Apple links up with Musk’s Starlink in quiet satellite shift

Apple Inc. is making a strategic pivot in its satellite connectivity roadmap – this time teaming up with Elon Musk’s SpaceX and U.S. telecom giant T-Mobile to integrate Starlink satellite access into iPhones.

In a surprising turn that has rippled through the tech and telecom sectors, Apple is now testing Starlink compatibility on its devices – a move that effectively adds an alternative to its current Globalstar-powered satellite service.

The collaboration was first reported by Bloomberg, citing sources familiar with the tests. According to them, iPhones have already been running trials using the Starlink satellite network, developed by Musk’s Space Exploration Technologies Corp. The integration was quietly baked into a recent iOS update rolled out earlier this week.

This shift comes as a surprise, especially since T-Mobile had previously signaled that its Starlink service would be exclusive to certain Samsung models, including the Z Fold and S24. Apple's entry into the partnership marks a competitive shake-up in the satellite connectivity race.

Apple has historically leaned on Globalstar Inc. for its satellite-enabled emergency messaging, which allows users to communicate when out of cellular range. But the entrance of Starlink signals a diversification in strategy – and potential disruption. Shares of Globalstar tumbled by nearly 11 percent in premarket trading Wednesday after the news broke.

T-Mobile has already begun rolling out the beta version of the service to a limited group of iPhone users. In-app notifications sent to testers read: “You’re in the T-Mobile Starlink beta. You can now stay connected with texting via satellite from virtually anywhere. To start experiencing coverage beyond, please update to iOS 18.3.”

A new toggle for the Starlink feature can now be found in the cellular settings of supported iPhones. Initially limited to a curated list of optimized smartphones, the beta is expected to expand to a wider range of modern devices, including those running Android 15.

This development doesn’t eliminate Apple’s existing Globalstar arrangement – rather, it introduces a new option. Should users be out of reach of T-Mobile’s terrestrial coverage, their iPhones will attempt to connect to SpaceX’s Starlink satellites, with the alternative option to fall back on Globalstar or Apple’s own emergency SOS system.

Elon Musk, in a post on X, noted that current Starlink technology will soon support more than just text.

“Users can expect support for images, music, and podcasts,” he said, adding that video capability will follow in future updates.

So far, the Starlink feature is only available in the United States, unlike Apple’s existing Globalstar coverage, which spans multiple international markets. Still, SpaceX has signaled intent to bring Starlink-based mobile services to more telecom operators around the globe.

Musk had previously hinted at “promising conversations” with Apple on Starlink integration as early as 2022 – back when the company first collaborated with Globalstar.