergency satellite communications through the Globalstar operator was available on the iPhone – being out of the ground communication zone, iPhone owners can send text messages to emergency services. With Starlink, users will be able to exchange ordinary messages, and in the future make calls and use satellite Internet.
Previously, T-Mobile has launched in test mode for its subscribers the ability to connect to Starlink satellite communication, but only on Samsung smartphones, including the Galaxy Z Fold and S24 models. This week, subscribers with the iPhone were included in the beta testing program. The head of SpaceX, Elon Musk) said that the transmission of images, broadcasting music and podcasts is already supported, and video support will appear in future updates.
The operator sent SMS messages to the first participants in the new direction in the program: “You are participating in the beta testing of T-Mobile Starlink. Now you can stay in touch with text messages through a satellite from almost anywhere in the world. To start using the coating outside this range, upgrade to iOS 18.3. ” Apple refused to comment, T-Mobile said that testing “begins with selected optimized smartphones”, and the vast majority of modern smartphones will be supported by the full-scale deployment of the service. ” Beta testing also participate in the owners of devices running Android 15-the latest version of the Google mobile platform.
GlobalStar satellite support appeared on the iPhone in 2022, then Musk admitted that his company “conducted promising negotiations on connecting Starlink with Apple. Now the iPhone owners participating in the program, being outside the coating area of the ground network, may try to connect to Starlink satellites or turn on the sending of text messages through the Globalstar network. So far, Starlink also offers only SMS sending and only in the United States, while the connection to Globalstar operates in several countries. To communicate with Globalstar, you need to direct the iPhone to the sky, and Starlink is focused on an automatic connection, even when the phone lies in your pocket. If there is a connection to ground networks, satellite communication does not work.
The T-Mobile website indicates that the IPhone with iOS 18.3 is needed for beta testing-Apple itself, when releasing update, did not mention that it supports Starlink. SpaceX requested permission to launch the service testing from Monday-the US Federal Commission (FCC) issued a conditional permit for testing together with T-Mobile in November last year.