- T-Mobile opened an American public beta for Starlink satellite connectivity
- You don’t need to be a T-Mobile customer to register
- The service is free until July
T-Mobile has just announced that you can now access Starlink connectivity from your iPhone or Android device for free. The functionality has just entered public beta and can be used by anyone who has a compatible device (see below for a full list), even if you are a customer with another mobile operator.
Once you have registered, your phone can automatically connect to the Starlink satellite network. This allows you to send and receive iMessage and SMS texts when the Wi-Fi and Cellular service are not available. T-Mobile says that the management of vocal calls and mobile data will arrive on a later date.
The service is free for the moment with available limited spots, and approved testers will have access until July. After that, any T-Mobile customer on the following Go5G (or another eligible plan) will continue to receive Starlink connectivity for free. Other T-Mobile customers will pay $ 15 per month, while any other person with another carrier will pay $ 20 per month.
And in a welcome bonus, T-Mobile says that one of his customers who register for the beta version before the end of February will obtain a $ 10 a month from July.
See stars
Apple users already have free access to satellite connectivity, although this is provided by Globalstar, not Starlink. Apple initially limited this to contact with emergency services, but it can now be used to send building and SMS to anyone when you do not have a Wi-Fi or cellular service. Unlike Starlink, Apple users must point their device to the sky to connect to a satellite.
Apple says that all users of the T-Mobile Starlink offer will see the letters “SAT” in the status bar of their device when connected to a satellite. If you want to use your device with Starlink, Apple says you will need a phone from the iPhone 14, the iPhone 15 or iPhone 16, the latest version of iOS and the service of an operator Compatible (note that some operators may require a specific supported cellular plan).
As for Android, T-Mobile says that its Starlink service will work with “most smartphones of the last four years”. A complete list of compatible devices is below. Thus, the next time you are in the desert without a reliable mobile connection, you will have another option at your disposal. You never know, it could end up saving the day.
These phones compatible with T-Mobile Starlink at the time of writing:
- Apple iPhone 14 and later (including more, pro & pro max)
- Google Pixel 9 (including Pro, Pro Fold and Pro XL)
- Motorola 2024 and later (including Razr, Razr +, Edge and G series)
- Samsung Galaxy A14, A15, A16, A35, A53, A54
- Samsung Galaxy S21 and later (including more, Ultra and Fan Edition)
- Samsung Galaxy X Cover6 Pro
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3 and later
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 and later
- Revvl 7 (including Pro)
