T-Mobile's CEO suggests that direct-to-cell Starlink service will be offered to those on its most expensive plans as a free perk. Others will be able to get it as a paid add-on.

T-Mobile partnered with SpaceX last year and launched a beta program for Starlink connectivity last December. However, the company originally only offered the option on Samsung phones. Now, this has been expanded to the iPhone as well.

Starlink support appears to be a secret iOS 18.3 feature for iPhones, some of which now support satellite communication services from SpaceX — but only for users invited to join public beta testing of the service on US carrier T-Mobile. This supplements Apple’s existing satellite services supplier, Globalstar.

T-Mobile's cellular Starlink beta program was initially restricted to five Samsung phone models. But the carrier has quietly expanded it to select iPhones running iOS 18.3.

T-Mobile is expanding its Starlink beta program. Now, some iPhone and Samsung Galaxy users can connect to SpaceX's satellites.

The latest iOS 18.3 update enables the satellite texting feature offered by T-Mobile through Starlink for select iPhone users.

Apple is reportedly partnering with SpaceX and T-Mobile to integrate Starlink satellite support into iPhone software, according to Bloomberg. The partnership would offer some T-Mobile customers an alternative to Apple's existing satellite communication service,

Earlier this month, several T-Mobile Android device users shared on social media that they had received access to the carrier's Starlink beta program. Now, an update to the T-Mobi

"You can now stay connected with texting via satellite from virtually anywhere," the message reads, according to Bloomberg. And for iPhone users, it asks them to "update to iOS 18.3" to "start experiencing coverage beyond.