In case you love going off-grid—removed from cell towers and Wi-Fi—your iPhone is about to turn into much more helpful. Apple already lets customers ship emergency SOS messages and replace their location through satellite tv for pc. Now, it’s taking issues a step additional: full-fledged satellite tv for pc texting is coming to the U.S., because of a partnership with T-Cell and SpaceX.
The groundwork for this has been in movement for some time. Again in August 2022, T-Cell USA and SpaceX introduced their plan to allow satellite-powered messaging. Quick ahead to December 2024, and T-Cell launched a beta take a look at—however just for choose Samsung units. Now, issues are shifting. In accordance with Bloomberg, Apple has quietly added assist for satellite tv for pc texting in iOS 18.3, and T-Cell has confirmed that beta testers with an iPhone might want to replace to entry it.
How It Works and What to Anticipate
With SpaceX’s Starlink satellites, T-Cell iPhone customers will quickly be capable to ship textual content messages even in distant areas with zero mobile protection. And that is only the start—Bloomberg reviews that knowledge and voice calls over satellite tv for pc are within the works.
Apple hasn’t shared actual particulars about which iPhones shall be suitable, however Bloomberg hints at “the latest iPhone models.” The function can also be anticipated to reach on the Apple Watch Extremely 3 this fall. In the meantime, Android 15 will convey comparable performance, with Samsung’s Z Fold and S24 fashions among the many first to assist it.
A New Period of Connectivity
Apple first launched satellite-based Emergency SOS with the iPhone 14, utilizing Globalstar’s community. That system requires customers to manually align their system with a satellite tv for pc to ship a misery message. With Starlink’s satellites, the method shall be a lot easier—your iPhone might keep related even whereas sitting in your pocket.
For now, T-Cell’s satellite tv for pc texting beta is proscribed to the U.S., however SpaceX is already engaged on world service partnerships. If all goes as deliberate, this might change cell connectivity as we all know it, holding customers related even in essentially the most distant corners of the world—no cell towers required.
In case you’re on T-Cell and working iOS 18.3, you could quickly be a part of this main leap ahead.
