iOS 18.3 quietly introduced Starlink satellite support for T-Mobile iPhones
iOS 18.3 brings support for iPhone owners on T-Mobile to connect to Starlink satellites thanks to a partnership between Apple and SpaceX.
Bloomberg says Apple has partnered with SpaceX on this feature. Although Apple does not mention Starlink compatibility in the official release notes for iOS 18.3, T-Mobile’s website is now accepting signups for a beta version of the Starlink service.
SpaceX owner Elon Musk wrote on X that the current direct-to-phone constellation supports sending and receiving medium resolution images, music and audio podcasts. “Next generation constellation will do medium resolution video,” he wrote.
iOS 18.3: Apple and SpaceX bring Starlink support to iPhone owners on T-Mobile
The carrier has messaged a small number of its iPhone subscribers that they’re now in the T-Mobile Starlink beta. “You can now stay connected with texting via satellite from virtually anywhere,” it reads. “To start experiencing coverage beyond, please update to iOS 18.3.” The service is only available in the United States for now. The carrier will expand the Starlink beta program in February before making Starlink connectivity available to everyone “sometime in 2025.”
T-Mobile and SpaceX teamed up in 2022 to bring Starlink connectivity to the carrier’s customers. Beta registration for the program has been available since December 2024 on compatible Samsung and iPhone devices.
Medium resolution images, music & audio podcasts should work with the current generation Starlink direct-to-phone constellation.
Next generation constellation will do medium resolution video. https://t.co/yfDPbkgSJH
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 29, 2025
T-Mobile’s support page states that the service currently supports texting via satellite, with voice and data to be added in the future.
Satellite connectivity on iPhones
iPhones have supported satellite connectivity since the iPhone 14 lineup (2022) via a feature called Emergency SOS via satellite, which makes it possible to text emergency services even when cellular networks fail and there’s no Wi-Fi signal. Apple leased a satellite services spectrum operated by Globalstar for this feature.
The iPhone maker has since expanded Emergency SOS via satellite to include requesting roadside assistance, messaging friends and family, plus location sharing via Find My. Like Starlink, Apple’s service only offers line-of-sight connectivity, meaning you must have a clear view of the sky and horizon to connect to a satellite.
However, Apple’s service requires you to point your iPhone to the sky to find a satellite whereas Starlink works automatically when your iPhone is without cellular connectivity, even with the device in your pocket. Satellite connectivity will come to Apple Watch Ultra later this year.
Apple’s support page lists the countries where Emergency SOS via satellite is currently available: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Source link: https://www.idownloadblog.com/2025/01/30/apple-ios-18-3-iphone-starlink-satellite-support-t-mobile/
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