Starlink and T-Mobile have launched a service in the US allowing SMS messages via satellites.
A satellite communication service has officially commenced operations in the United States, following several months of rigorous testing, as reported by Engadget.
The `T-Satellite` service, a joint venture between Elon Musk`s SpaceX and mobile carrier T-Mobile, now allows smartphone users to send SMS messages via Starlink satellites, bypassing the need for conventional cellular networks. Both companies emphasize the service`s critical role in areas with limited coverage and during emergencies or natural disasters.
Powered by 650 low Earth orbit satellites, the service not only enables SMS transmission but also allows users to access certain applications, such as Google, AllTrails, and AccuWeather, even without a functioning mobile internet connection.
T-Mobile subscribers can access this service at no additional cost. Users with other carriers, however, will be charged $10 per month. Crucially, all individuals within the US, whether residents or visitors, can make free emergency calls to 911 via T-Satellite. The service had been in its testing phase across the United States since February.
In a related development reported by Reuters in late July, the U.S. presidential administration reportedly plans to discontinue using Elon Musk`s SpaceX for the development of its `Golden Dome` missile defense system. This decision aims to lessen the American government`s reliance on Musk`s company.
