Apple has been working secretly with Spacex and T-Mobile to connect the iPhone to Starlink or what is the same, Provide the Internet connectivity iPhone by satellite which provides Elon Musk’s service. The launch of this new function was advanced by Bloomberg and has been confirmed with the launch of the new version of iOS.
T-Mobile associated with Spacex last year and launched a beta program for Starlink connectivity. However, the telecommunications company originally only offered this option to some Samsung mobile series, such as the Galaxy S24. Now he will arrive at Apple’s iPhone.
The fruits of Apple’s internal work with Spacex have come to light this week with the launch of the new version of the operating system, iOS 18.3, which now allows you to connect to the Spacex Starlink orbital network. Basically, this functionality allows An iPhone remains connectedfor communications, Internet navigation and the rest of its capabilities, when the standard cell service is out of coverage.
At the moment, the service is only available in Beta Limitada. And only some T-Mobile users with iPhone who were recorded for the test version have started text messages that indicated to be updated to iOS 18.3 to be able to «Send satellite text messages from virtually anywhere».
The iPhone to Starlink connection is only available in the United States and for text message functions. But T-Mobile and Spacex claim to be working to expand it to data connections and voice calls in the futurewith a possible global expansion to other countries where Starlink works.
It should be specified that Satellite connectivity will not replace the standard cellneither for performance nor for costs, and is really designed for outside situations of this or emergencies, especially in remote areas without cell phone towers or deficient mobile broadband connections. In addition, Apple already offered its own SOS satellite service through the GlobalStar service that works in more countries and allows users to send emergency text messages when they have no chance of connecting to the cell network.
