New Apple iPhone Update Offers Promise of Starlink Satellite Access

What Happened?

Apple just released a new iPhone software update which includes the ability to access Starlink satellite internet service. 

According to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg ‘Apple Inc. has been secretly working with SpaceX and T-Mobile US Inc. to add support for the Starlink network in its latest iPhone software, providing an alternative to the company’s in-house satellite-communication service.’

While the beta tested version is text only, voice and data are expected to be added in the near future.

Why it Matters

Many observers in the tech industry consider the new feature on Apple iPhone’s to be a game changer in terms of global satellite access. 

Instead of constantly pointing a phone towards the sky, the new feature would provide constant access to the Starlink satellite network. That means iPhone users would be able to communicate via text and — in the near future — have access to voice and data almost anywhere on the planet.

Although for now this new feature is limited to customers in the continental United States. 

What exactly would the new feature be like for users? Mario Nawfal, founder of the IBC group, said ‘Medium resolution images, music & audio podcasts should work with the current generation Starlink direct-to-phone constellation. Next generation constellation will do medium resolution video.’

Initial reports indicate the way the new feature would work is that when a phone is beyond the range of its normal network it will attempt to pair with Starlink. If successful, it will provide the user with seamless connectivity even in remote locations.  

In addition, T-Mobile indicated eventually this feature will be available for all smartphones, not just iPhones. 

The new version of IOS 18 is compatible with any iPhone from 2018 to the present. For those with compatible devices, to get the new update simply go to the iPhone’s Settings app, click on General, then Software Update.

After that, click Download and Install. An important issue for these phones is that Apple Intelligence will be turned on by default, users who don’t want Apple Intelligence activated will have to go to settings and toggle it off.

The potential for smartphones to be connected to satellites could provide new capabilities for a number of different activities, from search and rescue operations to camping enthusiasts. 

Such a feature could even provide deployed military members a way to keep in touch with loved ones, though as Russian soldiers have learned the hard way in Ukraine giving away your position can have deadly consequences.

How it Affects You

While accessing Starlink via iPhones is an exciting new feature, it will likely take time before the new service is widely available to anyone who wants it. 

Neither Tim Cook nor Elon Musk have given a precise timetable for when that could happen, but a year or two would not be unrealistic.