T-Cellular’s T-Satellite tv for pc internet service, powered by SpaceX’s Starlink satellites, formally launched on Wednesday, July 23. The direct-to-cell messaging service that permits texting from wherever is not restricted to T-Cellular prospects — AT&T and Verizon cell prospects also can buy it for $10 a month.
T-Mobile says its aim is to “get rid of cell useless zones for good” by the use of 657 Starlink satellites that’ll be used solely for cellphone service. T-Satellite tv for pc has been in beta testing since December 2024, with almost 1.8 million customers signing up to this point.
The new satellite texting service represents a significant step ahead in cell know-how: It really works with most telephones made over the past 4 years, in accordance with T-Cellular, as an alternative of requiring devoted {hardware}. Whereas it is out there to all T-Cellular, AT&T and Verizon prospects for $10 a month, anybody on T-Cellular’s Expertise Past or Go5G Subsequent plans will get it totally free.
“On the finish of the day, it is good to have the ability to ship a selfie whenever you’re in a spot the place there isn’t any protection, however it’s very important to have the ability to connect with emergency providers,” Mike Katz, T-Cellular president of promoting, technique and merchandise, told CNET’s Jeff Carlson. “We simply assume that with a know-how like this, no buyer ought to ever be in a state of affairs the place they’re unconnected in an emergency.”
Sadly, T-Cellular has already had a cause to check out this emergency service, when it enabled T-Satellite earlier this week in communities affected by huge flooding in Central Texas. T-Cellular prospects within the space are in a position to make use of text-to-911 and fundamental textual content messaging, and so they can obtain emergency alerts on suitable units.
Sooner or later, T-Satellite tv for pc might be free for emergency makes use of throughout the nation. The corporate mentioned 911 texting might be out there later this yr to “any cell buyer with a suitable gadget, no matter service or whether or not or not they’re subscribed to the service.”
What’s T-Satellite tv for pc?
T-Satellite tv for pc is a partnership between T-Mobile and Starlink that can enable direct-to-cell SMS messaging accessibility in areas the place there isn’t any mobile protection. Starlink has more than 7,000 low-Earth orbit satellites within the sky, and now, 657 of them might be devoted fully to T-Satellite tv for pc. The aim is to develop protection into the five hundred,000 sq. miles of the US that conventional cell towers cannot attain, says T-Cellular.
“While you go away the terrestrial community and also you go to a spot the place there isn’t any community, your telephone will mechanically seek for and connect with the satellite tv for pc community, which is sort of completely different than some other of the satellite tv for pc techniques which might be on the market that power you to manually join, and you need to level your telephone as much as the sky,” says Katz.
Satellite tv for pc connectivity in cellphones is not precisely new — iPhones have had it since 2022 — however it’s sometimes been reserved for SOS messaging to attach you with an emergency dispatcher. On July 23, T-Satellite tv for pc customers will have the ability to ship SMS texts on iPhone and Android. Android customers may even get MMS instantly, with iPhone assist “to comply with.”
This implies customers will have the ability to ship photos and audio clips along with commonplace textual content messages. In October, the service will develop to incorporate knowledge assist in third-party apps like AccuWeather, AllTrails, WhatsApp and X. The entry takes benefit of hooks constructed into iOS and Android software program, so builders could make their apps able to sending knowledge by the slim quantities of bandwidth out there by way of satellite tv for pc.
That is far past what the opposite telephone carriers have launched to this point within the satellite tv for pc realm — largely resulting from T-Cellular’s partnership with Starlink. AT&T and Verizon have each partnered with AST SpaceMobile for satellite tv for pc messaging, and Verizon told CNET’s Eli Blumenthal final yr that it is nonetheless planning on working with Amazon’s Mission Kuiper, which launched its first 27 satellites on April 28, 2025.
“Regardless of issues that our rivals have mentioned, they’re manner, manner behind on this know-how,” says Katz.
How a lot does T-Satellite tv for pc price?
T-Satellite tv for pc is accessible to AT&T, T-Cellular and Verizon prospects for a standalone $10 per thirty days. However there’s one exception: Clients on T-Cellular’s Expertise Past plan ($100 per thirty days for one line) or the Go5G Subsequent plan will get the service for included in the price of the plan going ahead, and people on the Expertise Extra plan ($85 per thirty days) will get it by the top of the yr.
Even in case you do not pay the $10 a month, T-Cellular says 911 texting might be out there later this yr “to any cell buyer with a suitable gadget, no matter service.”
Should you’re a Verizon or AT&T buyer, you will must activate T-Satellite tv for pc as a second eSIM in your telephone to benefit from the service. You will discover instructions on setting up the eSIM here.
Which telephones assist T-Satellite tv for pc?
Most telephones launched up to now couple of years will work with T-Satellite tv for pc. Listed below are the units which might be at the moment suitable:
Apple
- iPhone 13, iPhone 14, iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 (all fashions)
- Google Pixel 9
- Google Pixel 9A
- Google Pixel 9 Professional
- Google Pixel 9 Professional XL
- Google Pixel 9 Professional Fold
Motorola
- Moto G Stylus 2025
- Moto Razr 2024
- Moto Razr Plus 2024
- Moto Razr 2025
- Moto Razr Plus 2025
- Moto Razr Extremely 2025
- Moto Razr Extremely Plus 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 Plus
- Samsung Galaxy S21 Extremely
- Samsung Galaxy S21 FE
- Samsung Galaxy S22
- Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus
- Samsung Galaxy S22 Extremely
- Samsung Galaxy S22 FE
- Samsung Galaxy S23
- Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus
- Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely
- Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
- Samsung Galaxy S24
- Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus
- Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely
- Samsung Galaxy S24 FE
- Samsung Galaxy S25
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge
- Samsung Galaxy XCover 7 Professional
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
*Some non-T-Cellular gadget variants are usually not satellite-capable.
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*
- Samsung Galaxy XCover6 Professional
*Some non-T-Cellular gadget variants are usually not satellite-capable.
T-Cellular
- T-Cellular Revvl 7
- T-Cellular Revvl 7 Professional
