T-Cellular’s T-Satellite tv for pc web service, powered by SpaceX’s Starlink satellites, formally launched on Wednesday, July 23. The direct-to-cell messaging service that allows texting from wherever is not restricted to T-Cellular prospects — AT&T and Verizon cellular prospects also can buy it for $10 a month.
T-Cellular says its aim is to “remove cellular useless zones for good” by means of 657 Starlink satellites that’ll be used completely for cellphone service. T-Satellite tv for pc has been in beta testing since December 2024, with practically 1.8 million customers signing up to date.
The new satellite tv for pc texting service represents a significant step ahead in cellular know-how: It really works with most telephones made over the last 4 years, in keeping with T-Cellular, as a substitute of requiring devoted {hardware}. Whereas it is out there to all T-Cellular, AT&T and Verizon prospects for $10 a month, anybody on T-Cellular’s Expertise Past or Go5G Subsequent plans will get it totally free.
“On the finish of the day, it is good to have the ability to ship a selfie whenever you’re in a spot the place there isn’t a protection, nevertheless it’s very important to have the ability to hook up with emergency companies,” Mike Katz, T-Cellular president of promoting, technique and merchandise, instructed CNET’s Jeff Carlson. “We simply assume that with a know-how like this, no buyer ought to ever be in a scenario the place they’re unconnected in an emergency.”
Sadly, T-Cellular has already had a motive to check out this emergency service, when it enabled T-Satellite tv for pc earlier this week in communities affected by large flooding in Central Texas. T-Cellular prospects within the space are ready to make use of text-to-911 and fundamental textual content messaging, and so they can obtain emergency alerts on suitable gadgets.
Sooner or later, T-Satellite tv for pc shall be free for emergency makes use of throughout the nation. The corporate stated 911 texting shall be out there later this 12 months to “any cellular buyer with a suitable gadget, no matter provider or whether or not or not they’re subscribed to the service.”
What’s T-Satellite tv for pc?
T-Satellite tv for pc is a partnership between T-Cellular and Starlink that may permit direct-to-cell SMS messaging accessibility in areas the place there isn’t a mobile protection. Starlink has greater than 7,000 low-Earth orbit satellites within the sky, and now, 657 of them shall be devoted totally to T-Satellite tv for pc. The aim is to develop protection into the five hundred,000 sq. miles of the US that conventional cell towers cannot attain, says T-Cellular.
“Whenever you go away the terrestrial community and also you go to a spot the place there is not any community, your telephone will robotically seek for and hook up with the satellite tv for pc community, which is sort of totally different than some other of the satellite tv for pc methods which are on the market that drive you to manually join, and it’s important to level your telephone as much as the sky,” says Katz.
Satellite tv for pc connectivity in cellphones is not precisely new — iPhones have had it since 2022 — nevertheless it’s sometimes been reserved for SOS messaging to attach you with an emergency dispatcher. On July 23, T-Satellite tv for pc customers will have the ability to ship SMS texts on iPhone and Android. Android customers will even get MMS instantly, with iPhone help “to comply with.”
This implies customers will have the ability to ship photos and audio clips along with normal textual content messages. In October, the service will develop to incorporate information help in third-party apps like AccuWeather, AllTrails, WhatsApp and X. The entry takes benefit of hooks constructed into iOS and Android software program, so builders could make their apps able to sending information by way of the slender quantities of bandwidth out there through satellite tv for pc.
That is far past what the opposite telephone carriers have launched to date within the satellite tv for pc realm — largely as a result of T-Cellular’s partnership with Starlink. AT&T and Verizon have each partnered with AST SpaceMobile for satellite tv for pc messaging, and Verizon instructed CNET’s Eli Blumenthal final 12 months that it is nonetheless planning on working with Amazon’s Undertaking Kuiper, which launched its first 27 satellites on April 28, 2025.
“Regardless of issues that our rivals have stated, they’re means, means behind on this know-how,” says Katz.
How a lot does T-Satellite tv for pc price?
T-Satellite tv for pc is offered to AT&T, T-Cellular and Verizon prospects for a standalone $10 monthly. However there’s one exception: Prospects on T-Cellular’s Expertise Past plan ($100 monthly for one line) or the Go5G Subsequent plan will get the service for included in the price of the plan going ahead, and people on the Expertise Extra plan ($85 monthly) will get it by way of the top of the 12 months.
Even when you do not pay the $10 a month, T-Cellular says 911 texting shall be out there later this 12 months “to any cellular buyer with a suitable gadget, no matter provider.”
In the event you’re a Verizon or AT&T buyer, you may must activate T-Satellite tv for pc as a second eSIM in your telephone to benefit from the service. You’ll find directions on organising the eSIM right here.
Which telephones help T-Satellite tv for pc?
Most telephones launched prior to now couple of years will work with T-Satellite tv for pc. Listed below are the gadgets which are presently suitable:
Apple
- iPhone 13, iPhone 14, iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 (all fashions)
- Google Pixel 9
- Google Pixel 9A
- Google Pixel 9 Professional
- Google Pixel 9 Professional XL
- Google Pixel 9 Professional Fold
Motorola
- Moto G Stylus 2025
- Moto Razr 2024
- Moto Razr Plus 2024
- Moto Razr 2025
- Moto Razr Plus 2025
- Moto Razr Extremely 2025
- Moto Razr Extremely Plus 2025
Samsung
- Samsung Galaxy A25 5G SE*
- Samsung Galaxy A35 5G
- Samsung Galaxy A36
- Samsung Galaxy A36 SE
- Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
- Samsung Galaxy A54 5G*
- Samsung Galaxy S21
- Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus
- Samsung Galaxy S21 Extremely
- Samsung Galaxy S21 FE
- Samsung Galaxy S22
- Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus
- Samsung Galaxy S22 Extremely
- Samsung Galaxy S22 FE
- Samsung Galaxy S23
- Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus
- Samsung Galaxy S23 Extremely
- Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
- Samsung Galaxy S24
- Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus
- Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely
- Samsung Galaxy S24 FE
- Samsung Galaxy S25
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge
- Samsung Galaxy XCover 7 Professional
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
*Some non-T-Cellular gadget variants should not satellite-capable.
Motorola
- Motorola Edge 2024
- Moto G 2024
- Moto G Stylus 2024
- Moto G 5G 2024
- Moto G Stylus 5G 2024
Samsung
- Samsung Galaxy A14
- Samsung Galaxy A15*
- Samsung Galaxy A16
- Samsung Galaxy A35
- Samsung Galaxy A53*
- Samsung Galaxy XCover6 Professional
*Some non-T-Cellular gadget variants should not satellite-capable.
T-Cellular
- T-Cellular Revvl 7
- T-Cellular Revvl 7 Professional