T-Mobile has quietly expanded its cellular Starlink beta program to include select iPhones running iOS 18.3. This move marks a significant development in the carrier’s partnership with SpaceX to provide satellite connectivity to mobile users.
Initial Rollout and Expansion
Initially, the beta program was restricted to five Samsung phone models. However, T-Mobile has now begun inviting eligible iPhone owners to test the direct-to-cell Starlink service. The carrier has been notifying selected users via text, prompting them to update to iOS 18.3 to access the service.
Collaboration with Apple and SpaceX
According to Bloomberg, Apple has been secretly working with T-Mobile and SpaceX to add support for the cellular Starlink service. This partnership is surprising, given Apple’s existing satellite connectivity partnership with Globalstar, which powers the Emergency SOS feature and satellite-powered texts through iMessage.
Features and Future Plans
Cellular Starlink is currently limited to text messaging, but it is expected to support voice calling and internet downloads in the future, pending regulatory approval and additional satellite launches. T-Mobile aims to expand the service to more phone models and customers over time, although pricing details have not been disclosed.
Beta Program and User Experience
T-Mobile has been inviting select users to participate in the free beta program to test the cellular Starlink service in the US. One Reddit user reported accessing the service on their iPhone 16 Pro, but experienced inconsistent connections to the Starlink satellites. As the service continues to develop, users can expect improvements in performance and reliability.