T-Mobile’s T-Satellite Service Set for Launch

After spending the first half of the year in beta testing, T-Mobile’s Starlink-powered satellite service”>T-Satellite will go public on July 23rd”>officially launch. While it will initially include messaging capabilities, the company has ambitious plans to expand the service before the end of the year.

When it goes live next month, T-Satellite will be available as an included service with just one T-Mobile plan”>Experience Beyond and will otherwise cost $10 per month. Like the beta service, it will be accessible to anyone in the US, not just T-Mobile customers.

At launch, T-Satellite will support SMS on Android and iOS, as well as MMS on Android. T-Mobile has indicated that MMS on iOS is “to follow.” Additionally, on October 1st, the satellite connectivity will receive an upgrade to include data services.

However, users should not expect to utilize every app on their phones in a dead zone just yet. The company has a select group of app developers that it “anticipates” will enable satellite data connectivity, including AllTrails, Accuweather, and WhatsApp. The announcement also mentions Apple and Google as partners, but does not specify which apps from either company will be supported.

T-Mobile’s approach to satellite connectivity appears to differ from that of its competitors. Verizon and AT&T have both partnered”>partnered with satellite providers with AST SpaceMobile”>to offer satellite service to their customers. Earlier this year, these companies demonstrated cell-to-satellite calling”>announced their own satellite initiatives. Of the two, only Verizon has introduced messaging for customers”>launched a satellite service, which is currently limited to certain Android phones.

Verizon and AT&T have taken issue”>have expressed concerns regarding T-Mobile and Starlink’s parent company, SpaceX, claiming that its satellite implementation will hinder their efforts. Despite these complaints, it appears that Starlink and T-Mobile have not been slowed down in their plans.