T-Mobile launching T-Satellite with Starlink next month, working with Apple on ‘satellite-optimized apps’

T-Mobile has been testing a beta version of its T-Satellite service with customers for several weeks now. Starting next month, the beta period will start to wind down as satellite connectivity officially launches as a paid service. Beyond the commercial launch, T-Mobile has also announced when the service will expand beyond text message support to include data.

First, T-Mobile will commercially launch T-Satellite on July 23. T-Satellite relies on SpaceX Starlink satellites for network coverage in areas that would otherwise be dead zones for T-Mobile customers. T-Mobile will offer T-Satellite service to customers on any carrier. Using the feature just requires having a free, unlocked SIM or eSIM slot on a compatible smartphone.

For now, T-Satellite is limited to sending text messages over the satellite connection when disconnected from the traditional service network. Starting October 1, T-Mobile says it will enable data connectivity through T-Satellite, and the carrier is working with “a select group of top developers to bring satellite-optimized apps to T-Satellite customers.”

The current list of developers includes “AccuWeather, AllTrails, Apple, Google, WhatsApp and X,” suggesting iMessage support may be included when data over T-Satellite is enabled. Learn more about T-Satellite with Starlink here.