(Credit: T-Mobile)
T-Mobile is making it easier to sign up for SpaceX’s Starlink Mobile service by allowing customers to enroll online, eliminating the need for an in-store visit or a phone call.
During last year’s open beta, consumers—even those on rival carriers AT&T and Verizon—could sign up to try the satellite-to-phone service on the carrier’s website. But when T-Mobile officially launched the cellular Starlink service as T-Satellite in July, it began requiring new, non-T-Mobile customers to call the company or visit a carrier store to enroll, removing online signups.
T-Mobile cited the need to clear up any confusion about the activation process by speaking directly with interested customers. But last week, we noticed that T-Mobile’s site and support page for T-Satellite said sign-ups were now being accepted online, in addition to calling or visiting a store.
On Friday, a T-Mobile spokesperson confirmed: “Yes – If your phone is a compatible device, you are able to now sign up for T-Satellite through [the] web by following the flow of the form.”
(Credit: T-Mobile)The online form notes that T-Satellite costs $10 per month for satellite connectivity in the carrier’s dead zones and supports texting and data for select mobile apps. Users must fill out their name, email address, and mobile number. They’ll then be asked to provide the 15-digit IMEI number for their smartphone to see if the device is compatible. Over 70 smartphone models were previously listed as supported; you can type in your IMEI on this site to check compatibility.
To offer T-Satellite to non-T-Mobile customers, the carrier will issue a secondary eSIM, allowing them to use their existing mobile carrier alongside the satellite plan.
This comes after T-Mobile's CEO recently revealed that T-Satellite usage has been lower than expected. “Most of the [T-Satellite] usage we’re seeing is in national parks,” Srini Gopalan said. Speedtest.net parent Ookla also saw a dip in Android satellite service usage and suspects the recent winter season played a role, along with T-Satellite moving from a free beta to a paid service.
The online sign-up route could help boost adoption as summer approaches and more US users are likely to take outdoor trips. In addition to texting, T-Satellite can power video calls on WhatsApp. The service has also added roaming for users who venture into cellular dead zones in Canada or New Zealand.