Starlink T-Mobile Goes Live... Death of the InReach?

[Fowl Play]

I know it's been talked about allot here, but if you didn't catch it, T-Mobile's Starlink Satellite Messaging program officially went live today.

https://www.t-mobile.com/coverage/satellite-phone-service

No longer a Beta program, and supposedly even users on other networks can access their "T-satellite" program for $10 a month now.

I still might pack my InReach for purely SOS backup with the bare minimum plan, but this is pretty cool stuff. I'm also curious to see if we might find some better pricing from Garmin now that they have true competition. Previously, Garmin's service was superior to other options (Apple satellite, etc.) as the Iridium network had better coverage, but Starlink is poised to have way more coverage and fault tolerance then the Iridium network...

 

[hereinaz]

For most purposes, the phone based satellite systems will make InReach obsolete. I bought a new iPhone to get satellite, and it is so much easier and faster than my Gen1 InReach for communication.

It’s the emergency SOS that makes me keep mine for now. But, most every trip I take I haven’t turned it on. Especially now that I have a Starlink for base camp.

 

[Fowl Play]

Seems a lightweight Epirb would be a better secondary option at this point. No contract, etc.

 

[Customweld]

I know it's been talked about allot here, but if you didn't catch it, T-Mobile's Starlink Satellite Messaging program officially went live today. https://www.pcmag.com/news/tmobile-cellular-starlink-tsatellite-launch-everything-you-need-to-know

No longer a Beta program, and supposedly even users on other networks can access their "T-satellite" program for $10 a month now.

I still might pack my InReach for purely SOS backup with the bare minimum plan, but this is pretty cool stuff. I'm also curious to see if we might find some better pricing from Garmin now that they have true competition. Previously, Garmin's service was superior to other options (Apple satellite, etc.) as the Iridium network had better coverage, but Starlink is poised to have way more coverage and fault tolerance then the Iridium network...

My wife was in the beta testing. It worked really well where we were in the Idaho mountains.

 

[PredatorSlayer]

Just the iphone satellite messaging was awesome for my spring bear hunt.

 

[steelheadmike]

I like that it would work with my iphone 13.

I wish they would give us a better idea of how/when the satellite capability activates. In a lot of places I go, there's just a whisper of cell service. Not enough to make a call at all and texting is dubious, at best. Would it automatically go on in these area?

Is there any limitation on who can receive texts? Does it work a little like the Verizon system where the receiver has to have the satellite enabled phone as well? (These are general questions, not directed to anyone here)

 

[Customweld]

I like that it would work with my iphone 13.

I wish they would give us a better idea of how/when the satellite capability activates. In a lot of places I go, there's just a whisper of cell service. Not enough to make a call at all and texting is dubious, at best. Would it automatically go on in these area?

Is there any limitation on who can receive texts? Does it work a little like the Verizon system where the receiver has to have the satellite enabled phone as well? (These are general questions, not directed to anyone here)

On my wife's phone (android), there didn't seem to be any limitation on who received or who she sent texts to. When it switched to satellite mode, there was a little satellite avatar and Starlink in the top right hand corner.