T-Mobile US Inc. announced that its new satellite texting service, in partnership with Elon Musk’s Starlink network, will cost $15 per month following a free beta testing period.
The service, which is designed to provide text messaging coverage in areas without traditional cellular signal, will be available starting in July. Customers who participate in the beta trial will be charged $10 per month once the service becomes commercially available.
Currently, T-Mobile users can sign up for the beta service, which was launched in a Super Bowl ad. Additionally, customers of other wireless providers, including Verizon and AT&T, will also have the opportunity to participate, provided their devices support digital SIM cards. For T-Mobile users on the company’s Go5G Next plan, the satellite texting service will be included at no additional cost. Verizon and AT&T customers, however, will pay $20 per month for access to the service.
Initially, the service will offer satellite-based texting in remote areas where traditional cell towers do not provide coverage. Over time, T-Mobile plans to expand the offering to include voice calls, picture messaging, and other data services. The carrier’s collaboration with Starlink aims to address connectivity gaps and ensure that users stay connected even in off-the-grid locations.
The service is part of a broader industry trend where mobile carriers are looking to satellite technology to provide coverage in underserved regions. T-Mobile has already worked with Starlink to provide emergency texting services in disaster zones, and this new initiative will be a key part of expanding access to mobile services in rural and hard-to-reach areas.
Verizon and AT&T are also pursuing satellite partnerships, with Verizon’s collaboration with AST SpaceMobile focusing on direct-to-cell services. T-Mobile’s partnership with Starlink aims to set it apart by offering satellite coverage directly to smartphones, without requiring users to switch carriers.
Bloomberg, CNN, Reuters, and the Wall Street Journal contributed to this report.
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