T-Mobile’s new satellite service has sent text messages in dead zones. How this is different
If you travel to a remote location where your phone coverage is not reaching, you know the feeling of anxiety when communication stops. T-MobileNew $10 monthly Starlink-based satellite text messaging service, T-Satellitereleased today, it takes a different approach from other satellite services to provide mobile access even within the US 500,000 square miles of wireless dead zone.
To test it, I drove from Seattle to me for nearly 3 hours phone Whether the bar abandoned me and gave me the opportunity Satellite text message Using T-Satellite is as simple as everyday cell texting.
See this: We are implementing T-Mobile’s T-Satellite service
How T-Satellite differs from other satellite services
Satellite texting is a big deal now Wireless Providers Telephone manufacturers including apple Satellite connections are the answer for travelers and people living in remote areas (and Massive flooding (in Texas).
That’s not new either. Apple has begun offering SOS communications GlobalStar for iPhone 14. And then it allowed emergency texting when you’re outside the coverage area – a literal lifesaver for those injured, lost or marginalized in remote areas. This feature also allowed me to share locations via satellite in searching my app. Apple then expanded its service to not only include text messages using the messaging app, but also seeking roadside assistance. CNET’s David Lumb used his message via satellite on his iPhone 15 Pro to text his friends and share his thoughts He was given the peak of Halea Color Mountain in Hawaii..
Google has similar features Pixel 9 PhoneExcept for the Pixel 9a, which runs on the satellite provider Skylo. Samsung Galaxy phones like the ones that were recently released Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7can be used Satellite Text Message Verizon We will also contact emergency services via Skylo.
However, that communication involves several steps to activate the feature. You need to be outdoors with a clear view of the sky – no trees or buildings – facing the satellites that have passed through your phone, stable to maintain connection.
With T-Satellite, the experience is completely different. Text messages are hardly distinct from when they are within cell coverage. In Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra With the T-Mobile plan, when you open the messaging app, it shows that your phone is already connected to the satellite, and the banner says “Messaging by Satellite.” The menu bar displays a small satellite icon with a curve that shows the status of the connection.
The phone is automatically connected to the T-Satellite network, as indicated by the (teenager) status icon.
This is partly due to the fact that there are currently over 650 starlink This is because it uses a frequency band that is compatible with most mobile phones sold over the past four years, as well as overhead satellites that offer wider coverage. Motorola Razr Ultra.
Experience setting up T-Satellite for me iPhone 16 Pro It was generally the same. One of the unique things about T-Satellite is that T-Mobile offers services to everyoneeven if you use a different carrier for your mobile phone service. In my case I set up the T-Satellite beta using the second ESIM slot on my phone and turned off the primary service (AT&T) To test only the features of T-Mobile. The menu bar displays a black, black satellite icon.
It should be noted that I ran this test a few days before T-Satellite was live. So technically, I was using the beta version of the messaging app on Android during the T-Satellite beta period.
Furthermore, I didn’t even try to make an emergency call. The T-Satellite service means to start SOS text communication using Apple’s services, and the T-Satellite service means to dial 911.
It’s a text message, but sometimes it’s slow
Mostly, texting via satellite is like texting via cellular. The data pipe between the phone and the satellite is small between satellites flying overhead at 17,000 mph, so text can take seconds. But sometimes conversations occur without extended delays. In comparison, when CNET’s Patrick Holland tested Apple’s messages via satellite functionality, he said, “Most transmissions were almost instantaneous, while others took over a minute and took 15-20 seconds.”
One feature that’s live today Android Ability to send images, videos and audio files using multimedia messaging services over satellite networks. On my Galaxy S25 Ultra, I took a photo of the lake and sent it using a message as usual. The only difference between satellites is that it took about two and a half minutes to transmit.
On Android, photos can be sent via MMS via satellite connections. This feature comes after iOS.
However, MMS is currently only supported on Android. iOS support will come later. Also, future arrivals – especially October, the ability for apps to send and receive data over satellite connections. T-Mobile cites all trails as examples of apps that are compatible with the service.
This is a great use of data from other mapping tools. I never got lost on this trip, but I was drawn into a well-marked scenic oversight to test with stunning scenery, but I created a point to download offline maps of the area using Apple Maps while I was still within range of my phone.
Long-running questions and challenges
Not all messages have passed and after my limited testing there are some areas where it becomes more clear.
For example, on Android, it wasn’t always obvious when you lost your satellite connection. In theory, there are many StarLink satellites above your head, so you don’t have to worry about pointing to a particular sky patch to maintain connection. But at some point after sending the message, some text below said that the app was waiting for a connection. I then noticed that the small satellite icon showed light gray bars instead of light black bars.
Compare that with Apple’s implementation. Apple’s implementation uses Dynamic Island to display an impossible green status button for mistakes, indicating a solid connection to the satellite. Or Google’s satellite SOS service. It helps you connect to satellites with full-screen visual prompts, or to new ones if necessary.
The prominent green icon for Dynamic Island indicates satellite connections when using Apple’s satellite text messaging feature. (The red icon indicates that the screen is recorded and is not related to the connection.)
I also ran into confusion with an iPhone 16 Pro running T-Satellite as a secondary for example. When I come with me and try to text him a friend who used the Apple method iPhoneI got the message that he was connected via satellite and was given the option to tap Send via satellite. What I didn’t notice at the time was that the connection was dropped while typing text. Above Further researchI discovered that active third party satellite connections show “SAT” in the menu bar. When SAT is replaced with a black satellite icon, the T-Satellite is no longer connected, but Apple’s satellite options are available. I thought it meant we were still connected.
At one point, I was unable to text a friend who also used satellite access, even though it seemed connected (see satellite icon in the menu bar). (The red button on Dynamic Island indicates that the screen is recorded.)
Look up and go ahead
Does satellite services cover the remaining dead zones and allow for easy communications even in remote locations? Based on my experience, the possibilities are definitely there. It’s impressive that less than two years after Apple first launched emergency SOS via iPhone satellites, satellite connections expanded very quickly with their ability to support text messaging. I appreciate that the implementation of T-Satellite is similar to the way millions of people communicate daily via text. Eliminating friction is the key to adopting such a technique.
As businesses build the capabilities and performance of satellite services, it’s easy to see the near future, where there’s no need to think about how to retrieve data.
As someone who lives in cellular saturated Seattle, I probably don’t need to resort to satellite data. But North Cascade is where I have been camping for years, so I know it’s useful from time to time, especially if there’s an emergency.
I juggled my phone and plagued my friends and family with texts so the couple approached me to ask what I was doing. They were visiting the area from a small town in northern Idaho, near the Canadian border. There, mobile phones are rare. After a few minutes of talking, I realized that being able to connect wirelessly via satellite could be a real boon, especially in emergencies, but it can also be a daily nuisance if other forms of communication are not available, such as during a power outage.