(Credit: PCMag/Michael Kan)
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After testing it out with early access users, T-Mobile’s cellular Starlink is officially launching the ability to send satellite data to mobile apps, expanding the capability to a wider range of phones.
The carrier initially rolled out the feature to Pixel 10 owners before bringing it to the iPhone 13 through 17 ahead of today's official launch. T-Mobile is now ready to support the satellite mobile data feature on 17 additional devices, including several Samsung Galaxy phones. A spec sheet from the carrier shows the models include:
- iPhone Air
- iPhone SE (third-generation)
- moto g 5G 2025
- moto g power 5G 2025
- Samsung Galaxy A36 SE
- Samsung Galaxy A36 5G
- 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 S25 FE
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6
Other devices, including the Pixel 9, are listed “as coming soon” on the carrier’s official support page. But Jeff Giard, T-Mobile's VP for Strategic Partnerships, said more models will receive access once their manufacturers properly roll out the required software updates.
“There’s just this cadence with working with all the Android OEMs [original equipment manufacturers] to get that out,” he said. “Any customers that have updated to iOS 26 should be ready to go.” In total, 42 phone models are currently supported.
(Credit: PCMag/Michael Kan)In July, T-Mobile launched the cellular Starlink service, which utilizes 650 orbiting satellites from SpaceX to beam data to phones, providing customers with a way to remain connected in traditional cellular dead zones.
Also known as T-Satellite, the technology initially only supported SMS/MMS messaging and location sharing. However, it can now power chats and video calls on WhatsApp while allowing you to access Google Maps and X, even in remote areas with limited cell tower coverage. Android phones on T-Satellite can now even receive data over Yahoo Mail, a new addition to the list of supported apps.
Meanwhile, iPhones on T-Satellite were initially restricted to six iOS apps, including Apple Messages. But in an interview, Giard said iPhone owners can expect to receive data support for WhatsApp, X, and Google Maps, as soon as today.
“They’re all submitting to the [iOS] App Store now for approval,” he said. Other third-party apps that work with T-Satellite include AccuWeather, hiking guides Alltrails and CalTopo, along with T-Mobile’s own T-Life app.
In today’s announcement, T-Mobile noted it’s “been working with dozens of app partners” on making their software compatible with T-Satellite. Although Giard didn’t name any future apps, he noted that T-Mobile gathers feedback from T-Satellite subscribers on which products they’d like to use and passes it along to software developers in hopes of expanding compatibility. The feedback from customers includes the ability to post on Instagram and other social media platforms, along with access to more niche apps for fitness and boating.
“We’re hoping the awareness is kind of out there more broadly so that developers start doing this naturally on their own,” he said, noting that both Apple and Google have released APIs to optimize iOS and Android apps for satellite connectivity.
(Credit: PCMag/Michael Kan)Optimization is needed since the satellite data is slower and more constrained. For example, AccuWeather normally features a “really rich set of content,” along with advertisements, he said. But when the phone connects over satellite, the app will automatically streamline functionality to show only the most important content the user likely needs, “resulting in a really great experience regardless,” he added.
To further improve the cellular Starlink, Giard said T-Mobile is focused on reducing the lag, which can cause apps or SMS messages to encounter short delays as the satellites move in and out of view over the sky. In our testing, we found it can sometimes take 30 seconds or longer to send a text or regain a satellite connection.
“The next step would be how do we minimize those breaks in coverage,” he said. Another key goal is to ensure that a phone experiences a seamless transition between T-Mobile’s ground-based cellular network and the SpaceX satellite connection, with no pause or interruption.
“We can get into a world where a customer doesn’t even care if they're attached to a satellite. They just know T-Mobile has them covered where they are,” Giard said. The same capability promises to one day extend to satellite voice calls, which the carrier is working on with SpaceX.
“Where it becomes really interesting is where we can do the handoff between terrestrial and satellite. Because then you could have this amazing voice experience, and it almost being magical,” he added. “So stay tuned. We don’t have a definitive plan on how we’re going to deliver that or the timeline, but it is on the longer-term roadmap, and we’ll be addressing it."
In the coming years, the carrier's partner SpaceX is also preparing to deliver a major upgrade to the cellular Starlink constellation. Earlier this month, the Elon Musk company reached a $17 billion deal to buy valuable radio spectrum from EchoStar to bolster the cellular Starlink's throughput by as much as 20-fold. In addition, SpaceX plans to launch up to 15,000 more next-generation satellites, with Musk even considering the possibility of competing with traditional carriers by offering the cellular Starlink service as a standalone product.
When asked about the EchoStar deal, Giard said: "Starlink is a good partner for us today doing these satellites. I think they'd tell you the same. That we've worked really closely together to make this happen. And we expect to continue doing things with Starlink. This is an area that T-Mobile is committed to. Not just satellite, but providing connectivity wherever our customers are is kind of our overarching goal. And right now, Starlink is the best partner for that. And we're looking forward to working with them."
T-Mobile isn’t saying how many people have subscribed to T-Satellite, which costs $10 per month for most users, including customers on AT&T and Verizon. But Giard said the satellite capability appears to be resonating with the public.
“It’s an exciting topic, so it does drive interest, it does drive people into the stores,” he said. “We’ve seen some of that movement.”