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T-Mobile is starting to let iPhone users test SpaceX's cellular Starlink system, giving them a second way to receive satellite connectivity.
T-Mobile's beta program to test the direct-to-cell Starlink service was initially restricted to five Samsung phone models. But the carrier has quietly expanded the program to iPhones running Apple’s newly released iOS 18.3 update, according to a T-Mobile support page.
The carrier has also been notifying eligible iPhone owners accepted into the beta program via text. "To start experiencing coverage beyond, please update to iOS 18.3," it says.
(Credit: Reddit user UCF_Knight12)Bloomberg reports that Apple has been secretly working with T-Mobile and SpaceX to add support for the cellular Starlink service. The development is surprising since Apple offers its own satellite connectivity for iPhones through a partnership with Globalstar. The effort has led to the Emergency SOS feature on iPhones and satellite-powered texts through iMessage, giving users a way to remain connected in cellular dead zones.
It now looks like iPhone users will have even more satellite options. Cellular Starlink is currently limited to text messaging, but it’ll eventually support voice calling and internet downloads, pending regulatory approval and more satellite launches.
For now, T-Mobile has been mum on which phones cellular Starlink service will support. “We don’t have anything to share on this yet. Stay tuned,” the company told PCMag when asked about the iPhone support on Tuesday. But the company’s goal is to expand the cellular Starlink service to more models and customers over time. Pricing has not been disclosed.
In the meantime, T-Mobile has been inviting select users into the free beta program to test the cellular Starlink service in the US. One Reddit user claims to have received access on their iPhone 16 Pro, but so far, the experience has been shaky, with inconsistent connection to the Starlink satellites.
“I can look at the [signal] bars and see it go from no signal, to 1 bar, to 2 bars, down to 1 bar, and back to no signal over the course of about 10 minutes,” the user wrote.
“I find it very convenient to receive the messages when the service does connect. I’ll just be hiking and will feel the notification come in like normal. Sending is frustrating because it doesn’t queue the message to send when it gets signal again,” the user added.