Latest news with #satelliteMessaging
News.com.au
4 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Telstra launches a new satellite text messaging service that's accessible when mobile coverage is out of range
A new satellite to text messaging service has launched in Australia making it possible to send or receive texts from outdoor locations when your mobile coverage is out of range. Telstra has launched the product to give mobile customers the ability to send or receive texts beyond the network's mobile range, benefitting users who live work or travel in regional or remote parts of Australia. The service will help farmers in a back paddock, a person on a remote hike or someone who's broken down or has a flat tyre on a country road. Telstra engineers and employees have been testing the technology for months in some of the nation's most remote locations. Currently, the service only supports texts messages (and emojis) on the Samsung Galaxy S25 series family, but future satellite to mobile capability is expected to extend to other devices, data and making calls. Telstra consumer executive Tom Beach said the service was part of a collaboration with Space X's Starlink Direct to Cell. 'Being able to send or receive a text message from an outdoor location that is beyond the range of our mobile network is a significant step forward and reinforces our commitment to pioneer new connectivity options for Australians,' he said. 'As a new technology, satellite to mobile messaging is currently limited to text messaging only, and, whilst complementary, this service is separate and performs differently to our mobile network. 'Following launch, we will continue to test and refine the service so we can continue to offer the best product we can for customers.'
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Yahoo
Apple Just Gave Your Old iPhone a Pretty Cool New Feature
The latest software update, iOS 18.5, is available now. Apple just released iOS 18.5 and, with it, rolled out several minor new features to its iPhones. The Mail and Photos apps receive refreshed looks and controls. A new Pride Harmony wallpaper is now available. And, for parents, you'll get an alert when a Screen Time passcode is used on your child's iPhone. However, the software update all brings one of Apple's most-hyped features in recent years to its older iPhones for the first time. When Apple released the iPhone 14 in 2022, one of its standout new features was the inclusion of satellite messaging. This granted iPhone users who were off the grid and in an emergency situation to send an SOS message via satellite when no cellular (or Wi-Fi) coverage was available. Then this fall, when Apple rolled out iOS 18, it expanded this capability to include regular text messaging (via iMessage and SMS); instead of just emergency services, you could use a satellite connection to send a message to family or friends. However, up until this week, this satellite messaging feature was only available on Apple's newest iPhone 14, iPhone 15, and iPhone 16 lines. Thanks to iOS 18.5, Apple is extending support for satellite messaging to its iPhone 13 line, as well. The service uses T-Mobile's Starlink-powered satellites and thus promises to be a better deal for its T-Mobile customers. It costs $15/month for T-Mobile customers or $20/month for Verizon or AT&T customers. That said, T-Mobile is currently running a free testing period until July for anybody in the US who wishes to try it out — you can learn about the free trial via T-Mobile's support page. iOS 18.5 is available now to all compatible iPhones. It started rolling out on Monday, May 12th. To learn more about satellite messaging on iPhone — or even try a demo — check out Apple's support page. Tucker Bowe has been on Gear Patrol's editorial team since 2014. As a Tech Staff Writer, he tracks everything in the consumer tech space, from headphones to smartphones, wearables to home theater systems. If it lights up or makes noise, he probably covers it.
The Verge
12-05-2025
- The Verge
iOS 18.5 is out now
Apple has released iOS 18.5, and one of the most notable features is that it allows the iPhone 13 lineup to access satellite messaging features provided by carriers. With the change, T-Mobile users who have an iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Mini, iPhone 13 Pro, or iPhone 13 Pro Max will be able to use its Starlink-powered satellite messaging service. That service is currently free to try in the US ahead of the trial period ending in July. Apple notes that the update only allows iPhone 13 phones to access 'carrier-provided' satellite features, meaning you won't be able to use Apple's own satellite features like Emergency SOS, which are available on iPhone 14 models and newer. iOS 18.5 also adds a new Pride-themed wallpaper and a new feature for Screen Time that shows parents a notification when their child uses the Screen Time on their device. There are also changes to the Mail app, according to 9to5Mac. Here are the full update notes, from Apple:
