T-MOBILE AND STARLINK EXPAND SATELLITE SERVICE, NOW SUPPORTING KEY APPS

T-Mobile and SpaceX's Starlink have quietly reached a new milestone in their satellite-tophone partnership, announcing that a small but growing list of mobile apps can now run on the service.

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It's the latest step toward turning Starlink's constellation of low-Earth orbit satellites into a viable backup for everyday smartphone connectivity.

A PARTNERSHIP YEARS IN THE MAKING

The collaboration between T-Mobile and SpaceX was first announced in 2022 with the promise of extending coverage to dead zones across the U.S. by tapping into Starlink's rapidly growing satellite fleet. The idea was bold: instead of requiring bulky satellite phones, regular smartphones would connect directly to orbiting satellites for basic services like texting and eventually data.

Three years later, the companies are beginning to deliver on that promise. T-Mobile says that a handful of messaging and communications apps are now supported, giving users the ability to reach contacts even in areas with no traditional cell service. While not yet a replacement for 5G or Wi-Fi, the functionality points to a near-future where satellite coverage is a seamless layer of everyday mobile networks.

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