Going off-grid would possibly quickly be a factor of the previous, as T-Cellular’s partnership with SpaceX’s Starlink satellite tv for pc web service will get able to launch on July 23. The direct-to-cell messaging service, referred to as T-Satellite tv for pc, may also be obtainable to AT&T and Verizon cellphone prospects.
T-Cellular says its objective is to “get rid of cellular useless zones for good” by the use of 657 Starlink satellites that’ll be used solely for cellphone service. T-Satellite tv for pc has been in beta testing since December 2024, with practically 1.8 million customers signing up up to now.
The direct-to-cell messaging service represents a significant step ahead in cellular expertise: It really works with most telephones made over the past 4 years, in accordance with T-Cellular, as a substitute of requiring devoted {hardware}. It will be obtainable to T-Cellular, AT&T and Verizon prospects for $10 a month — or free for anybody on T-Cellular’s Expertise Past or Go5G Subsequent plans.
“On the finish of the day, it is good to have the ability to ship a selfie while you’re in a spot the place there isn’t a protection, but it surely’s very important to have the ability to hook up with emergency providers,” Mike Katz, T-Cellular president of promoting, technique and merchandise, informed CNET’s Jeff Carlson. “We simply suppose that with a expertise like this, no buyer ought to ever be in a state of affairs the place they’re unconnected in an emergency.”
Sadly, T-Cellular has already had a motive to check out this emergency service, when it enabled T-Satellite tv for pc earlier this week in communities affected by huge flooding in Central Texas. T-Cellular prospects within the space are in a position to make use of text-to-911 and fundamental textual content messaging, they usually can obtain emergency alerts on appropriate gadgets.
Sooner or later, T-Satellite tv for pc shall be free for emergency makes use of throughout the nation. The corporate stated 911 texting shall be obtainable later this yr to “any cellular buyer with a appropriate system, no matter service or whether or not or not they’re subscribed to the service.”
What’s T-Satellite tv for pc?
T-Satellite tv for pc is a partnership between T-Cellular and Starlink that may permit direct-to-cell SMS messaging accessibility in areas the place there isn’t a mobile protection. Starlink has greater than 7,000 low-Earth orbit satellites within the sky, and now, 657 of them shall be devoted solely to T-Satellite tv for pc. The objective is to broaden protection into the five hundred,000 sq. miles of the US that conventional cell towers can’t attain, says T-Cellular.
“While you depart the terrestrial community and also you go to a spot the place there is no community, your telephone will routinely seek for and hook up with the satellite tv for pc community, which is sort of totally different than another of the satellite tv for pc methods which might be on the market that pressure you to manually join, and you need to level your telephone as much as the sky,” says Katz.
Satellite tv for pc connectivity in cellphones isn’t precisely new — iPhones have had it since 2022 — but it surely’s sometimes been reserved for SOS messaging to attach you with an emergency dispatcher. On July 23, T-Satellite tv for pc customers will have the ability to ship SMS texts on iPhone and Android. Android customers may also get MMS instantly, with iPhone assist “to observe.”
This implies customers will have the ability to ship photos and audio clips along with customary textual content messages. In October, the service will broaden to incorporate knowledge assist in third-party apps like AccuWeather, AllTrails, WhatsApp and X. The entry takes benefit of hooks constructed into iOS and Android software program, so builders could make their apps able to sending knowledge by way of the slim quantities of bandwidth obtainable through satellite tv for pc.
That is far past what the opposite telephone carriers have launched up to now within the satellite tv for pc realm — largely attributable to T-Cellular’s partnership with Starlink. AT&T and Verizon have each partnered with AST SpaceMobile for satellite tv for pc messaging, and Verizon informed CNET’s Eli Blumenthal final yr that it’s nonetheless planning on working with Amazon’s Challenge Kuiper, which launched its first 27 satellites on April 28, 2025.
“Regardless of issues that our rivals have stated, they’re method, method behind on this expertise,” says Katz.
How a lot will T-Satellite tv for pc value?
On July 23, T-Satellite tv for pc shall be obtainable to AT&T, T-Cellular and Verizon prospects for a standalone $10 per 30 days. However there’s one exception: Prospects on T-Cellular’s Expertise Past plan ($100 per 30 days for one line) or the Go5G Subsequent plan will get the service for included in the price of the plan going ahead, and people on the Expertise Extra plan ($85 per 30 days) will get it by way of the tip of the yr.
Even in case you don’t pay the $10 a month, T-Cellular says 911 texting shall be obtainable later this yr “to any cellular buyer with a appropriate system, no matter service.”
In case you’re a Verizon or AT&T buyer, you’ll should activate T-Satellite tv for pc as a second eSIM in your telephone to make the most of the service. Yow will discover directions on organising the eSIM right here.
Which telephones are supported?
Most telephones launched previously couple of years will work with T-Satellite tv for pc. Listed below are the gadgets which might be presently appropriate with the beta model:
Apple
- iPhone 13, iPhone 14, iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 (all fashions)
- Google Pixel 9
- Google Pixel 9A
- Google Pixel 9 Professional
- Google Pixel 9 Professional XL
- Google Pixel 9 Professional Fold
Motorola
- Moto G Stylus 2025
- Moto Razr 2024
- Moto Razr Plus 2024
- Moto Razr 2025
- Moto Razr Plus 2025
- Moto Razr Extremely 2025
- Moto Razr Extremely Plus 2025
Samsung
- Samsung Galaxy A25 5G SE*
- Samsung Galaxy A35 5G
- Samsung Galaxy A36
- Samsung Galaxy A36 SE
- Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
- Samsung Galaxy A54 5G*
- Samsung Galaxy S21
- Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus
- Samsung Galaxy S21 Extremely
- Samsung Galaxy S21 FE
- Samsung Galaxy S22
- Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus
- Samsung Galaxy S22 Extremely
- Samsung Galaxy S22 FE
- Samsung Galaxy S23
- Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus
- Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely
- Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
- Samsung Galaxy S24
- Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus
- Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely
- Samsung Galaxy S24 FE
- Samsung Galaxy S25
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge
- Samsung Galaxy XCover 7 Professional
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
*Some non-T-Cellular system variants will not be satellite-capable.
When T-Satellite tv for pc launches on July 23, the next gadgets may also be appropriate:
Motorola
- Motorola Edge 2024
- Moto G 2024
- Moto G Stylus 2024
- Moto G 5G 2024
- Moto G Stylus 5G 2024
Samsung
- Samsung Galaxy A14
- Samsung Galaxy A15*
- Samsung Galaxy A16
- Samsung Galaxy A35
- Samsung Galaxy A53*
- Samsung Galaxy XCover6 Professional
*Some non-T-Cellular system variants will not be satellite-capable.
T-Cellular
- T-Cellular Revvl 7
- T-Cellular Revvl 7 Professional
How you can attempt T-Cellular’s Starlink service as we speak
In case you’re anxious to attempt T-Cellular’s Starlink satellite tv for pc messaging service and don’t need to wait till July 23, you may nonetheless try to enroll in the beta. I wouldn’t maintain out an excessive amount of hope, although — after I entered my data, I bought a message again saying, “Because of excessive demand, we’re admitting beta testers on a rolling foundation. Preserve an eye fixed out for an replace within the coming weeks.”
