Apple has been secretly working with SpaceX and T-Mobile to add support for the Starlink network in its latest iPhone software, providing an alternative to the company’s in-house satellite-communication service.
The companies have been testing iPhones with the Starlink service from Elon Musk’s SpaceX, according to people with knowledge of the matter. In an under-the-radar move, the smartphone’s latest software update — released Monday — now supports the technology.
The tie-up comes as a surprise: T-Mobile has previously only specified Starlink as an option for Samsung phones, such as the Z Fold and S24 models. Apple, meanwhile, already provides a Globalstar offering that lets consumers send texts and contact emergency responders when out of cellular range.
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