T-Mobile and SpaceX got emergency approval from the Federal Communications Commission this past weekend to use the latter Starlink service to send emergencies to those affected by Helene Helene in areas where cell service remains down. With Hurricane Milton, now carrying down Florida, T-Mobile Cnet says it plans to continue with emergencies via satellite to Milton and enable satellite text.
In a statement on Tuesday, the carrier noted that wireless emergencies will be “on and the teams may enable other message services as SMS in the coming days.” While Messaging will be a T-Mobile-Kun function, the emergency alarms can be sent to all users in the affected area, not only those on T-Mobile.
In a post of x Tuesday night, SpaceX confirmed that SMS messages are enabled.
In addition to the thousands (> 10k) of Starlink -Set we deliver in response to Hurricane Helene, the @Starlink Hold and @Tmobile Activated our directly to cell satellites to provide alarm alarms for all phones and carriers of them in affected areas.
The @Fcc Also have …– SpaceX (@spacex) October 8, 2024
It is worth noting that this is SMS or traditional text messages and is performed through your phone’s regular message app. It does not work with internet -based message services or apps such as iMessage, WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger.
T-Mobile and SpaceX advertised plans to start quickly turn out to be valuable to connecting people in national emergencies.
T-Mobile has previously said that once it launches its satellite service with SpaceX, it would start with Messaging apps before they potentially expand to include voice and data in the future.
Read more: How carriers keep phones working during disasters
This is what it looks like to receive a text that someone sent using a satellite. Note “iMessage • Satellite” note over the date.
T-Mobile’s option is not the first satellite notification feature available to consumers, but it works for most phones supported by the carrier-inclusive both Android and iPhone.
From iOS 18 last month, Apple allowed owners of an iPhone 14 or later to use its satellite network (through its partner Globalstar) to iMessage contacts as well as to relief with relief services, regardless of what wireless carrier they have. Apple’s option does not work with SMS or other messaging apps and is limited to just iMessages.
See this: Messages via satellite in iOS 18: first look
Google Pixel 9 owners can use their phones to connect to satellites (with Google Partner Skylo) to message of emergencies, regardless of what wireless networks they are usually at.
Verizon plans to use Skylo to activate regular text messages on Android phones via satellites, but tells CNET that the “will come in early 2025 for many customers” and will not be available to Milton.
The T-Mobile/SpaceX satellite setting works with Apple’s satellite offering, but T-Mobile’s system would be given priority for customers who have both a recent iPhone (iPhone 14, 15 or 16) and the carrier’s service. This is because the T-Mobile/SpaceX setting appears to users as a regular cellular connection, while Apple’s option only kicks in when there is no cover at all.
According to SpaceX, when you are connected to its service, your phone will say “T-Mobile SpaceX” in the network name and will have “will have 1 to 2 bars with signal” strength shown. The company notes that “users may need to manually try text messages manually if they do not go through first as this is delivered on a best effort.”
It adds that while the “service works best outdoors”, it also works “occasionally indoors near a window.”
Apple’s iPhone 16, 16 Plus showing bold colors and buttons
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