Apple Continues Rolling Out Support for Carrier Satellite Services

[MacRumors]

Apple is continuing to add support for carrier-based satellite services, with au customers in Japan and One NZ customers in New Zealand now able to use the satellite connectivity offered by those carriers on compatible iPhone models.

Both au and One NZ have partnered with SpaceX to provide their customers with Starlink Direct satellite service, joining T-Mobile in the U.S. in offering Starlink connectivity as an alternative to the satellite messaging features built into Apple's iPhone 14 and later models. Japan and New Zealand both have large swathes of land where traditional cellular coverage is unavailable due to terrain limitations.

For au customers, Starlink Direct covers all of Japan, providing connectivity in remote areas where cellular towers are not available. au does not charge for the service, which allows users to send and receive text messages, get emergency earthquake alerts, and share their location with friends and family.

In New Zealand, One NZ customers can use Starlink Direct to send and receive texts anywhere in the country, with the functionality included in eligible mobile plans.

Starlink Direct is available when cellular signal is not, as long as there is a clear line of sight to the sky. While an open space not obstructed by buildings helps with connectivity, users do not need to hold their smartphone up to the sky to connect, which is a requirement for Apple's built-in satellite service offered through its partnership with Globalstar.

Carrier-based satellite services are supported on the iPhone 14 models and later, and customers who have access to carrier satellite options can use those in addition to the satellite connectivity that is included in Apple's modern iPhones.

(Thanks, Dhinak!)

Article Link: Apple Continues Rolling Out Support for Carrier Satellite Services

 

[F23]

AirPods with satellite connectivity: you can now listen to your favorite tunes while awaiting your demise after getting lost on your hike in the forest.

 

[0049190]

Musk looks more like a Bond villain every day with his increasing control of space.

 

[sw1tcher]

In New Zealand, One NZ customers can use Starlink Direct to send and receive texts anywhere in the country, with the functionality included in eligible mobile plans.

Just make sure you're not trying to use the service when inside a building. Or in a car. Or under a tree. 😂

Forrester’s Digest: New Zealand hits Starlink with criminal charges – SatNews

news.satnews.com

One NZ had seemingly jumped the gun with its Starlink publicity and marketing campaign and talked about 100 percent national coverage but failed to mention that it would only include text messages, and that the user’s cellphone needed to have ‘line of sight’ to the sky and thus could not handle messages when inside buildings, or in a car or simply under a tree.

One NZ’s marketing campaign had not mentioned that the sending and receiving of texts would initially have a two-minute delay, on average, rather than the impression conveyed in the campaign of near-instantaneous service.

 

[Plutonius]

I wonder what the Apple markup cost to it's customers will be to allow for carrier satellite coverage.

My prediction is that it will not be cheap .

 

[robcole2013]

I wonder what battery life is like using satellite connectivity compared to the normal 4 & 5G?

 

[pugxiwawa]

Musk looks more like a Bond villain every day with his increasing control of space.

You mean providing life saving measures in time of crisis and needs.

You can choose not to use it when you are stranded. But at least you have a choice.

 

[0049190]

You mean providing life saving measures in time of crisis and needs.

You can choose not to use it when you are stranded. But at least you have a choice.

LOL. He’s not doing it for the good of mankind. He’s doing it for the power, control, influence and money.

 

[LordArchie]

LOL. He’s not doing it for the good of mankind. He’s doing it for the power, control, influence and money.

This is the correct answer

 

[pugxiwawa]

LOL. He’s not doing it for the good of mankind. He’s doing it for the power, control, influence and money.

He made it possible. It’s there at time of crisis, it saved lives and provided critical communication during flood and fire. Also give people live in rural areas means to connect to internet.

Would you rather we don’t have Starlinks so you can feel better?

You don’t have to use it you know, even if your life depends on it. But don’t think it doesn’t serve purpose for millions who depend on it.

 

[Dr McKay]

AirPods with satellite connectivity: you can now listen to your favorite tunes while awaiting your demise after getting lost on your hike in the forest.

Elevated heart rate detected on your Apple Watch, smooth jazz will be deployed to your AirPods in 3...2...1

 

[JohnC1959]

This was one of the main reasons I upgraded my 13 pro.

 

[JohnC1959]

I wonder what battery life is like using satellite connectivity compared to the normal 4 & 5G?

May not be terribly relevant. When using satellite you have to keep the phone aimed at the satellite (the phone guides you on this). This makes it hard to just being hanging/walking and receive messages now and then. So, the better way to use it would be to keep your phone off or in airplane mode, then now and then turn it on, aim it and check for new replies then turn it off again. This is extra true assuming that you're using it because you are in a remote place where charging isn't practical. This is also why I carry a spare power bank when in remote places just in case.

 

[matthew12]

I wonder what battery life is like using satellite connectivity compared to the normal 4 & 5G?

Probably not as good as a normal cell connection. But it's also only supposed to be used rarely and not your main connectivity method.

 

[swm]

I wonder what battery life is like using satellite connectivity compared to the normal 4 & 5G?

the available bw is minuscule compared to 4G. the average distance to the "base station" is far larger than on earth, so the phone must work very hard to talk to the satellite. there is no special radio band for DTC, they use the normal cell bands around 1800MHz - and all other EIRP regulations apply, e.g. the phone cannot transmit with higher power than normally. therefore the power consumption will remain manageable - but because of the low bitrate, transmitting the same information will take a longer time, and the average bits/mAh ratio will be worse.
this is not meant to provide real good internet experience, as the coverage are a of a single satellite is far larger than the one of a macro cell, so a lot more devices will be in the area that share the tiny bandwidth available. will be good for regular texts in emergencies.

 

[Nermal]

Just make sure you're not trying to use the service when inside a building. Or in a car. Or under a tree. 😂

Forrester’s Digest: New Zealand hits Starlink with criminal charges – SatNews

news.satnews.com

One NZ had seemingly jumped the gun with its Starlink publicity and marketing campaign and talked about 100 percent national coverage but failed to mention that it would only include text messages, and that the user’s cellphone needed to have ‘line of sight’ to the sky and thus could not handle messages when inside buildings, or in a car or simply under a tree.

One NZ’s marketing campaign had not mentioned that the sending and receiving of texts would initially have a two-minute delay, on average, rather than the impression conveyed in the campaign of near-instantaneous service.

Note that while the gist of the article is correct, the headline is not. The charges are against One, not Starlink.

Official press release

 

[0049190]

He made it possible. It’s there at time of crisis, it saved lives and provided critical communication during flood and fire. Also give people live in rural areas means to connect to internet.

Would you rather we don’t have Starlinks so you can feel better?

You don’t have to use it you know, even if your life depends on it. But don’t think it doesn’t serve purpose for millions who depend on it.

We had satellite phones and internet long before Starlink. I’m not against the technology, I’m against Musk exploiting it for power and influence. It’s the same reason I don’t use X.

 

[Quotageek]

I wonder what the Apple markup cost to it's customers will be to allow for carrier satellite coverage.

My prediction is that it will not be cheap .

Look at Garmin or other satellite messenger pricing. $30 for 150 messages. Overage rates are like $0.50/message.

I could see it being like $10/month. Or more likely just being included in the future. Similar to how they used to charge for texting, but now they just include unlimited texts in all current plans.

 

[JohnC1959]

Look at Garmin or other satellite messenger pricing. $30 for 150 messages. Overage rates are like $0.50/message.

I could see it being like $10/month. Or more likely just being included in the future. Similar to how they used to charge for texting, but now they just include unlimited texts in all current plans.

However they price it they would want to have it available in a pinch even if you didn't purchase up front. Being stranded in the middle of nowhere isn't the time to decide you should have signed up. So maybe a very basic usage (few messages) included then pay more to do more. Time will tell....

 

[macduke]

He made it possible. It’s there at time of crisis, it saved lives and provided critical communication during flood and fire. Also give people live in rural areas means to connect to internet.

Would you rather we don’t have Starlinks so you can feel better?

You don’t have to use it you know, even if your life depends on it. But don’t think it doesn’t serve purpose for millions who depend on it.

I would not pay for something that benefit Hitler and his war machine in the 1930s, even if my life depended on it. There is not much difference here. And iPhone includes it for free anyway with a non-fascist owned company.

 

[breenmask]

LOL. He’s not doing it for the good of mankind. He’s doing it for the power, control, influence and money.

then explain opening up superchargers to non-Tesla owners (which was the single number one reason a lot of people refused to buy a non-Tesla).

you can't really argue "well, Tesla profits more off of charging for Supercharger use" when Tesla would have made more money selling the car AND selling Supercharger service.

 

[breenmask]

Musk looks more like a Bond villain every day with his increasing control of space.

feel free to not use starlink the next time you're on a plane/cruise, or when you're stranded. anything to own Elon I guess.

 

[JohnC1959]

then explain opening up superchargers to non-Tesla owners (which was the single number one reason a lot of people refused to buy a non-Tesla).

you can't really argue "well, Tesla profits more off of charging for Supercharger use" when Tesla would have made more money selling the car AND selling Supercharger service.

I don't know much about Musk, but he might be a lot like everyone else on this planet. He may very often do good but at times get misguided and do some harm. People are complicated.

 

[breenmask]

This is the correct answer

then explain opening up superchargers.

Tesla would have made more money selling the car AND the supercharger service but made it easier for people to buy a non-tesla ev.

 

[breenmask]

We had satellite phones and internet long before Starlink. I’m not against the technology, I’m against Musk exploiting it for power and influence. It’s the same reason I don’t use X.

satellite internet on cruises wasn't even usable.