Late last year, T-Mobile said it was ready to start beta testing of SpaceX’s StarLink service. The program appears to be ready for takeoff, and carriers are expected to announce that they have made access to satellite services for users during the Super Bowl.
As part of the beta version, people in the program can send SMS text messages when they are outdoors. This is even in areas where T-Mobile’s terrestrial reporting is not normally obtained. The beta service is free and open to all T-Mobile Postpaid users until July, during which time it will be available free of charge to AT&T and Verizon customers.
In July, carriers are scheduled to start billing for services. It will be included as part of T-Mobile’s most expensive GO5G Next plan and will allow you to add it to other plans, which cost $15 per line. T-Mobile users signing up for the service this month can lock a discount rate of $10 per row per month as part of their “early adapter” deal.
AT&T and Verizon users can continue to use the service for $20 per month per line. These users do not need to switch to T-Mobile to add StarLink services, but they need an unlocked, compatible device that supports ESIM.
T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon users who are interested in signing up for the beta version can do so on the T-Mobile website. Once you pass the list, you’ll be back to the instructions once you’ve signed up for beta.
The carrier had no plans to provide satellite coverage to AT&T and Verizon users, but after seeing the latest ads from Verizon promoting satellite text messages on the network, it did so It says it moved like that. The ad has already received over 8 million views on YouTube.
Clint Patterson, Senior Vice President of Marketing at T-Mobile, told CNET that when it comes to supporting rival carriers, “Frankly, this wasn’t part of the original Super Bowl plan.” .
“I saw the latest ads on Verizon and felt that when I promoted things that I couldn’t do on Verizon’s network, I felt I needed to take action.”
T-Mobile says IT and StarLink currently have over 450 satellites in orbit that “provides coverage for 500,000 square miles of terrain that is inaccessible to terrestrial networks.”
Patterson said T-Mobile is already adding “tens of thousands” of users to the beta.
The carrier points out that it can work with SpaceX and device manufacturers to optimize smartphones and connect to new services. The goal is that as long as you can see the sky, you should be able to stay connected.
“We say we are working with manufacturers to ensure that the majority of T-Mobile phones released over the past four years will work with T-Mobile Starlink,” T-Mobile said.
Emergency coverage
T-Mobile and SpaceX first announced its partnership in 2022, and more recently it uses the technology to inform and stay connected to people during natural disasters. The companies previously turned on services in response to Hurricanes Milton and Helen last year, making it possible this month for those dealing with the Los Angeles fire.
According to Mike Katz, president of Marketing, Strategy and Products at T-Mobile, in emergencies, the service can be made available to everyone, regardless of the plan. “In emergencies, we need to put in highly competitive security guards and realize there is something more important… And those affected by these tragedy need help,” he said. I said. “That will always be our guiding principle on those things.”
As part of a development in response to the Los Angeles fire, the carrier opened StarLink support to users on most Android phones and older iPhone models before the iPhone 14 series. Those using an iPhone 14 or newer phones have instead been pushed to use Apple’s satellite services offered by the iPhone manufacturer on GlobalStar.
With beta and full launch, T-Mobile will support more received devices on both Android and iOS. The carrier doesn’t provide a list of compatible devices, but Katz points out that phones available in beta are “the lowest number of eligible devices.” It literally expands, perhaps every week.”
“At some point it will include all new devices,” Katz said, adding that it will notify customers when the phone is compatible with the beta version.
T-Mobile said that StarLink Constellation could be used to enable wireless emergency warnings to be broadcast to anyone from government and local officials as part of the opening of this new beta service. – Mobile or another provider.
Starting with text messages, this year’s data comes
T-Mobile and SpaceX’s first StarLink service focuses on text messaging, but the plan is to support voice and data. This helps to highlight the carrier offering from what is bundled from device manufacturers.
Patterson said the carrier began with SMS texting in beta, but plans to provide data services in the future satellite “later this year.”
Apple’s satellite solutions allow regular iMessages on satellites by sending messages to emergency services and using iOS 18. Google recently collaborated with provider Skylo on its Pixel 9 series phone to introduce an emergency satellite messaging option. It’s just an emergency message.
Apple and Google are currently not charging satellite messaging services, but both suggest that they will add a fee to their features.
Katz said that as T-Mobile works towards commercial launches through beta, mobile phones know how to handle conflicts between different satellite services. “All mobile phones are designed to search for carrier networks first and then move to another,” he said. “And this is an extension of the carrier network.”
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