• T-Mobile opens satellite communications to Android, iOS, AT&E & Verizon

    From Marion@21:1/5 to All on Mon Feb 10 04:05:51 2025
    XPost: misc.phone.mobile.iphone

    T-Mobile opens satellite communications to Android, iOS, AT&E & Verizon https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/t-mobile-opens-up-its-starlink-beta-including-to-people-with-att-and-verizon/

    "As part of the beta, people in the program will be able
    to send SMS text messages when they're outdoors, even in
    areas where they don't normally get T-Mobile's terrestrial
    coverage. The beta service will be free and open to all
    T-Mobile postpaid users until July, with the carrier also
    making it available for free during this time to AT&T
    and Verizon customers."

    The article discusses how Verizon advertises things it can't do, where it doesn't mention that Apple is infamous for advertising what doesn't exist.

    "In emergency situations, the company may make the service
    available to all, regardless of plan"

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Alan@21:1/5 to Marion on Sun Feb 9 21:11:44 2025
    XPost: misc.phone.mobile.iphone

    On 2025-02-09 20:05, Marion wrote:
    T-Mobile opens satellite communications to Android, iOS, AT&E & Verizon https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/t-mobile-opens-up-its-starlink-beta- including-to-people-with-att-and-verizon/

    "As part of the beta, people in the program will be able
     to send SMS text messages when they're outdoors, even in  areas where they don't normally get T-Mobile's terrestrial
     coverage. The beta service will be free and open to all  T-Mobile postpaid users until July, with the carrier also  making it available
    for free during this time to AT&T
     and Verizon customers."

    The article discusses how Verizon advertises things it can't do, where it doesn't mention that Apple is infamous for advertising what doesn't exist.
    'Use Emergency SOS via satellite on your iPhone
    With iPhone 14 or later (all models), you can use Emergency SOS via
    satellite to text emergency services when you're off the grid with no
    cellular and Wi-Fi coverage.'

    <https://support.apple.com/en-ca/101573>

    'About Messages via satellite on your iPhone
    With iPhone 14 or later (all models), you can send iMessages or SMS
    messages via satellite when you’re off the grid with no cellular and
    Wi-Fi coverage.'

    <https://support.apple.com/en-ca/120930>

    And:

    'Messages via satellite is available in the U.S. and Canada. It's free
    for two years after the activation of an iPhone 14 or later (all models).'



    Kind of seems that it exists to me.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Theo@21:1/5 to Alan on Tue Feb 11 11:51:38 2025
    XPost: misc.phone.mobile.iphone

    In comp.mobile.android Alan <[email protected]> wrote:
    On 2025-02-09 20:05, Marion wrote:
    T-Mobile opens satellite communications to Android, iOS, AT&E & Verizon https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/t-mobile-opens-up-its-starlink-beta- including-to-people-with-att-and-verizon/

    "As part of the beta, people in the program will be able
     to send SMS text messages when they're outdoors, even in  areas where they don't normally get T-Mobile's terrestrial
     coverage. The beta service will be free and open to all  T-Mobile postpaid users until July, with the carrier also  making it available
    for free during this time to AT&T
     and Verizon customers."

    The article discusses how Verizon advertises things it can't do, where it doesn't mention that Apple is infamous for advertising what doesn't exist.
    'Use Emergency SOS via satellite on your iPhone
    With iPhone 14 or later (all models), you can use Emergency SOS via
    satellite to text emergency services when you're off the grid with no cellular and Wi-Fi coverage.'

    <https://support.apple.com/en-ca/101573>

    'About Messages via satellite on your iPhone
    With iPhone 14 or later (all models), you can send iMessages or SMS
    messages via satellite when you’re off the grid with no cellular and
    Wi-Fi coverage.'

    <https://support.apple.com/en-ca/120930>

    And:

    'Messages via satellite is available in the U.S. and Canada. It's free
    for two years after the activation of an iPhone 14 or later (all models).'



    Kind of seems that it exists to me.

    That's a different thing. The Apple feature has added extra hardware to the phones to talk to existing satellites. Starlink have added extra hardware
    to the satellites to talk to existing phones. The latter has much more applicability as it doesn't involve any hardware changes to the phones, so
    in theory would work with any phone (currently limited to phones approved by T-Mobile for now, but includes both Android and iOS and goes back several
    years of releases).

    Theo

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Gelato@21:1/5 to Theo on Tue Feb 11 12:06:49 2025
    XPost: misc.phone.mobile.iphone

    On 11 Feb 2025 11:51:38 +0000 (GMT), Theo wrote:

    In comp.mobile.android Alan <[email protected]> wrote:
    On 2025-02-09 20:05, Marion wrote:
    T-Mobile opens satellite communications to Android, iOS, AT&E & Verizon
    https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/t-mobile-opens-up-its-starlink-beta-
    including-to-people-with-att-and-verizon/

    "As part of the beta, people in the program will be able
    �to send SMS text messages when they're outdoors, even in �areas where
    they don't normally get T-Mobile's terrestrial
    �coverage. The beta service will be free and open to all �T-Mobile
    postpaid users until July, with the carrier also �making it available
    for free during this time to AT&T
    �and Verizon customers."

    The article discusses how Verizon advertises things it can't do, where it >>> doesn't mention that Apple is infamous for advertising what doesn't exist. >> 'Use Emergency SOS via satellite on your iPhone
    With iPhone 14 or later (all models), you can use Emergency SOS via
    satellite to text emergency services when you're off the grid with no
    cellular and Wi-Fi coverage.'

    <https://support.apple.com/en-ca/101573>

    'About Messages via satellite on your iPhone
    With iPhone 14 or later (all models), you can send iMessages or SMS
    messages via satellite when you�re off the grid with no cellular and
    Wi-Fi coverage.'

    <https://support.apple.com/en-ca/120930>

    And:

    'Messages via satellite is available in the U.S. and Canada. It's free
    for two years after the activation of an iPhone 14 or later (all models).' >>
    Kind of seems that it exists to me.

    That's a different thing. The Apple feature has added extra hardware to the phones to talk to existing satellites. Starlink have added extra hardware
    to the satellites to talk to existing phones. The latter has much more applicability as it doesn't involve any hardware changes to the phones, so
    in theory would work with any phone (currently limited to phones approved by T-Mobile for now, but includes both Android and iOS and goes back several years of releases).

    Theo

    Isn't a key difference also the size & frequency of the possible messaging?

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Alan@21:1/5 to Theo on Tue Feb 11 09:19:25 2025
    XPost: misc.phone.mobile.iphone

    On 2025-02-11 03:51, Theo wrote:
    In comp.mobile.android Alan <[email protected]> wrote:
    On 2025-02-09 20:05, Marion wrote:
    T-Mobile opens satellite communications to Android, iOS, AT&E & Verizon
    https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/t-mobile-opens-up-its-starlink-beta-
    including-to-people-with-att-and-verizon/

    "As part of the beta, people in the program will be able
     to send SMS text messages when they're outdoors, even in  areas where >>> they don't normally get T-Mobile's terrestrial
     coverage. The beta service will be free and open to all  T-Mobile
    postpaid users until July, with the carrier also  making it available
    for free during this time to AT&T
     and Verizon customers."

    The article discusses how Verizon advertises things it can't do, where it >>> doesn't mention that Apple is infamous for advertising what doesn't exist. >> 'Use Emergency SOS via satellite on your iPhone
    With iPhone 14 or later (all models), you can use Emergency SOS via
    satellite to text emergency services when you're off the grid with no
    cellular and Wi-Fi coverage.'

    <https://support.apple.com/en-ca/101573>

    'About Messages via satellite on your iPhone
    With iPhone 14 or later (all models), you can send iMessages or SMS
    messages via satellite when you’re off the grid with no cellular and
    Wi-Fi coverage.'

    <https://support.apple.com/en-ca/120930>

    And:

    'Messages via satellite is available in the U.S. and Canada. It's free
    for two years after the activation of an iPhone 14 or later (all models).' >>


    Kind of seems that it exists to me.

    That's a different thing. The Apple feature has added extra hardware to the phones to talk to existing satellites. Starlink have added extra hardware
    to the satellites to talk to existing phones. The latter has much more applicability as it doesn't involve any hardware changes to the phones, so
    in theory would work with any phone (currently limited to phones approved by T-Mobile for now, but includes both Android and iOS and goes back several years of releases).

    Theo

    The point is that "Arlen" was talking about satellite communications and
    went on to claim it "doesn't exist" for iPhones.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Alan@21:1/5 to Gelato on Tue Feb 11 09:19:53 2025
    XPost: misc.phone.mobile.iphone

    On 2025-02-11 09:06, Gelato wrote:
    On 11 Feb 2025 11:51:38 +0000 (GMT), Theo wrote:

    In comp.mobile.android Alan <[email protected]> wrote:
    On 2025-02-09 20:05, Marion wrote:
    T-Mobile opens satellite communications to Android, iOS, AT&E & Verizon >>>> https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/t-mobile-opens-up-its-starlink-beta-
    including-to-people-with-att-and-verizon/

    "As part of the beta, people in the program will be able
     to send SMS text messages when they're outdoors, even in  areas where >>>> they don't normally get T-Mobile's terrestrial
     coverage. The beta service will be free and open to all  T-Mobile >>>> postpaid users until July, with the carrier also  making it available >>>> for free during this time to AT&T
     and Verizon customers."

    The article discusses how Verizon advertises things it can't do, where it >>>> doesn't mention that Apple is infamous for advertising what doesn't exist. >>> 'Use Emergency SOS via satellite on your iPhone
    With iPhone 14 or later (all models), you can use Emergency SOS via
    satellite to text emergency services when you're off the grid with no
    cellular and Wi-Fi coverage.'

    <https://support.apple.com/en-ca/101573>

    'About Messages via satellite on your iPhone
    With iPhone 14 or later (all models), you can send iMessages or SMS
    messages via satellite when you¢re off the grid with no cellular and
    Wi-Fi coverage.'

    <https://support.apple.com/en-ca/120930>

    And:

    'Messages via satellite is available in the U.S. and Canada. It's free
    for two years after the activation of an iPhone 14 or later (all models).' >>>
    Kind of seems that it exists to me.

    That's a different thing. The Apple feature has added extra hardware to the >> phones to talk to existing satellites. Starlink have added extra hardware >> to the satellites to talk to existing phones. The latter has much more
    applicability as it doesn't involve any hardware changes to the phones, so >> in theory would work with any phone (currently limited to phones approved by >> T-Mobile for now, but includes both Android and iOS and goes back several
    years of releases).

    Theo

    Isn't a key difference also the size & frequency of the possible messaging?

    Satellite communication exists for iPhones.

    That is an absolute.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From micky@21:1/5 to [email protected] on Tue Feb 11 13:25:27 2025
    XPost: misc.phone.mobile.iphone

    In comp.mobile.android, on Mon, 10 Feb 2025 04:05:51 -0000 (UTC), Marion <[email protected]> wrote:

    T-Mobile opens satellite communications to Android, iOS, AT&E & Verizon >https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/t-mobile-opens-up-its-starlink-beta-including-to-people-with-att-and-verizon/

    "As part of the beta, people in the program will be able
    to send SMS text messages when they're outdoors, even in
    areas where they don't normally get T-Mobile's terrestrial
    coverage. The beta service will be free and open to all
    T-Mobile postpaid users until July, with the carrier also
    making it available for free during this time to AT&T
    and Verizon customers."

    The article discusses how Verizon advertises things it can't do, where it >doesn't mention that Apple is infamous for advertising what doesn't exist.

    Well that would be tasteless.

    "In emergency situations, the company may make the service
    available to all, regardless of plan"

    That may be nice if they may do it.

    If I hiked in the wilderness, or if I lived in the wilderness, this
    would be nice to have. But don't you need a phone with a more powerful transmitter to get all the way up in the sky?

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Carlos E.R.@21:1/5 to micky on Tue Feb 11 19:40:55 2025
    XPost: misc.phone.mobile.iphone

    On 2025-02-11 19:25, micky wrote:
    In comp.mobile.android, on Mon, 10 Feb 2025 04:05:51 -0000 (UTC), Marion <[email protected]> wrote:

    T-Mobile opens satellite communications to Android, iOS, AT&E & Verizon
    https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/t-mobile-opens-up-its-starlink-beta-including-to-people-with-att-and-verizon/

    "As part of the beta, people in the program will be able
    to send SMS text messages when they're outdoors, even in
    areas where they don't normally get T-Mobile's terrestrial
    coverage. The beta service will be free and open to all
    T-Mobile postpaid users until July, with the carrier also
    making it available for free during this time to AT&T
    and Verizon customers."

    The article discusses how Verizon advertises things it can't do, where it
    doesn't mention that Apple is infamous for advertising what doesn't exist.

    Well that would be tasteless.

    "In emergency situations, the company may make the service
    available to all, regardless of plan"

    That may be nice if they may do it.

    If I hiked in the wilderness, or if I lived in the wilderness, this
    would be nice to have. But don't you need a phone with a more powerful transmitter to get all the way up in the sky?

    Depends on how high those satellites are. They could be "just" 400 Km away.

    --
    Cheers, Carlos.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Alan@21:1/5 to micky on Tue Feb 11 11:37:44 2025
    XPost: misc.phone.mobile.iphone

    On 2025-02-11 10:25, micky wrote:
    In comp.mobile.android, on Mon, 10 Feb 2025 04:05:51 -0000 (UTC), Marion <[email protected]> wrote:

    T-Mobile opens satellite communications to Android, iOS, AT&E & Verizon
    https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/t-mobile-opens-up-its-starlink-beta-including-to-people-with-att-and-verizon/

    "As part of the beta, people in the program will be able
    to send SMS text messages when they're outdoors, even in
    areas where they don't normally get T-Mobile's terrestrial
    coverage. The beta service will be free and open to all
    T-Mobile postpaid users until July, with the carrier also
    making it available for free during this time to AT&T
    and Verizon customers."

    The article discusses how Verizon advertises things it can't do, where it
    doesn't mention that Apple is infamous for advertising what doesn't exist.

    Well that would be tasteless.

    "In emergency situations, the company may make the service
    available to all, regardless of plan"

    That may be nice if they may do it.

    If I hiked in the wilderness, or if I lived in the wilderness, this
    would be nice to have. But don't you need a phone with a more powerful transmitter to get all the way up in the sky?

    My iPhone can do it. Right now.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Frank Slootweg@21:1/5 to Carlos E.R. on Tue Feb 11 20:09:54 2025
    XPost: misc.phone.mobile.iphone

    Carlos E.R. <[email protected]d> wrote:
    On 2025-02-11 19:25, micky wrote:
    In comp.mobile.android, on Mon, 10 Feb 2025 04:05:51 -0000 (UTC), Marion <[email protected]> wrote:

    T-Mobile opens satellite communications to Android, iOS, AT&E & Verizon
    https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/t-mobile-opens-up-its-starlink-beta-including-to-people-with-att-and-verizon/

    "As part of the beta, people in the program will be able
    to send SMS text messages when they're outdoors, even in
    areas where they don't normally get T-Mobile's terrestrial
    coverage. The beta service will be free and open to all
    T-Mobile postpaid users until July, with the carrier also
    making it available for free during this time to AT&T
    and Verizon customers."

    The article discusses how Verizon advertises things it can't do, where it >> doesn't mention that Apple is infamous for advertising what doesn't exist.

    Well that would be tasteless.

    "In emergency situations, the company may make the service
    available to all, regardless of plan"

    That may be nice if they may do it.

    If I hiked in the wilderness, or if I lived in the wilderness, this
    would be nice to have. But don't you need a phone with a more powerful transmitter to get all the way up in the sky?

    Depends on how high those satellites are. They could be "just" 400 Km away.

    Indeed, with line-of-sight mobile phones can cover quite large
    distances.

    Case in point: Several years ago, we traveled in a small mail plane,
    from Port Augusta to Birdsville in Australia. While there are no towers
    for about 500km of that distance, the pilot had absolutely no problem
    using his (normal) mobile phone during the flight.

    Because of the distances, Australia's main network operator (Telstra)
    uses relatively low frequencies (850 MHz for 3G and 700 MHz for 4G), but
    that's not the only explanation of this wide in-the-air coverage.

    OTOH, I assume that the transmitters in satellites have much less
    power than towers on the earth surface, so I don't know what distances
    would be achievable for (normal) phone to satellite communication.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)
  • From Carlos E.R.@21:1/5 to Frank Slootweg on Tue Feb 11 21:31:35 2025
    XPost: misc.phone.mobile.iphone

    On 2025-02-11 21:09, Frank Slootweg wrote:
    Carlos E.R. <[email protected]d> wrote:
    On 2025-02-11 19:25, micky wrote:
    In comp.mobile.android, on Mon, 10 Feb 2025 04:05:51 -0000 (UTC), Marion >>> <[email protected]> wrote:

    ...

    If I hiked in the wilderness, or if I lived in the wilderness, this
    would be nice to have. But don't you need a phone with a more powerful
    transmitter to get all the way up in the sky?

    Depends on how high those satellites are. They could be "just" 400 Km away.

    Indeed, with line-of-sight mobile phones can cover quite large
    distances.

    Case in point: Several years ago, we traveled in a small mail plane,
    from Port Augusta to Birdsville in Australia. While there are no towers
    for about 500km of that distance, the pilot had absolutely no problem
    using his (normal) mobile phone during the flight.

    Because of the distances, Australia's main network operator (Telstra)
    uses relatively low frequencies (850 MHz for 3G and 700 MHz for 4G), but that's not the only explanation of this wide in-the-air coverage.

    OTOH, I assume that the transmitters in satellites have much less
    power than towers on the earth surface, so I don't know what distances
    would be achievable for (normal) phone to satellite communication.

    I have seen towers inside, although two decades ago, and the backup
    batteries were just 4 lead-acid batteries of maybe a third of the size
    my car uses. Sorry, I do not remember the amps. That's 48 volts
    (standard voltage in telephony) but not many amps. So, not a lot of
    power. I think I have seen some towers fed from solar panels.




    --
    Cheers, Carlos.

    --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
    * Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)