Ever been stuck in a place where your phone shows “No Service”? T-Mobile and SpaceX’s Starlink have a solution. They’ve created a new service that lets you text even when there’s no cell tower nearby. The best part? Anyone can try it for free until July 2025.
“If you see the sky, you can connect,” says Mike Katz from T-Mobile. “And not just in emergencies.” This means you can stay in touch across more than 500,000 square miles of the U.S. where regular cell service doesn’t work – think areas without traditional cell coverage, places beyond network reach, or regions with connectivity gaps.
Let’s talk about cost. After July, T-Mobile customers will pay $15 each month to use it. If you join the testing phase now, you’ll get a better deal at $10 monthly. Even if you’re with AT&T or Verizon, you can use this service for $20 per month without switching carriers. For T-Mobile customers who have their top-tier Go5G Next plan (starting at $105 monthly), this satellite feature comes included at no extra cost.
Got a phone from the last four years? It probably works with this service. This includes phones from Apple, Samsung, Google, Motorola, and REVVL. You won’t need to buy a special phone or download any apps – T-Mobile worked with Apple and Google to build this feature right into their phones’ basic systems.
Right now, you can only send text messages through the service. But there’s more coming soon. By July, you should be able to send pictures and use certain apps that don’t need fast internet, like mapping services and WhatsApp. Voice calls will come later.
Similar Posts
This isn’t just happening in the U.S. SpaceX is working with phone companies worldwide, and they’ve already launched this service across New Zealand in December. Other companies are getting in on the action too – Verizon and AT&T are working with a different satellite company, AST SpaceMobile, to create their own versions.
A word of caution about T-Mobile’s Super Bowl ad – while it showed people making calls and sending photos through satellites, these features aren’t available yet. Also, while anyone can sign up for testing now, spaces are limited.
Why does this matter? Think about those times when you really needed to reach someone but couldn’t get a signal. This technology aims to eliminate these moments of disconnect.
The business world has taken notice too. T-Mobile’s stock went up about 4% in early trading after announcing this service, showing that investors see potential in this new technology.
In the near term, this could change how we all stay connected. When traditional networks are unavailable, satellite signals could provide an alternative way to communicate. People in areas without regular cell coverage could maintain essential communications. The technology opens possibilities for enhancing connectivity in places where traditional cell service struggles to reach.
This service marks an important shift in how we use our phones. Instead of relying solely on traditional cell networks, we’re beginning to use satellite technology that could expand coverage to more areas. While it starts with simple texting, it represents a step toward broader connectivity options beyond conventional cell service.
