The ‘straight-to-mobile’ upgrade was revealed by news agency Bloomberg late last week but seemingly confirmed by SpaceX founder Elon Musk on X shortly afterwards.
“Medium resolution images, music & audio podcasts should work with the current generation Starlink direct-to-phone constellation,” wrote Musk. “Next generation constellation will do medium resolution video.”
Previously, iPhones could only send satellite texts via rival Globalstar satellites and the device had to be physically pointed at the sky. The service was also designed to be used only in an emergency if the user was lost or in danger.
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Reports suggest that selected T-Mobile users in the US will be offered the chance to enrol in a Beta test before satellite texts are eventually rolled out to the entire customer base.
The news significantly comes after Telstra followed Optus in signing a “straight-to-mobile” deal with Starlink last month. The agreement is unique because it does not require customers to obtain specific hardware and will work on all compatible handsets.
The telco revealed that while the service would initially focus on testing texts, it could eventually evolve to support voice, data and IoT services.
SpaceX, meanwhile, only completed the first constellation of the special satellites needed to make the technology work in December.
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“Currently, satellite-to-mobile technology allows users to send a message only,” said Shailin Sehgal, a Telstra group executive.
“This is really a just-in-case connectivity layer that allows a person to make contact for help or let someone know they are OK when they are outside their own carrier’s mobile coverage footprint.”
Starlink aims to launch data and IoT this year, while it says voice calls are coming soon. Other global telcos to sign up include T-Mobile in the US, One NZ in New Zealand and KDDI in Japan.
Starlink only launched in Australia in 2021 but was only available via a permanent, fixed connection. There are currently thought to be more than 6,000 Starlink satellites in orbit, though the company eventually hopes it can support more than 40,000.
Adam Thorn
Adam is a journalist who has worked for more than 40 prestigious media brands in the UK and Australia. Since 2005, his varied career has included stints as a reporter, copy editor, feature writer and editor for publications as diverse as Fleet Street newspaper The Sunday Times, fashion bible Jones, media and marketing website Mumbrella as well as lifestyle magazines such as GQ, Woman’s Weekly, Men’s Health and Loaded. He joined Momentum Media in early 2020 and currently writes for Australian Aviation and World of Aviation.
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