Technologies

T-Mobile and Starlink’s $10 a Month Satellite Texting Service Is Live. Here’s How It Works

T-Satellite aims to eliminate cell phone dead zones, at least for texting. Learn who gets it free.

T-Mobile’s T-Satellite internet service, powered by SpaceX’s Starlink satellites, officially launched on Wednesday, July 23. The direct-to-cell messaging service that enables texting from anywhere isn’t limited to T-Mobile customers — AT&T and Verizon mobile customers can also purchase it for $10 a month.

T-Mobile says its goal is to «eliminate mobile dead zones for good» by way of 657 Starlink satellites that’ll be used exclusively for cellphone service. T-Satellite has been in beta testing since December 2024, with nearly 1.8 million users signing up so far.

The new satellite texting service represents a major step forward in mobile technology: It works with most phones made during the last four years, according to T-Mobile, instead of requiring dedicated hardware. While it’s available to all T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon customers for $10 a month, anyone on T-Mobile’s Experience Beyond or Go5G Next plans gets it for free.

«At the end of the day, it’s nice to be able to send a selfie when you’re in a place where there is no coverage, but it’s vital to be able to connect to emergency services,» Mike Katz, T-Mobile president of marketing, strategy and products, told CNET’s Jeff Carlson. «We just think that with a technology like this, no customer should ever be in a situation where they are unconnected in an emergency.»

Sadly, T-Mobile has already had a reason to test out this emergency service, when it enabled T-Satellite earlier this week in communities affected by massive flooding in Central Texas. T-Mobile customers in the area are able to use text-to-911 and basic text messaging, and they can receive emergency alerts on compatible devices.

In the future, T-Satellite will be free for emergency uses across the country. The company said 911 texting will be available later this year to «any mobile customer with a compatible device, regardless of carrier or whether or not they are subscribed to the service.»

What is T-Satellite?

T-Satellite is a partnership between T-Mobile and Starlink that will allow direct-to-cell SMS messaging accessibility in areas where there is no cellular coverage. Starlink has more than 7,000 low-Earth orbit satellites in the sky, and now, 657 of them will be devoted entirely to T-Satellite. The goal is to expand coverage into the 500,000 square miles of the US that traditional cell towers can’t reach, says T-Mobile.

«When you leave the terrestrial network and you go to a place where there’s no network, your phone will automatically search for and connect to the satellite network, which is quite different than any other of the satellite systems that are out there that force you to manually connect, and you have to point your phone up to the sky,» says Katz.

Satellite connectivity in cellphones isn’t exactly new — iPhones have had it since 2022 — but it’s typically been reserved for SOS messaging to connect you with an emergency dispatcher. On July 23, T-Satellite users will be able to send SMS texts on iPhone and Android. Android users will also get MMS immediately, with iPhone support «to follow.»

This means users will be able to send images and audio clips in addition to standard text messages. In October, the service will expand to include data support in third-party apps like AccuWeather, AllTrails, WhatsApp and X. The access takes advantage of hooks built into iOS and Android software, so developers can make their apps capable of sending data through the narrow amounts of bandwidth available via satellite.

This is far beyond what the other phone carriers have launched so far in the satellite realm — largely due to T-Mobile’s partnership with Starlink. AT&T and Verizon have both partnered with AST SpaceMobile for satellite messaging, and Verizon told CNET’s Eli Blumenthal last year that it’s still planning on working with Amazon’s Project Kuiper, which launched its first 27 satellites on April 28, 2025.

«Despite things that our competitors have said, they are way, way behind on this technology,» says Katz.

How much does T-Satellite cost?

T-Satellite is available to AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon customers for a standalone $10 per month. But there’s one exception: Customers on T-Mobile’s Experience Beyond plan ($100 per month for one line) or the Go5G Next plan will get the service for included in the cost of the plan going forward, and those on the Experience More plan ($85 per month) will get it through the end of the year.

Even if you don’t pay the $10 a month, T-Mobile says 911 texting will be available later this year «to any mobile customer with a compatible device, regardless of carrier.»

If you’re a Verizon or AT&T customer, you’ll have to activate T-Satellite as a second eSIM on your phone to take advantage of the service. You can find instructions on setting up the eSIM here.

Which phones support T-Satellite?

Most phones released in the past couple of years will work with T-Satellite. Here are the devices that are currently compatible:

Apple

iPhone 13, iPhone 14, iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 (all models)

Google

Google Pixel 9
Google Pixel 9A
Google Pixel 9 Pro
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold

Motorola

Moto G Stylus 2025
Moto Razr 2024
Moto Razr Plus 2024
Moto Razr 2025
Moto Razr Plus 2025
Moto Razr Ultra 2025
Moto Razr Ultra Plus 2025

Samsung

Samsung Galaxy A25 5G SE*
Samsung Galaxy A35 5G
Samsung Galaxy A36
Samsung Galaxy A36 SE
Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
Samsung Galaxy A54 5G*
Samsung Galaxy S21
Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE
Samsung Galaxy S22
Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S22 FE
Samsung Galaxy S23
Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
Samsung Galaxy S24
Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S24 FE
Samsung Galaxy S25
Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge
Samsung Galaxy XCover 7 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
*Some non-T-Mobile device variants are not satellite-capable.

Motorola

Motorola Edge 2024
Moto G 2024
Moto G Stylus 2024
Moto G 5G 2024
Moto G Stylus 5G 2024

Samsung

Samsung Galaxy A14
Samsung Galaxy A15*
Samsung Galaxy A16
Samsung Galaxy A35
Samsung Galaxy A53*
Samsung Galaxy XCover6 Pro
*Some non-T-Mobile device variants are not satellite-capable.

T-Mobile

T-Mobile Revvl 7
T-Mobile Revvl 7 Pro

Technologies

‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ Teaser: Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway Are Back in Vogue

The much-anticipated fashion-forward sequel is set to hit theaters on May 1.

Fashion never truly goes out of style. Twenty years after the 2026 release of The Devil Wears Prada, set in the cutthroat world of fashion magazines, a sequel is coming May 1. A teaser for The Devil Wears Prada 2 was released on Wednesday, reuniting Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestly and Anne Hathaway as Andy Sachs.

Based on the book by Lauren Weisberger, The Devil Wears Prada follows Andy’s journey into the world of fashion editorial and her dramatic relationship with Miranda, the powerful editor of Runway magazine. The sequel takes viewers back to this cutthroat world, where the duo struggles with the decline of print media as they compete for readers and revenue against rival Emily Charlton (played by Emily Blunt), Miranda’s former assistant.

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Streep received an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of Miranda, a character loosely inspired by Vogue’s former editor-in-chief Anna Wintour.

Stanley Tucci returns alongside Blunt to reprise his role as Nigel, Miranda’s close friend and fashion expert. David Frankel, who directed the first movie, is back to direct the sequel.

Technologies

‘Toy Story 5’ Trailer Teases Terrifying Toy Battle: Woody and Buzz vs. a Tablet

The movie is set to premiere on June 19, 2026.

Pixar has released the first teaser trailer for Toy Story 5, which is set to premiere in theaters on June 19, 2026. Woody and Buzz Lightyear have come a long way since that first movie, which premiered 30 years ago, in November 1995. They’ve been through a lot, but now, there’s a new threat in town. It may be the toughest foe they’ve ever met: a kid’s tablet. How will screen time impact this group of lovable toys?

The clip gives us the first glimpse of the tech toy. Named Lilypad, the tablet is voiced by Tron: Ares star Greta Lee. While the plot of the movie has mostly been kept under wraps, it’s clear that these classic toys will now be competing against electronics to win Bonnie’s attention. Something tells me this will be no easy feat.

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Tom Hanks and Tim Allen reprise their roles as Woody and Buzz, respectively. Joan Cusack is back as Jessie, along with Tony Hale’s return as Forky. Conan O’Brien also appears in the movie as Smarty Pants, a tech-based toilet training toy.

«It’s been a hilarious and poignant journey exploring how our favourite team of legacy toys might respond to today’s world of technology, and we’re thrilled to share this first glimpse with audiences,» director Andrew Stanton and co-director Kenna Harris said in a statement, «Having the remarkably talented Greta Lee bring Lilypad to life — balancing a playfully antagonistic tone with humour and heart — has been incredible.»

You can watch the teaser below and stream the other four Toy Story films on Disney Plus.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Thursday, Nov. 13

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Nov. 13.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? I thought it was a little tougher than normal. Read on for the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.