I read that starlink has tested and will be rolling out cell phone service to android and iPhones soon. They are claiming global coverage with no special equipment. Haven’t heard how much they’ll be gouging, ahem, charging for it.
Currently WIFI calling, text and email works well thru Starlink. Does this new plan eliminate your need to have a starlink antenna and go direct to the satelittes. The latter I have trouble envisioning, mind you Gene Rodenbery did it back in the 70's with those communicators.
That’s the plan. What I don’t get, if you will be able to go phone to sat for texting, phone, browsing, etc. with no dish, what’s the final cost. They must be making money on the hardware now and they are going to give that up?
I can add a little bit. having worked on Starlink propulsion for six years. The guy who took the leadership role over direct to cell (and propulsion) was a principal from Swarm Satellites, which SpaceX bought. The limitations come from the fact that each satellite can paint a given area which means for 1 user you've got many gigabits of available bandwidth. For a dense area like a city, if we were to envision all T-Mobile users were all satellite, data rate per user would be terrible. But the number of satellites with direct to cell capability is growing every week so bandwidth per potential user is growing. What are the specifics? I don't know, I'm the retired propulsion guy, not the radio guy. I'm signed up for the beta test and I'll know more once they turn it on for my type of android phone. Stay tuned.It’s going to be a while before the service gets beyond the text only stage. SpaceX needs some more Direct to Cell satellites into space, needs their next generation satellites to potentially handle voice, and probably yet another generation to provide some limited data service. The data service for browsing will probably look like early 3g. Apple is planning a comparable text service using GlobalStar after they took a 20% equity position for a couple billion. SpaceX is using frequencies native to cell phones currently licensed to T-mobile. Apple/Globalstar are using what is called mobile satellite service (MSS) which is why it is limited to later model IPhones. The frequencies are comparable. The challenge they both have to overcome is establish a link between a cell phone and a tower 3-400 miles away.
Tom
This is an offer between T mobile and starlink, they are in the beta testing. I remember seeing something that they plan to add this feature for about an extra $15 per month. I'm sure you can find more info on the T-Mobile siteI read that starlink has tested and will be rolling out cell phone service to android and iPhones soon. They are claiming global coverage with no special equipment. Haven’t heard how much they’ll be gouging, ahem, charging for it.