T-Mobile Just Launched Satellite Texting for Everyone — Even Verizon and AT&T Users

Today, T-Mobile is launching its satellite-to-mobile service, called T-Satellite with Starlink, to everyone. That includes Verizon and AT&T customers.

T-Mobile explains that this new solution is able to connect smartphones in areas far beyond the reach of traditional networks. This is done by linking directly to a constellation of 650+ low-Earth orbit satellites, and then seamlessly extending T-Mobile’s coverage to where it’s needed most.

The former uncarrier first introduced this service six months ago, in a limited test. Since then, T-Mobile says that nearly 2 million users have tested the service in beta, which includes Verizon and AT&T customers too. The service has been used to text from remote trails, disaster zones, and off-the-grid job sites. “From backcountry hikers to first responders, T-Satellite has already provided a lifeline where none existed before,” according to T-Mobile in its prepared statement.

During the Los Angeles Fires, over 410,000 people communicated using T-Satellite

To celebrate today’s launch, T-Mobile is sharing some stats from the beta stage of T-Satellite, which are pretty impressive.

As mentioned already, over 2 million people tried T-Satellite during the beta test period, and there were up to 30,000 daily T-Satellite users. T-Mobile also says that three times more messages were received with T-Satellite than were sent.

When it comes to specific disasters, T-Mobile talks about the Los Angeles wildfires from earlier this year, where 410,000 people communicated with loved ones, sending 250,000 SMS messages, 157 WEAs published, which alerted all satellite-capable phones in the area.

There were similar numbers during the Oregon wildfires earlier this month, as well as during Hurricanes Helen and Milton and the recent Texas floods. This has all proven how important T-Satellite is, even before it exited the beta program.

Currently, with T-Satellite, you’re able to send and receive text messages, share your location, text 911 and receive emergency alerts, and send pictures and voice messages on Google Messages. T-Satellite will soon be able to picture and voice messaging to more devices, and also offer satellite data within certain apps.