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iOS 18.3 Adds Starlink Support to T-Mobile iPhones

macintologist said:
The article doesn’t spell out exactly which iPhones are supported. It hints at the iPhone 14, but isn’t explicit about it.
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T-Mobile claims it will work with essentially any phone capable of modern software updates in the long term. In the short term they are prioritizing newer devices. No idea how well they will live up to this (I am skeptical) but it’s allegedly using no special technology on the phone side meaning it should work on the iPhone 13 and older.
 
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The future is bright. The one I want is maps in remote areas. Have had a few times where I have been traveling in an area with spotty cell service.
 
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aorr said:
I’ve been frustrated with this also. One bar of service that isn’t strong enough to send a text but you also can’t get into satellite mode yet either. That should be changed where we can turn on satellite mode as needed when we can’t get a text out on cell service.
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Yes. Or there have been times when I have plenty of bars, but nothing goes through because of the demand. I was at a concert festival over the summer and there was virtually no service because of the amount of people -- yet my phone still showed 3-4 bars. It would have been nice to turn on satellite manually.
 
I signed up for it. Have an iPhone 15 Pro. Said they are only limiting it to newer phones. So likely only iPhone 16.
 
acorntoy said:
"un-censorable, un-jammable"

www.bbc.com

Elon Musk says he withheld Starlink over Crimea to avoid escalation

A senior Ukrainian official says this enabled Russian attacks and accuses him of "committing evil".
www.bbc.com www.bbc.com

Until they just turn it off. You can 100% still control communications with a satellite network.
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U.S. jurisdiction is special. Since Elon’s tantrum, the DoD signed a contract for service. Sevastopol has been attacked since with Starlink equipped naval drones. Any limits on Ukrainian usage since were placed by the Biden admin.

If you have doubts about the resiliency of Starlink to a hostile adversary at war, ask the Russians how successful they have been at jamming Starlink for any appreciable amount of time and space.

Short of deorbiting the entire constellation of satellites, which is practically impossible even with nukes (recall the Russian orbital nuke panic last year), there is nothing that Russia, or China can do to effectively block a Starlink cell network in their own territory.
 
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zach-coleman said:
T-Mobile claims it will work with essentially any phone capable of modern software updates in the long term. In the short term they are prioritizing newer devices. No idea how well they will live up to this (I am skeptical) but it’s allegedly using no special technology on the phone side meaning it should work on the iPhone 13 and older.
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The requirement is iPhones that support text by satellite only. Remember when Apple was saying free for two years, then they made it indefinite.

You need an iPhone 14 or later (all models) with iOS 18 or later for this new feature by T-Mobile and starlink
 
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acorntoy said:
How does this differ from Apples current message via satellite? (not starlink)
I just remembered Apple already added this in os 18
I'm honestly curious and wondering if you have more information on it since you are in the beta.

About Messages via satellite on your iPhone - Apple Support

With iPhone 14 or later, you can send iMessages or SMS messages via satellite when you’re off the grid with no cellular and Wi-Fi coverage.
support.apple.com support.apple.com
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At first they said T-mobile Starlink will be texting only, which means SMS and it can also mean slow speed data for messaging apps. Eventually they will support phone calls and full blown data (still not full speed but essentially enough speed for browsing or lower quality video). No word on when those will come. Probably single digit Mbps when it’s fully opened up, which is “enough” but if you need more speed you need a full Starlink dish.

Apple’s Globalstar connection only supports SOS texting, iMessage and SMS texting, and updating locations in Find My friends. It is unknown if the Globalstar system will ever be upgraded beyond that or not, but it does work universally across carriers, but the iMessage and SMS parts are US and Canada only, SOS texting is available in more countries.

One thing about DTC technology is it’s best for low density areas, where not too many subscribers will be using it at once. You only have so much spectrum available, and terrestrial networks are able to serve more dense environments, so you won’t really see it used where cellular is available, it will be a coverage stopgap where terrestrial networks don’t cover very well.
 
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fenderbass146 said:
How is this different then what they are already have with sending messages over text (awesome btw when I mountain bike in the backwoods in the middle of nowhere)

Also, on a totally different note, it's amazingly refreshing this hasn't been brigaded.
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About Messages via satellite on your iPhone - Apple Support

With iPhone 14 or later, you can send iMessages or SMS messages via satellite when you’re off the grid with no cellular and Wi-Fi coverage.
support.apple.com support.apple.com

currently the only difference is that Starlink has many more satellites than Apple's provider. In the future it looks like T-mobile and starlink want to enable phone calls which would be much better than what Apple is providing.

It also seems like the tmobile/starlink partnership is more automatic "it just works" than the convoluted process Apple has you take to send messages over satellite.
 
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Martin Bland said:
U.S. jurisdiction is special. Since Elon’s tantrum, the DoD signed a contract for service. Sevastopol has been attacked since with Starlink equipped naval drones. Any limits on Ukrainian usage since were placed by the Biden admin.

If you have doubts about the resiliency of Starlink to a hostile adversary at war, ask the Russians how successful they have been at jamming Starlink for any appreciable amount of time and space.

Short of deorbiting the entire constellation of satellites, which is practically impossible even with nukes (recall the Russian orbital nuke panic last year), there is nothing that Russia, or China can do to effectively block a Starlink cell network in their own territory.
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I was just pointing out that yes a Satellite network is still controlled despite what the OP thought.

The link was a war link simply because that was the closest example of a network being contained. I don't want to talk about the war or the politics behind it. I simply wanted to show a satellite network is still easily being monitored/contained and can be cut off to anybody at any time.
 
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4k78 said:
Your concern is noted. As well as your virtue signaling.
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It's more a risk appropriation thing. If he started foaming at the mouth or making chicken noises it would be the same outcome.

Fundamentally, is it a good idea to rely on service provided by a lunatic?

No. Not really.

Unless you're a nation state which can take it off the lunatic if things get out of control.
 
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cjsuk said:
It's more a risk appropriation thing. If he started foaming at the mouth or making chicken noises it would be the same outcome.

Fundamentally, is it a good idea to rely on service provided by a lunatic?

No. Not really.

Unless you're a nation state which can take it off the lunatic if things get out of control.
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Apparently someone thinks these comments are hilarious. I find it hilarious they made their profile on here private.

I’ll just say my grandfather fought the Nazis (the actual Nazis) with pride, and earned two Purple Hearts. Also to point out, Musk did his chat with the German AfD party 2 days before the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.

I’m sure that user will also find that hilarious.
 
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acorntoy said:
Neat.
Recently used starlink on a cruise, was nice but nowhere near the fastest cruise wifi i've had.
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What have you had that was faster? I use Starlink in Italy and it's honestly like magic. I can't believe the speed and low latency. Video calls all day, streaming content, etc... with zero issues.
 
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mdatwood said:
What have you had that was faster? I use Starlink in Italy and it's honestly like magic. I can't believe the speed and low latency. Video calls all day, streaming content, etc... with zero issues.
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Friend of mine used it in the mountains in northern Arizona in his RV. No problems. It’s a decent service.
 
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acorntoy said:
Why would you be trying to update your iPhone off grid? Things could go wrong and leave you screwed.
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It‘s that special moment, when you are stuck in the Amazon Rainforest between a hungry black Panther and an angry indigenous tribe threaten to kill you.. — ahh wait a second… I really need to UPDTE MY PHONE ONE LAST TIME…. LOL
 
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