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Apple's latest iPhone update adds Starlink satellite connectivity

Apple's latest iPhone update adds Starlink satellite connectivity

Apples latest iPhone update adds Starlink satellite connectivity
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1 Feb 2025 6:14 PM IST

Apple’s newest iPhone update, iOS 18.3, brings a groundbreaking feature: compatibility with SpaceX’s Starlink satellite network. This update, which many are calling a “game changer,” was quietly rolled out, adding an exciting new layer of satellite connectivity to the iPhone experience.

This update is the result of Apple’s secret collaboration with SpaceX and T-Mobile US Inc. It allows iPhones to access Starlink’s satellite network, providing users with an alternative to Apple’s existing satellite service, which has used the Globalstar network.

Previously, T-Mobile offered satellite connectivity for Samsung phones, enabling emergency messages when outside of cellular range. Apple’s Emergency SOS service, however, has been tied to Globalstar. Now, with iOS 18.3, Apple users can tap into Starlink’s service for the first time.

The most exciting part of this update? As noted by Mario Nawfal, founder of IBC Group, Apple’s new feature eliminates the need for users to point their phones at the sky to connect to a satellite. With Starlink’s system, users can remain connected from their pocket, a major improvement over previous satellite communication methods.

Elon Musk has also commented on the update, explaining that the current Starlink network will support medium-resolution images, music, and podcasts. In the future, the network’s next generation will enable medium-resolution video.

The update is currently being tested on a small number of iPhones within the T-Mobile network. Users in this beta program are receiving messages that invite them to connect to Starlink’s satellite network for texting, even in areas with no cellular coverage. To activate the feature, users are encouraged to update to iOS 18.3.

T-Mobile has also announced that they will eventually expand this feature to Android phones running the latest software, Android 15, and will work with a broader range of smartphones. Currently, only iPhones from the iPhone 14 onwards are eligible for this feature, and it’s limited to the U.S. for now.

The initial rollout of the service will support text messaging via satellite, but T-Mobile and SpaceX plan to extend this into data and voice calls over time. Users will be able to manage the satellite feature through a new toggle in the iPhone’s cellular data settings.

While the number of users in the beta is minimal, T-Mobile plans to broaden access in February, marking the beginning of a significant expansion of satellite connectivity.

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