Categories: Business

Space calls: Apple connects Starlink satellites with iPhone

CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES - SEPTEMBER 10: A view of Apple Park in the corporate headquarters of Apple Inc. in Cupertino, California, United States on September 10, 2024. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Apple first introduced satellite connectivity with the iPhone 14 in 2022, allowing users to contact emergency services in remote areas.

Now, with the release of iOS 18.3, Apple has expanded the feature to let users message friends and family via satellite.

A new report reveals that Apple has been secretly working with T-Mobile and SpaceX to integrate Starlink support for iPhones, and the switch is now live with iOS 18.3.

T-Mobile and SpaceX Partner with Apple for Starlink on iPhone

According to Bloomberg, Apple has quietly collaborated with SpaceX and T-Mobile to bring Starlink satellite connectivity to iPhones. T-Mobile and SpaceX first announced their partnership in 2022, initially promising Starlink support for Samsung’s Galaxy smartphones. Now, it appears that iPhone users are also being added to the mix.

FILE – Elon Musk speaks at an indoor Presidential Inauguration parade event in Washington, Jan. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

For now, only a select group of iPhone users have access to the T-Mobile Starlink beta, which is still in its early testing phase. That means potential bugs and performance issues, which will likely be refined in future updates. While Apple has not officially mentioned the feature in iOS 18.3’s changelog, the beta program is confirmed in a T-Mobile support document.

How Starlink Messaging Works on iPhone

Users who receive the update will see a message from T-Mobile stating:
“You’re in the T-Mobile Starlink beta. You can now stay connected by texting via satellite from virtually anywhere. To start experiencing coverage beyond, please update to iOS 18.3.”

Right now, Starlink satellite connectivity on iPhones only supports messaging. However, SpaceX and T-Mobile plan to expand the service to include voice calls and data in the future. The feature is currently limited to the U.S., whereas Apple’s Globalstar service works in multiple countries.

What Sets Starlink Apart from Globalstar?

Apple has been working with Globalstar for its emergency SOS via satellite, but Starlink offers a key advantage. With Globalstar, users need to manually point their iPhone at the sky to establish a connection. In contrast, Starlink’s system is fully automatic, meaning iPhones can connect to satellites even while in a user’s pocket.

T-Mobile has confirmed that full Starlink satellite connectivity for all iPhone users is expected to roll out sometime in 2025. More details will follow as Apple, SpaceX, and T-Mobile refine the technology.

Herbert Bauernebel

Herbert Bauernebel has been reporting from New York since 1999 and currently works for Bild.de, OE24 TV, and US Live. He also runs the news portal AmerikaReport.de. Bauernebel has covered nearly all major US events of the past quarter-century, including 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, Barack Obama’s election, Donald Trump’s surprise victory, the pandemic, last year’s election showdown, as well as natural disasters such as hurricanes and oil spills. He has also reported firsthand on international events, including the Asian tsunami, the Haiti earthquake, and the Fukushima disaster. He lives in Brooklyn with his family and holds degrees in communication and political science from the University of Vienna. Bauernebel is the author of a book about his experiences on 9/11, And the Air Was Full of Ash: 9/11 – The Day That Changed My Life.