Subj : Starlink's new cellular service lets you stay connected even off To : All From : TechnologyDaily Date : Thu Oct 12 2023 20:30:05 Starlink's new cellular service lets you stay connected even off the grid Date: Thu, 12 Oct 2023 19:24:45 +0000 Description: Next year, Starlink will launch Direct to Cell allowing people to send text messages even in the most remote locations. FULL STORY ====================================================================== Starlink is expanding its satellite communications to your pocket. Now, in addition to delivering an internet connection anywhere around the world, Starlink is set to start offering cellular connectivity next year through a brand new service called Starlink Direct to Cell. The company will start off small as LTE phones will only have the ability to send text messages sometime in 2024. After that, the service will expand to allow sending voice calls and data plus support for IoT devices like smartwatches in 2025. Starlink states customers wont need a different phone, a firmware update, or a special app. The service will work on current devices even in the most remote locations on Earth provided you can see the sky. There cant be anything getting in the way of the satellites signal. Speaking of which, Starlink says it will be deploying satellites with the Direct to Cell capability at scale on SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets. It appears Direct to Cell will mainly be for businesses that want remote cellular connectivity. At the time of this writing, the service isnt present on the companys Personal usage website. Made in collaboration If any of this sounds familiar to you, thats because billionaire Elon Musk, who is the CEO of parent company SpaceX, and T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert announced plans for Direct to Cell last year although it wasnt given a name yet. Sivert explained the connection will be available in the lower 48 [of the United States], vast parts of Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and territorial waters. The areas covered include national parks plus certain terrains where it's tough to get a cell phone signal like the desert. Since that talk, SpaceX has entered new partnerships with other telecommunication companies from around the world like Rogers Communications in Canada as well as Optus in Australia . (Image credit: T-Mobile and Starlink) Potential beta Whats interesting is in T-Mobiles press release from August 2022, it mentions there will be a beta program in select areas by the end of 2023. SMS, MMS, and participating messaging apps were supposed to be part of the program. However, Starlink's website doesnt say anything about a beta, leading us to believe that maybe the idea was scrapped. Perhaps it just wasnt ready yet. Normally, we would ask Starlink or SpaceX for more information, but they dont have any way for members of the press to contact them. Instead, we reached out to T-Mobile for more information; specifically on the beta and whether or not its still happening. This story will be updated at a later time. Its unknown exactly when everything will go live in 2024. SpaceX has been pushing the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) to hurry up with processing their satellite applications. But according to Commission Chair Jessica Rosenworcel , the FCC has over 56,000 satellite applications pending on their desk, so its probably going to be a while. If you want to know what the future holds, check out TechRadar's coverage of how satellite connectivity could become a major feature for smartphones . You might also like Amazon set to launch first Project Kuiper internet satellites I tested Apple Emergency SOS via Satellite - and it could save a life Qualcomm's satellite text messaging is the next big thing on Android phones ====================================================================== Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/phones/starlinks-new-cellular-service-lets-you-stay- connected-even-off-the-grid --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 (Linux/64) * Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100) .