When T-Mobile launched its T-Satellite service back in July, iPhone users were limited to text messaging via satellite – but the company promised that support for selected additional apps would follow.
With the launch of iOS 26, the company has started to make good on that promise, with support for six apps so far. Notably, you don’t need to choose T-Mobile as your carrier in order to subscribe to the service …
T-Satellite from T-Mobile
We’d known since 2022 that T-Mobile would be SpaceX’s first carrier partner to bring Starlink internet service to smartphones. We later learned that it would not be limited to T-Mobile customers. So long as you have a compatible unlocked phone with eSIM capabilities, you can add the service no matter your main carrier.
It was first made freely available to the public during the LA wildfires back in January. Working in a similar way to Apple’s Emergency SOS via Satellite service, it brought basic texting and emergency alerts to iPhones older than the iPhone 14.
It was also free of charge during beta testing before launching in July at a cost of $10 per month. T-Mobile said at the time that it was working on bringing support to more iPhone apps.
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 Apple and others on satellite-optimized apps.
Six iPhone apps now supported
The slow data speed means that it is only suitable for a relatively small number of apps, but the company has promised to continue expanding those supported. As of today, six iOS apps are able to work via satellite:
- Apple Compass
- Apple Fitness
- Apple Maps
- Apple Messages
- Apple Music
- Apple Weather
The list of supported Android apps is longer, so we can likely expect some third-party apps to be added to the list before too long.
- Official Apple Store on Amazon
- Apple 40W Dynamic Power Adapter for iPhone 17
- Official Apple iPhone Air cases and bumpers
- iPhone Air MagSafe Battery
- Official iPhone 17 cases
- Official iPhone 17 Pro cases and Pro Max cases
Photo: T-Mobile
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