7 hours ago
3
Going off-grid might soon be a thing of the past, as T-Mobile’s partnership with SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service gets ready to launch on July 23. The direct-to-cell messaging service, called T-Satellite, will also be available to AT&T and Verizon cellphone customers.
T-Mobile says its goal is to “eliminate mobile dead zones for good” by utilizing 657 Starlink satellites that will be used exclusively for cellphone service. T-Satellite has been in beta testing since Dec. 2024, with nearly 1.8 million users signing up so far.
The direct-to-cell messaging service represents a major step forward in mobile technology: It works with most phones made during the last four years, according to T-Mobile, instead of requiring dedicated hardware. It will be available to T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon customers for $10 a month -- or free for anyone on T-Mobile’s Experience Beyond plan.
“At the end of the day, it's nice to be able to send a selfie when you're in a place where there is no coverage, but it's vital to be able to connect to emergency services,” Mike Katz, T-Mobile president of marketing, strategy and products, told CNET’s Jeff Carlson. “We just think that with a technology like this, no customer should ever be in a situation where they are unconnected in an emergency.”
However, you might still benefit even if you don’t sign up, as T-Mobile will make the service free for emergency uses. The company said 911 texting will be available later this year to “any mobile customer with a compatible device, regardless of carrier or whether or not they are subscribed to the service.”
What is T-Satellite?
T-Satellite is a partnership between T-Mobile and Starlink that will allow direct-to-cell coverage in areas where there is no cellular coverage. Starlink has more than 7,000 low-Earth orbit satellites in the sky, and now, 657 of them will be devoted entirely to T-Satellite. The goal is to expand coverage into the 500,000 square miles of the country that traditional cell towers can’t reach, says T-Mobile.
“When you leave the terrestrial network and you go to a place where there's no network, your phone will automatically search for and connect to the satellite network, which is quite different than any other of the satellite systems that are out there that force you to manually connect, and you have to point your phone up to the sky," says Katz.
Satellite connectivity in cellphones isn’t exactly new -- iPhones have had it since 2022 -- but it’s typically been reserved for SOS messaging to connect you with an emergency dispatcher. On July 23, T-Satellite users will be able to send SMS texts on iOS and Android. Android users will also get MMS (multimedia messaging service) immediately, with iOS support “to follow.”
This means users will be able to send images and audio clips in addition to standard text messages. In October, the service will expand to include data support in third-party apps like AccuWeather, AllTrails, WhatsApp and X. The access takes advantage of hooks built into iOS and Android, so developers can make their apps capable of sending data through the narrow amounts of bandwidth available via satellite.
This is far beyond what the other phone carriers have launched so far in the satellite realm -- largely due to T-Mobile’s partnership with Starlink. AT&T and Verizon have both partnered with AST SpaceMobile for satellite messaging, and Verizon told CNET’s Eli Blumenthal last year that it’s still planning on working with Amazon's Project Kuiper, which launched its first 27 satellites on Apr. 28, 2025
“Despite things that our competitors have said, they are way, way behind on this technology -- like way behind,” says Katz.
How much will T-Satellite cost?
On July 23, T-Satellite will be available to AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon customers for a standalone $10 per month. But there’s one exception: Customers on T-Mobile's Experience Beyond plan ($100 per month for one line) will get the service for free indefinitely, and those on the Experience More plan ($85 per month) will get it through the end of the year.
Even if you don’t pay the $10 a month, T-Mobile says 911 texting will be available later this year “to any mobile customer with a compatible device, regardless of carrier.”
If you’re a Verizon or AT&T customer, you’ll have to activate T-Satellite as a second eSIM on your phone to take advantage of the service. You can find instructions on setting up the eSIM here.
Which phones are supported?
Most phones released in the past couple years will work with T-Satellite. Here are the devices that are currently compatible with the beta version:
Apple
- iPhone 13, iPhone 14, iPhone 15, or iPhone 16 (all models)
- Google Pixel 9
- Google Pixel 9a
- Google Pixel 9 Pro
- Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
- Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
Motorola
- moto g stylus 2025
- moto razr 2024
- moto razr+ 2024
- moto razr 2025
- moto razr+ 2025
- moto razr ultra 2025
- moto razr ultra+ 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+
- Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
- Samsung Galaxy S21 FE
- Samsung Galaxy S22
- Samsung Galaxy S22+
- Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
- Samsung Galaxy S22 FE
- Samsung Galaxy S23
- Samsung Galaxy S23+
- Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
- Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
- Samsung Galaxy S24
- Samsung Galaxy S24+
- Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
- Samsung Galaxy S24 FE
- Samsung Galaxy S25
- Samsung Galaxy S25+
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge
- Samsung Galaxy XCover7 Pro
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6
When T-Satellite officially launches on July 23, the following devices will also be compatible:
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 (some non-T-Mobile device variants are not satellite capable)
- Samsung Galaxy XCover6 Pro
T-Mobile
- T-Mobile REVVL 7
- T-Mobile REVVL 7 Pro
How to try T-Mobile’s Starlink service today
If you’re anxious to try T-Mobile’s Starlink satellite messaging service and don’t want to wait until July 23, you can still attempt to sign up for the beta. I wouldn’t hold out too much hope, though -- when I entered my information, I got a message back saying, “Due to high demand, we’re admitting beta testers on a rolling basis. Keep an eye out for an update in the coming weeks.”
