America’s largest mobile carrier, T-Mobile, is breaking new ground by offering its Starlink-powered satellite connectivity beta to customers of competing carriers. The service, previously exclusive to T-Mobile subscribers, now welcomes anyone with a compatible smartphone. This development follows months of testing and comes just weeks before the planned July commercial launch.
What’s Happening & Why This Matters
The expanded beta program requires devices with satellite capabilities and eSIM support. Compatible models include recent iPhones (13 series and newer), Google Pixel 9 devices, and Samsung Galaxy flagships starting with the S21. Motorola’s latest Razr foldables also make the cut. T-Mobile maintains a full list of supported devices on its website.
Artem Russakovskii, founder of Android Police and an AT&T customer, shared his beta invitation publicly. His experience confirms the program’s availability beyond T-Mobile’s customer base. The satellite service activates automatically when cellular coverage fails, using SpaceX‘s Starlink constellation to maintain connectivity.
Pricing for the service dropped substantially since initial announcements. While early plans suggested $15-$20 monthly fees, the current beta offers 90 free days followed by a $10/month charge. T-Mobile calls this promotional pricing, leaving room for adjustments after the official launch.
Participants gain access to T-Mobile’s T-Life app benefits during the trial period. These include discounted entertainment options and food promotions from partners like Burger King and Wingstop. The app’s new activity tracking feature, which the company says excludes personal data collection, can be disabled through settings.
TF Summary: What’s Next
The satellite connectivity space grows increasingly competitive as T-Mobile prepares its July service launch. Rivals including Verizon and AST SpaceMobile accelerate their own satellite projects, promising more options for consumers in coming months. Device manufacturers will likely respond by building satellite capabilities into more mid-range and budget phones as the technology matures.
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