I solo camp and hike in the Utah desert. Typically no cell service. I was excited with iPhone SOS. Even more so about T-Mobile/Spacex. This will be a game changer, possibly life saver for me.
They have had satellite you can talk/text over for over 20 years. Can't believe it's taken this long to get it working with cell phones. I would think they would have a pretty good idea of what to do at this point. Problem is coverage for the masses. There are also several devices that have been offering text by satellite for the last few years. Thanks for the update!
All of the current satellite communicators are talking to satellite frequency waves and is different technology than cellular. This is basically a cellular tower in the sky using a long range T-Mobile frequency band.
I understand, but you can actually talk over the existing SAT phones. That isn't an option yet with long range cell band yet. And texting ends up a draw, I would assume. @@MobileInternetResourceCenter
The big win with this new tech is that it works with existing phones - no special hardware required. A few companies have tried integrating legacy satellite messaging into cell phones, but it makes for an expensive and clunky phone. Direct to Cell avoids those tradeoffs.
I happened to be privvy to the original GE feasibility study done in 1978 to determine if mobile phone service by way of satelite was possible. Cell towers were a temporary interrim solution for a fast start and to be replaced eventually with satelites. Took long enough. GE sold assets to launch the satelites at the time this study was completed, including its HVAC, small home appliance division etc to facilitate the finance necessary. Not sure what happened to GE's foray into this scheme.
As a kid 20/20 or some show in '78 or '79 showed off a satellite watch phone that was supposed to cost $10 or $20 by the year 1990...the segment of the show took place at Disnry World. I think it was GE that was the company that made the watch. I was only 10yo but it made a lasting impression... 😊
I want a portable pocket wifi linked directly on starlink satellite. I had it before in Asia, but the signal and speed did fluctuate. I wish starlink will come up with it soon!
Thanks for the video, hadn't heard of this! I am looking forward to this technology becoming globally available in a few years. At the moment, when I go hiking I bring a Garmin inReach satellite (text) communicator. I'd also like to have a satellite phone, but an Iridium Extreme with airtime just seems a bit too expensive
The possibility is endless we may not even need a mobile phone. a small device with power for few months that can keep sending my gps location automatically vis text will be so helpful to prevent people from getting lost
How this different than the Apple 14/15 capability for there emergency satellite link in North America? Seems to be a similar type service if text only to start. Perhaps it will replace my Garmin InReach that I currently use for satellite non emergency communications (and primary for emergency use) when out of cell range.
Apple's is currently just using their SOS operator via TXT messenger - and of course, only available on those specific models. T-Mobile & Starlink's approach will enable TXT messaging and eventually low bandwidth activity on all models of phones out there for T-Mobile customers.
Thanks from Canada... This make a lot more sense than I was expecting. I'm curious how it will work with the Tesla Phone...??? Those are supposed to have Internet from Day One... Apparently those phones connect directly to the Internet at 5G... Correct me if I'm wrong :-) Thanks
Zoleo and Garmin already have satellite text messaging in conjunction with a current smartphone. A Zoleo is $200, plus $20/mo. for a basic monthly plan. SOS is included.
Indeed - there are already many satellite communicators on the market that rely on special hardware. What is new is the ability to communicate directly to a normal phone, no special hardware required.
FYI - Starlink's direct-to-cellular architecture requires gaining partnerships and spectrum rights from terrestrial carriers in every location they operate on the ground. So international roaming will still require the carriers to cut deals with each other. Depending on the deals the carriers cut with each other - roaming fees for international data may still be just as likely as before.
Huawei is doing satellite reception in partnership with China Telecom, and the most recently announced Mate 60 model is claimed to be able to support both satellite voice calls and SMS. But this satellite coverage is only available in China - which is not a market we cover.
If they are going to use data, LTE calls and messages with Starlink, it would not be that all of that fails because the system is in beta version and in testing according to reddit blogs on the internet and when there will be Starlink Cell in alpha version without failures, I would like you to talk about the subject. in a podcast 1 hour and in a video talking about the topic 30 minutes
Satellite phones aren’t really all that great, there are places and circumstances where it just doesn’t work. As a “fill in the gap” device maybe. As a sailor, we already have Sail Mail and that has massive limits and Starlink is already working their ass of to eliminate using their service on sailboats without the purchase of a “special” equipment and a “special” plan, both are over 3 times as much as the regular equipment and plan. They’re usefulness to people on sailboats is becoming limited and the clock is about to run out, most people have a budget and 3 times the price isn’t in there.
We aren't anywhere close to that happening, it could be only when the mobile is directly aiming at satellites with no obstacles, and the bandwidth could be slow, allowing only for SOS, and text messaging. Also the current starlink network with 5000+ satellites is unable to provide a 100% stable service just for a few million starlink receivers, imagine covering 100 million mobiles with starlink.
Having satellite messaging built into phones will make messengers like the Garmin inReach even more niche. Probably similar to how phones have replaced separate cameras and even flashlights for most people.
Thanks... diet & exercise. Here's our post on our personal channel where we recently shared our fitness journey: www.technomadia.com/2023/12/our-fitness-journey-goal-geeks-avoiding-being-called-couch-potatoes/
it seems that the FCC have been delaying and putting road blocks to slow this down, me thinks the legacy communication companies have been having words with the FCC to try to disrupt SpaceX from being the first, seeing as they all missed the boat with LEO satellite broadband
The FCC has actually been moving pretty fast on these licenses. SpaceX hasn’t had to delay anything, yet. The biggest delay SpaceX has faced was needing to develop a backup plan to launch Direct to Cell on Falcon 9 initially because Starship is late.
That's 7 Mbps shared across a several hundred mile area with everyone in that area. Each user would only have a tiny slice of that spectrum. This is not for streaming video.
@@MobileInternetResourceCenter oh really ok, I thought you meant 7mb but they were only allowing texting. I mean hopefully they can increase the bandwidth to where you can do things like that. I wonder how this works? Like you would think it would take a lot more power for the cellphone to communicate with a satellite that’s way further away than a cell tower. I guess if they were super low frequency, so u get the range but u have the bandwidth limitations that come with it.
being able to send an sms would be more than enough for this to be useful. Imagine you are a doctor and be able to receive SMS that you need to come back or be able to send information about something.
Didn't think something like that would be possible. I guess this leapfrogs the whole satellite connectivity in phones and explains why they dropped the project so quickly on top of it not being so feasible.
For the past 2 years T-Mobiles download speed was slowing down 5 mbps Humboldt county California Rio Dell, Eureka, Fortuna, Arcata Vally West area. Horrible. Magenta max priority plan for $95 they slowed us down and we promised priority data speed unlimited. No cap limit. Lied. Count me in for a complaint..
Network operations , field technicians, RF engineers, Development and managers better get their resumes ready. They will cut the workforce more than half once this gets up and running.
Working on a cell network that shares spectrum and integrates with satellite is actually going to increase overall RF and network complexity - so I don’t think mass layoffs are coming to the carriers anytime soon.
@@MobileInternetResourceCenter I have men in the cellular communications field for 26 years, trust me that's where it's heading. Yes there will be towers still here but not all, they will decommission a lot. Site builds will diminish to almost nothing.
That’s the beauty of this approach - it’s being transmitted over cellular frequency bands riding along on the satellite so that most phones on the market can use it.
I'm not sure what you mean by that... Because that's basically what this is. If your Tmobile phone loses connections with cell towers, it'll connect to the satellites instead so you can still send & text messages. Anything more than text messages requires a big antenna. Even iridium phones have a huge flip up antenna.
Hybrid solutions are indeed the only way satellite to cell will ever prove practical. That is why SpaceX has partnered with T-Mobile, and AT&T is partnered with AST Space Mobile. Verizon is also likely going to partner with Amazon’s Project Kuiper satellites.
@@licencetoswill it’s not the frequency that I’m referring to, the satellite is a lot further than any cell tower so the antenna would need to be larger and or have more power
That is what is exciting about Direct to Cell - it uses a gigantic antenna on the satellite to be able to reach out to normal unmodified small antenna cell phones.
Not at all.. this is will not provide broadband level speeds. It's just to fill in gaps where it's not practical to build towers for basic communication.
okay I'm sorry but.. how many satellites again so I can do SMS only? y'all smokin' better stuff than I got.. That's what I think.. too bad.. I have too many trees around me for starlink. Bet I can hit a geosynchronous for cheap soon tho.. Elon ain't getting a dime from me.
If you can't get Starlink from your location because of the tree coverage, then chances are extremely slim you'll just happen to be in the right orientation to peek through a hole in the canopy and hit some underrated geo sat, regardless of what Hughes is saying.
@@5thGenNativeTexan Nobody said nothing about Hughes. I hate them. But I used to install wild blue out in Wyoming.. can't remember what they changed their name to but maybe.. depends on the inclination from up here in WA State.. idk.. maybe..
I think the difference is you wouldn't need starlink for this to work, when it's completed. Just your phone would do. It would probably be a proprietary phone sold by whoever was running the show, though, perhaps Starlink itself.
Did you guys watch the video? This is a partnership with T-Mobile to allow any 4g / 5g phone with T-Mobile service to send basic text messages from remote areas. No special hardware. It's designed for people in remote areas with just their phone, and is to be competitive with the iPhone version which is currently emergency-only. This would let you send social texts not just emergency ones.
Which is exactly the point of this. You're out somewhere remote.... camping, hiking, driving, whatever, and you have an issue and need to make a connection. This will allow you to do that. If you're expecting to be sitting in your RV or cabin or whatever in some remote location, then you'd be using an actual Starlink dish to make the connection.
@@pooh4519 this is only for remote areas where there isn't any cell service at all, not places with towers. "having to go outside the cabin" is a lot better than "no cell service unless you drive 20 miles into town". This isn't designed to replace a huge starlink dish and router.
@@pooh4519 Beyond it's initial use, I actually do think that a cell provider would be thrilled to say their phones have connectivity literally almost anywhere in the world. If I'm any kind of outdoor enthusiast, traveler, etc, and I have a choice of a phone provider that not only works on the traditional land-based network, but also allows me to send and receive messages from anywhere, then you can be sure I'll choose that cell provider.
If you're traveling in an area with out cellular coverage and need to get a message out, we seriously doubt anyone will consider stepping outside to send that message a 'deal breaker'.
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Being able to send a text out an emergency situation is a lifesaver. I don't really expect it to do much past that for now.
iPhone 14 and 15 already have this, had it for a year
@@Tmm42s That's hardware specific. This would allow older devices to send text.
@@7techno77wouldn’t pay money for it though . Nice to have
I solo camp and hike in the Utah desert. Typically no cell service. I was excited with iPhone SOS. Even more so about T-Mobile/Spacex. This will be a game changer, possibly life saver for me.
Yeah, you're like the perfect target customer. You'll be able to send non emergency texts to people from remote places.
This is exactly the use case that this technology is so exciting for!
What are you doing in the middle of the f***ing desert 😂 ?
They have had satellite you can talk/text over for over 20 years. Can't believe it's taken this long to get it working with cell phones. I would think they would have a pretty good idea of what to do at this point. Problem is coverage for the masses. There are also several devices that have been offering text by satellite for the last few years. Thanks for the update!
All of the current satellite communicators are talking to satellite frequency waves and is different technology than cellular. This is basically a cellular tower in the sky using a long range T-Mobile frequency band.
I understand, but you can actually talk over the existing SAT phones. That isn't an option yet with long range cell band yet. And texting ends up a draw, I would assume.
@@MobileInternetResourceCenter
The big win with this new tech is that it works with existing phones - no special hardware required. A few companies have tried integrating legacy satellite messaging into cell phones, but it makes for an expensive and clunky phone. Direct to Cell avoids those tradeoffs.
I happened to be privvy to the original GE feasibility study done in 1978 to determine if mobile phone service by way of satelite was possible. Cell towers were a temporary interrim solution for a fast start and to be replaced eventually with satelites. Took long enough. GE sold assets to launch the satelites at the time this study was completed, including its HVAC, small home appliance division etc to facilitate the finance necessary. Not sure what happened to GE's foray into this scheme.
As a kid 20/20 or some show in '78 or '79 showed off a satellite watch phone that was supposed to cost $10 or $20 by the year 1990...the segment of the show took place at Disnry World.
I think it was GE that was the company that made the watch.
I was only 10yo but it made a lasting impression... 😊
Cell towers are better in every way
Technology advances. Starlink cellular ahead.
I think OFC cables got more advanced and cheaper but satellite launches only got costlier till SpaceX
Satellite will never replace cell towers, satellite is only for areas with no mobile coverage. To get capacity you need many towers ever x miles
I want a portable pocket wifi linked directly on starlink satellite. I had it before in Asia, but the signal and speed did fluctuate. I wish starlink will come up with it soon!
Thanks for the video, hadn't heard of this! I am looking forward to this technology becoming globally available in a few years. At the moment, when I go hiking I bring a Garmin inReach satellite (text) communicator. I'd also like to have a satellite phone, but an Iridium Extreme with airtime just seems a bit too expensive
It’s a good start. Give it a year or two and it will be great!
The possibility is endless we may not even need a mobile phone. a small device with power for few months that can keep sending my gps location automatically vis text will be so helpful to prevent people from getting lost
T-Mobile needs to do something to improve the service first two years I had it was excellent the past two years it has not been good...
If I can get text and/or voice in remote locations, that is all I need.
details start at 2:15. Looking forward to this service! I have SOS on my iphone 14 pro max. The only reason I updated from an iphone 13.
How this different than the Apple 14/15 capability for there emergency satellite link in North America? Seems to be a similar type service if text only to start. Perhaps it will replace my Garmin InReach that I currently use for satellite non emergency communications (and primary for emergency use) when out of cell range.
Apple's is currently just using their SOS operator via TXT messenger - and of course, only available on those specific models. T-Mobile & Starlink's approach will enable TXT messaging and eventually low bandwidth activity on all models of phones out there for T-Mobile customers.
That Will be Better than Verizon Because Alot of Fox Saying that Verizon Have the Best Coverage
If it can take the place of a Garmin in reach then I'm excited.
May be in future, They will able to provide data and call.
Can't wait
Thank you for the clarification.
Thanks from Canada... This make a lot more sense than I was expecting. I'm curious how it will work with the Tesla Phone...??? Those are supposed to have Internet from Day One... Apparently those phones connect directly to the Internet at 5G... Correct me if I'm wrong :-) Thanks
The Tesla Pi Phone was a joke rumor started outside of SpaceX.. here's our story covering that: th-cam.com/video/DlGsDAW_eEY/w-d-xo.html
Zoleo and Garmin already have satellite text messaging in conjunction with a current smartphone. A Zoleo is $200, plus $20/mo. for a basic monthly plan. SOS is included.
Indeed - there are already many satellite communicators on the market that rely on special hardware. What is new is the ability to communicate directly to a normal phone, no special hardware required.
Does this mean no roaming fees anymore? Since I can be connected to the MNO network from anywhere in the world where my phone can reach the satellite?
Details of how it will all work billing wise have yet to be disclosed.
FYI - Starlink's direct-to-cellular architecture requires gaining partnerships and spectrum rights from terrestrial carriers in every location they operate on the ground. So international roaming will still require the carriers to cut deals with each other. Depending on the deals the carriers cut with each other - roaming fees for international data may still be just as likely as before.
@@MobileInternetResourceCenter thank you for the additional info!
Thanks for more detailed information
How much does it cost? Can you use data for the internet using direct to cell? Thank you
They have not yet enabled the service - so pricing is unknown. And this will initially likely just be text messaging.
@@MobileInternetResourceCenter okay thank you looking forward for the next update.
Cool phone case😎
Very informative
Huawei latest phones already can do satellite cellular
Huawei is doing satellite reception in partnership with China Telecom, and the most recently announced Mate 60 model is claimed to be able to support both satellite voice calls and SMS.
But this satellite coverage is only available in China - which is not a market we cover.
Hey, being able to send a text on the Alcan would be huge
Cool thanks 😊
If they are going to use data, LTE calls and messages with Starlink, it would not be that all of that fails because the system is in beta version and in testing according to reddit blogs on the internet and when there will be Starlink Cell in alpha version without failures, I would like you to talk about the subject. in a podcast 1 hour and in a video talking about the topic 30 minutes
If you'd like to book us on your podcast, please do be in touch via our contact e-mail - info@rvmobileinternet.com
Satellite phones aren’t really all that great, there are places and circumstances where it just doesn’t work. As a “fill in the gap” device maybe. As a sailor, we already have Sail Mail and that has massive limits and Starlink is already working their ass of to eliminate using their service on sailboats without the purchase of a “special” equipment and a “special” plan, both are over 3 times as much as the regular equipment and plan. They’re usefulness to people on sailboats is becoming limited and the clock is about to run out, most people have a budget and 3 times the price isn’t in there.
I imagine they will still leave a few cell towers operational in major cities for an emergency backup?
The entire existing T-Mobile terrestrial network will remain - this is only adding coverage in places they don't currently have towers.
We aren't anywhere close to that happening, it could be only when the mobile is directly aiming at satellites with no obstacles, and the bandwidth could be slow, allowing only for SOS, and text messaging. Also the current starlink network with 5000+ satellites is unable to provide a 100% stable service just for a few million starlink receivers, imagine covering 100 million mobiles with starlink.
Great in an emergency
Hi im looking for a satellite phone so i can use in the Caribbean or South America to make calls and text what do you recommend me?
We only track mobile internet options, not phone.
Will this eventually phase out services like Garmin emergency SMS?
Having satellite messaging built into phones will make messengers like the Garmin inReach even more niche. Probably similar to how phones have replaced separate cameras and even flashlights for most people.
Hi Chris, Please tell me how you lost weight. You look great!
Thanks... diet & exercise. Here's our post on our personal channel where we recently shared our fitness journey: www.technomadia.com/2023/12/our-fitness-journey-goal-geeks-avoiding-being-called-couch-potatoes/
it seems that the FCC have been delaying and putting road blocks to slow this down, me thinks the legacy communication companies have been having words with the FCC to try to disrupt SpaceX from being the first, seeing as they all missed the boat with LEO satellite broadband
The FCC has actually been moving pretty fast on these licenses. SpaceX hasn’t had to delay anything, yet. The biggest delay SpaceX has faced was needing to develop a backup plan to launch Direct to Cell on Falcon 9 initially because Starship is late.
Starship is late because the fcc been delaying it@MobileInternetResourceCenter
7mb's isnt horrible. 1080p streaming is 5mb so thats decent.
That's 7 Mbps shared across a several hundred mile area with everyone in that area. Each user would only have a tiny slice of that spectrum. This is not for streaming video.
@@MobileInternetResourceCenter oh really ok, I thought you meant 7mb but they were only allowing texting. I mean hopefully they can increase the bandwidth to where you can do things like that. I wonder how this works? Like you would think it would take a lot more power for the cellphone to communicate with a satellite that’s way further away than a cell tower. I guess if they were super low frequency, so u get the range but u have the bandwidth limitations that come with it.
being able to send an sms would be more than enough for this to be useful. Imagine you are a doctor and be able to receive SMS that you need to come back or be able to send information about something.
Didn't think something like that would be possible. I guess this leapfrogs the whole satellite connectivity in phones and explains why they dropped the project so quickly on top of it not being so feasible.
For the past 2 years T-Mobiles download speed was slowing down 5 mbps Humboldt county California Rio Dell, Eureka, Fortuna, Arcata Vally West area. Horrible. Magenta max priority plan for $95 they slowed us down and we promised priority data speed unlimited. No cap limit. Lied. Count me in for a complaint..
Many things can impact cellular data performance, here's our guide: www.rvmobileinternet.com/performance
Network operations , field technicians, RF engineers, Development and managers better get their resumes ready. They will cut the workforce more than half once this gets up and running.
This will not be a replacement for existing or future terrestrial based cellular - which will always have broadband level capacity.
Working on a cell network that shares spectrum and integrates with satellite is actually going to increase overall RF and network complexity - so I don’t think mass layoffs are coming to the carriers anytime soon.
@@MobileInternetResourceCenter I have men in the cellular communications field for 26 years, trust me that's where it's heading. Yes there will be towers still here but not all, they will decommission a lot. Site builds will diminish to almost nothing.
A phone does not have a big enough antenna gain for full satellite features. Text only is really low bandwidth
That’s the beauty of this approach - it’s being transmitted over cellular frequency bands riding along on the satellite so that most phones on the market can use it.
Cellphone companies monopoly much?
A Hybrid of Cellular and Satellite would be more Useful.
I'm not sure what you mean by that... Because that's basically what this is. If your Tmobile phone loses connections with cell towers, it'll connect to the satellites instead so you can still send & text messages.
Anything more than text messages requires a big antenna. Even iridium phones have a huge flip up antenna.
Hybrid solutions are indeed the only way satellite to cell will ever prove practical. That is why SpaceX has partnered with T-Mobile, and AT&T is partnered with AST Space Mobile. Verizon is also likely going to partner with Amazon’s Project Kuiper satellites.
Doesn’t your cell phone need a different antenna to reach that satellite?
no, they use the same frequency.
@@licencetoswill it’s not the frequency that I’m referring to, the satellite is a lot further than any cell tower so the antenna would need to be larger and or have more power
That is what is exciting about Direct to Cell - it uses a gigantic antenna on the satellite to be able to reach out to normal unmodified small antenna cell phones.
Antenna size is based on hertz not watts.
No such thing as 4G - It's LTE
4G=LTE. They are used interchangeably.
Does this mean the downfall of the tower industry is inevitable?
Not at all.. this is will not provide broadband level speeds. It's just to fill in gaps where it's not practical to build towers for basic communication.
😊❤🛰️🎁
okay I'm sorry but.. how many satellites again so I can do SMS only?
y'all smokin' better stuff than I got.. That's what I think..
too bad.. I have too many trees around me for starlink.
Bet I can hit a geosynchronous for cheap soon tho..
Elon ain't getting a dime from me.
I'm sure that will keep him awake at night!
If you can't get Starlink from your location because of the tree coverage, then chances are extremely slim you'll just happen to be in the right orientation to peek through a hole in the canopy and hit some underrated geo sat, regardless of what Hughes is saying.
@@5thGenNativeTexan Nobody said nothing about Hughes. I hate them. But I used to install wild blue out in Wyoming.. can't remember what they changed their name to but maybe.. depends on the inclination from up here in WA State.. idk.. maybe..
I don't get it. Why would I need this? I have Starlink and can make calls over the internet with my iPhone.
I think the difference is you wouldn't need starlink for this to work, when it's completed. Just your phone would do. It would probably be a proprietary phone sold by whoever was running the show, though, perhaps Starlink itself.
Did you guys watch the video? This is a partnership with T-Mobile to allow any 4g / 5g phone with T-Mobile service to send basic text messages from remote areas. No special hardware.
It's designed for people in remote areas with just their phone, and is to be competitive with the iPhone version which is currently emergency-only. This would let you send social texts not just emergency ones.
Indeed - no new phone needed. Almost all existing 4G phones will be compatible, if they have the right service plan.
Cell towers are better in every way
If there are cell towers.. for sure. But this is meant for places where there are not cell towers.
I'll never switch to Tmobile because of their flagrant 1st amendment violations.
What do you mean?
Deal breaker....you must be outside to get a signal !!!
Which is exactly the point of this. You're out somewhere remote.... camping, hiking, driving, whatever, and you have an issue and need to make a connection. This will allow you to do that. If you're expecting to be sitting in your RV or cabin or whatever in some remote location, then you'd be using an actual Starlink dish to make the connection.
@@5thGenNativeTexan Well I am sure T-mobile will be thrilled with the prospect of all those millions of people having issues that need a text message.
@@pooh4519 this is only for remote areas where there isn't any cell service at all, not places with towers. "having to go outside the cabin" is a lot better than "no cell service unless you drive 20 miles into town".
This isn't designed to replace a huge starlink dish and router.
@@pooh4519 Beyond it's initial use, I actually do think that a cell provider would be thrilled to say their phones have connectivity literally almost anywhere in the world. If I'm any kind of outdoor enthusiast, traveler, etc, and I have a choice of a phone provider that not only works on the traditional land-based network, but also allows me to send and receive messages from anywhere, then you can be sure I'll choose that cell provider.
If you're traveling in an area with out cellular coverage and need to get a message out, we seriously doubt anyone will consider stepping outside to send that message a 'deal breaker'.
Goodbye Apple enjoyers with there satellite calls and whatever
Thank you! We now have internet in our small town 🥹