Mobile’s list of eligible devices for beta testing Starlink direct-to-cell connections now includes iPhones. While only a few Samsung Galaxy devices were supported at first, now iPhone owners with the most recent update can reportedly connect,

When Apple first launched SOS via Satellite in 2022 with the iPhone 14, it partnered exclusively with Globalstar. Now, two years later, Apple has expanded its satellite ecosystem by enabling Starlink connectivity. According to a recent Bloomberg report, iOS 18.3 unlocks this feature, laying the groundwork for broader satellite-based services.

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.

Right now, iPhones use Apple’s own satellite service, but it’s pretty basic—just emergency calls, texting, and location sharing.

Viasat partners with the European Space Agency to use the satellites to connect to phones and IoT devices on the ground.

Direct-to-cell technology could transform the global telecoms landscape. However, the technology must first prove itself.

In October last year, the FCC had allowed SpaceX and T-Mobile to enable Starlink satellites with direct-to-cell capability to provide coverage for cellphones in areas of North Car