iOS 18.3 Adds Starlink Support to T-Mobile iPhones

[HazeAndHahmahneez]

Will there be a way to opt out of Starlink connectivity once it's out of beta? If not, I'll be leaving T-Mobile. I don't want to be part of anything Elon is doing.

I think like creepy google, musk might be near unavoidable. Hand in so many pots type a deal here.

I swear google design language like look at the logos for search, chrome, etc. that childish green blue red. It’s weird, it’s like they see the users as mere children. Google can’t even spell their name right! lol smh

Really want tat company to vamoose it : (

It’s like Don Quixote or somethj g similar and the giant is not windmills but Google and it’s like “mind your own business, you”

To which the monster replies, “why… all your business IS my business, bwahahahahahaaaaasssssssssss!!!”

 

[zach-coleman]

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

This is not true.

August 2022: https://www.t-mobile.com/news/un-carrier/t-mobile-takes-coverage-above-and-beyond-with-spacex

“And the service aims to work with the phone already in your pocket. The vast majority of smartphones already on T-Mobile’s network will be compatible with the new service using the device’s existing radio. No extra equipment to buy. It just works.”

When this was posted the iPhone 14 hadn’t even been announced yet.

 

[jooish]

I mean he did do a Nazi salute, and then made Nazi jokes about it, and then told far-right German politicians not to feel bad about their past.

Regardless of all that, happy to see satellite connectivity on cell phones. Satellite phones used to be outrageously expensive.

"This is a delicate moment. It’s a new day and yet so many are on edge. Our politics are inflamed, and social media only adds to the anxiety. It seems that @Elonmusk made an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute, but again, we appreciate that people are on edge. In this moment, all sides should give one another a bit of grace, perhaps even the benefit of the doubt, and take a breath. This is a new beginning. Let’s hope for healing and work toward unity in the months and years ahead."

- THE ADL

But I guess you are more of an authority on the subject. /s

For some weird reason it appears as if the far left actually wants NAZIs to be more of a thing than they actually are...

 

[GMShadow]

Apple:

WHERE.

OH.

WHERE.

IS.

THE.

OPTION.

TO.

PUT.

SATELLITE.

IN.

THE.

CONTROL.

CENTER??

Please and thank you. Go Apple. Go Sox!

Press down on the box with the Cellular/Wi-Fi toggles and it should be at the bottom.

 

[DblHelix]

Phone gps and maps don’t need a cell signal

They do when you go somewhere spur of the moment without downloading offline maps 🤷‍♀️

 

[DblHelix]

Offline maps work well.

Sure can tell you don’t have adhd. What an ableist statement that assumes I download offline maps before my spontaneous trip

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

No offense intended. I just apply a "better safe, than sorry" approach and rather than spontaneously going to places that may have no signal, I download offline maps of the zone. I find that I can grab upwards of about half of a state as one map and just leave that on a device all the time. Then, even if I'm within reach of cell but some disaster has taken out cell signals, I can still use offline map and GPS to get me to wherever I need to go.

If I was spontaneously venturing towards some no-mans-land territory. Before I venture beyond the reach of towers, I pull over, download the whole zone as an offline map and then carry on... just like I'd also pack food, water and emergency supplies.

If I'm able to imagine an even worse-case scenario (lost phone, dead phone, electromagnetic pulse), perhaps I throw paper maps and a compass into the car/bag too.

 

[TigerNike23]

"This is a delicate moment. It’s a new day and yet so many are on edge. Our politics are inflamed, and social media only adds to the anxiety. It seems that @Elonmusk made an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute, but again, we appreciate that people are on edge. In this moment, all sides should give one another a bit of grace, perhaps even the benefit of the doubt, and take a breath. This is a new beginning. Let’s hope for healing and work toward unity in the months and years ahead."

- THE ADL

But I guess you are more of an authority on the subject. /s

For some weird reason it appears as if the far left actually wants NAZIs to be more of a thing than they actually are...

And what did the ADL say when he started making Nazi jokes 2 days later?

 

[WarmWinterHat]

"This is a delicate moment. It’s a new day and yet so many are on edge. Our politics are inflamed, and social media only adds to the anxiety. It seems that @Elonmusk made an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute, but again, we appreciate that people are on edge. In this moment, all sides should give one another a bit of grace, perhaps even the benefit of the doubt, and take a breath. This is a new beginning. Let’s hope for healing and work toward unity in the months and years ahead."

- THE ADL

But I guess you are more of an authority on the subject. /s

For some weird reason it appears as if the far left actually wants NAZIs to be more of a thing than they actually are...

Two days later from the ADL:

"Making inappropriate and highly offensive jokes that trivialize the Holocaust only serve to minimize the evil and inhumanity of Nazi crimes, denigrate the suffering of both victims and survivors and insult the memory of the six million Jews murdered in the Shoah,"

"We've said it hundred of times before and we will say it again: the Holocaust was a singularly evil event, and it is inappropriate and offense to make light of it. @Elonmusk, the Holocaust is not a joke."

- THE ADL

 

[TigerNike23]

Indeed. It’s certainly not funny. People will never learn will they. History shall repeat itself.

Similar situation here but uniquely I had people on both sides of the war in my family. Both sets of descendants find his antics disgusting and intolerable.

Any sensible person should do what we did with fascists in the late 30s here in the UK. Defence Regulation 18B.

In the mean time we have feet to vote with.

It’s thoroughly disgusting how people laugh at this or worse, question its legitimacy. There’s a video on YouTube where one of CNN’s reporters goes to Auschwitz where his grandparents died and there’s comments questioning the authenticity of the story.

At any rate. I’m off topic so I’ll have to leave it there.

 

[swm]

Starlink on phones is beautiful. Once every phone on the planet supports Starlink, there will finally be a theoretically un-censorable, un-jammable, un-tappable, global communications network outside the jurisdiction of any country (except the U.S., likely). Totalitarian governments will have their work cut out for them.

no, you have absolutely no idea about how this works. your phone is not a starlink receiver, and no software update can turn it into one. this is nothing more than a regular LTE eNB strapped onto a massive starlink satellite, so instead of terrestrial eNBs your phone can connect to one in low earth orbit. the service is very well jammable and tappable, as this is a regular cellular service, and goes through TMO's packet core.
as for the available bandwidth and number of concurrent calls/data sessions - the thing is quite far from you, so your device won't have great reception - usually eNBs are in a few miles at most.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Starlink on phones is beautiful. Once every phone on the planet supports Starlink, there will finally be a theoretically un-censorable, un-jammable, un-tappable, global communications network outside the jurisdiction of any country (except the U.S., likely). Totalitarian governments will have their work cut out for them.

Like person posted above, this doesn't work this way. Starlink is just a service repeater; it won't work without active cell service, and the provider has to enable it. It's trivially jammable, slow, and blocked by anything between you and sky.

 

[ChrisA]

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

Basically, it is the size of the satellite network. With Apple's current system, you might have to wait for a satellite to come into view, then your text message is sent. But with Starlink, there is full-time coverage, or there will be as they launch more direct-to-cell satellites.

The other difference will not matter until after they allow voice. That's lag time. If the voice is lagged you have to wait until after you stop talking, then the other person gets the sound. The delay makes the conversation a little awkward. Because of this, I doubt Apple would ever allow voice over their satellite network. People would hate it. But Starlink has good latency so voice will be more natural.

 

[SigurTom]

I think like creepy google, musk might be near unavoidable. Hand in so many pots type a deal here.

I swear google design language like look at the logos for search, chrome, etc. that childish green blue red. It’s weird, it’s like they see the users as mere children. Google can’t even spell their name right! lol smh

Really want tat company to vamoose it : (

It’s like Don Quixote or somethj g similar and the giant is not windmills but Google and it’s like “mind your own business, you”

To which the monster replies, “why… all your business IS my business, bwahahahahahaaaaasssssssssss!!!”

you ok?

 

[jooish]

And what did the ADL say when he started making Nazi jokes 2 days later?

Two days later from the ADL:

"Making inappropriate and highly offensive jokes that trivialize the Holocaust only serve to minimize the evil and inhumanity of Nazi crimes, denigrate the suffering of both victims and survivors and insult the memory of the six million Jews murdered in the Shoah,"

"We've said it hundred of times before and we will say it again: the Holocaust was a singularly evil event, and it is inappropriate and offense to make light of it. @Elonmusk, the Holocaust is not a joke."

- THE ADL

Is that supposed to distract me from the assertion that he made a NAZI salute when the ADL says it wasn't one...?

You're essentially saying that the dumb jokes he made after the gesture overwrote the ADL's original comment. That's just too simple and I reject that type of nonsense.

This type of fantasy y'all are engaging with is dangerous for your mental health. Seriously... give it a rest.

It's entirely possible to dislike [some] actions of a person without throwing ridiculous labels on them as a whole so you can cast them aside and push your agenda. You know who would do something like that? A NAZI.

DO BETTER.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Anyone spending time trying to explain away Nazi salutes or support of Nazi ideology is very much on the wrong side of history here

 

[jblank]

"This is a delicate moment. It’s a new day and yet so many are on edge. Our politics are inflamed, and social media only adds to the anxiety. It seems that @Elonmusk made an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute, but again, we appreciate that people are on edge. In this moment, all sides should give one another a bit of grace, perhaps even the benefit of the doubt, and take a breath. This is a new beginning. Let’s hope for healing and work toward unity in the months and years ahead."

- THE ADL

But I guess you are more of an authority on the subject. /s

For some weird reason it appears as if the far left actually wants NAZIs to be more of a thing than they actually are...

Well, they've been perfectly fine with their side's anti-semites, who have beliefs that align quite well with Nazis, since Hamas attacked Israel and Israel retaliated, so you might be right. Their extreme hypocrisy is evident constantly.

Two statements:

1) Musk was the darling of the political left not that long ago. He tires of the overt censorship of Dorsey's crew on Twitter, puts his money where his mouth is, and since that time, he's Lucifer. I don't get it, but then again I didn't get the freak out over Anheuser-Busch sending a personalized beer can to the transgender YouTuber a few years ago. I'm fine with people voting with their wallets and stuff, but you guys are keep this up and we're gonna have parallel economies, one for each side. Is that really what you want? If I spent the mental energy on finding out who owned what, what they believed, and based my patronage off that, I'd never shop anywhere, never watch movies, never eat anywhere.

2) This is smart of Apple and this kind of thing WILL save lives. The satellite communication in no service areas has already led to people being rescued and I hope every cell phone company and manufacturer integrates something like this into all future phones.

 

[jblank]

Anyone spending time trying to explain away Nazi salutes or support of Nazi ideology is very much on the wrong side of history here

I'm sure you feel the Hamas terrorist sympathizers on your side, especially the "river to the sea" ones that were cheering for another holocaust against Jews, are on the "wrong side of history" too.......right? I just have to chuckle at the left being concerned about Nazi behavior again, after ignoring it for the last 18 months or so.

By all means, keep it up though, people are over all the labels your side puts on everyone and we saw that on November 5th. The whole "everyone I disagree with is a Nazi/racist/bigot/whatever else the playbook says to say" is a losing strategy.

 

[ChrisA]

Starlink on phones is beautiful. Once every phone on the planet supports Starlink, there will finally be a theoretically un-censorable, un-jammable, un-tappable, global communications network outside the jurisdiction of any country (except the U.S., likely). Totalitarian governments will have their work cut out for them.

Sorry, none of this is true. First, these are not "Starlink phones" they are just regular cell phones and the nearest tower just happens to be 200 miles away on a satellite rather than 10 miles away on an actual tower.

About the only change is the effective height of the cell tower

 

[TigerNike23]

Is that supposed to distract me from the assertion that he made a NAZI salute when the ADL says it wasn't one...?

You're essentially saying that the dumb jokes he made after the gesture overwrote the ADL's original comment. That's just too simple and I reject that type of nonsense.

This type of fantasy y'all are engaging with is dangerous for your mental health. Seriously... give it a rest.

It's entirely possible to dislike [some] actions of a person without throwing ridiculous labels on them as a whole so you can cast them aside and push your agenda. You know who would do something like that? A NAZI.

DO BETTER.

I can’t help it you’re a Musk-apologist. Heck, your profile picture is a bitcoin icon.

 

[cjsuk]

I never thought in 2025 I’d read of people justifying a nazi salute. They are clearly uneducated or unhinged.

I’ll wait for the moderators to delete this post 😂

 

[ProbablyDylan]

This tech is great. Shame it's attached to an otherwise despicable person.

I also can't believe people are defending the casual Seig Heil in here. What have we come to as a society? Who cares what his intent was - even as a joke it's immature and unbecoming.

 

[TigerNike23]

I never thought in 2025 I’d read of people justifying a nazi salute. They are clearly uneducated or unhinged.

I’ll wait for the moderators to delete this post 😂

For the record I’m not calling anyone a Nazi, either Musk or commenters.

I’m just saying the optics of the situation are not good, and rather than be conciliatory or constructive, Musk is doubling down on it.

 

[jblank]

I never thought in 2025 I’d read of people justifying a nazi salute. They are clearly uneducated or unhinged.

I’ll wait for the moderators to delete this post 😂

Nobody here WOULD justify it, the difference is, as the ADL said, this was an "awkward gesture", not a Nazi salute. As a staunch supporter of Israel and the Jewish people, had he actually and intentionally given the salute you say he was, I'd criticize him for it. He is the richest man in the world, with about as much attention on him as one could have, do you really think he would be stupid enough to do what you accuse him of?

 

[osofast240sx]

As of iOS 18.3, T-Mobile subscribers with a compatible iPhone and Starlink beta access are able to connect to Starlink satellites, reports Bloomberg. Apple quietly worked with SpaceX and T-Mobile to add support for Starlink to its iPhone lineup, and T-Mobile's website confirms the new integration.

T-Mobile announced a partnership with Starlink in 2022, and in December 2024, the carrier opened up a beta program allowing subscribers to use Starlink satellites for texting in areas without cell towers. At the time, the T-Mobile Starlink beta program was limited to Samsung smartphones, and iPhones weren't supported.

Following the release of iOS 18.3, T-Mobile has invited a small number of iPhone users to take advantage of the Starlink beta, and those users have a new toggle to enable the satellite connectivity feature. T-Mobile customers who were selected received the following message:

With Starlink integration, a T-Mobile iPhone without T-Mobile cellular service available will be able to pair automatically with Starlink satellites for connectivity. Starlink is limited to texting at the current time, but T-Mobile and SpaceX plan to support data and voice in the future.

Apple did not respond to Bloomberg's request for comment on the feature, but T-Mobile said that Starlink connectivity will eventually be available on the "vast majority of modern smartphones."

The iPhone 14 and later already support satellite connectivity for text messages through Apple's partnership with Globalstar, so iPhone users who are able to use Starlink can also opt to text with Apple's built-in satellite service. Both Apple's service and Starlink are only available when there is no nearby cellular network.

Starlink beta access is limited right now, but T-Mobile eventually plans to expand the beta test to additional subscribers. T-Mobile customers can sign up to join the beta on the T-Mobile website. Starlink is only available in the U.S., and it is free during T-Mobile's beta testing period.

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Article Link: iOS 18.3 Adds Starlink Support to T-Mobile iPhones

I’m in the beta with a 15pro