You might not realize it, but I think that the current interest that we’re seeing from mobile carriers into incorporating satellite services might be the next frontier of the cellular experience for consumers. It might not be something most people will need to use on a regular basis, but it will surely be useful if they find themselves in a pinch.
T-Mobile is at the forefront of satellite messaging for regular smartphones, thanks to a pretty potent partnership with Starlink. It’s been doing its best to get people on board with the program, and an upcoming promotion might help make that happen even more so. T-Mobile could be offering a free year of satellite messaging to specific people.
The new satellite innovation that mobile carriers are testing out is extremely cool. Save for finding yourself in a tunnel or a basement where there’s no cellular service, it essentially eliminates the concept of dead zones. As long as you’ve got a clear view of the sky, you’ll be able to message people. That’s incredibly useful for those who might go on very long road trips or live adventurous lives.
T-Mobile’s satellite messaging works through a collaboration with Starlink, and while the service was in a limited beta testing phase, it has now been opened up to essentially everyone in the United States. It doesn’t even matter if you use T-Mobile or not, you’ll get a chance to test it (though users on other carriers will be given a temporary T-Mobile number to facilitate the process).
But you see those users who aren’t on T-Mobile but are testing out this T-Mobile service? That’s exactly who this new promotion is targeting, according to The Mobile Report. If you’ve registered to T-Mobile’s Starlink beta program from another carrier, you get the chance to port your existing number to T-Mobile before July, and if you do so, you will get a year of Starlink access for free. That saves you $15 a month, so that’s not bad.
The Deal Is Only Available Online
If you don’t consider yourself very tech-savvy and you like to make these kinds of deals in person, you unfortunately will not be able to do that in this case. It will only be available through T-Mobile’s “Virtual Retail” channel, so that means everything will need to be done online. If you do call in or walk into a store, you’ll be redirected to do things online. That’s a small price to pay, though.
T-Mobile’s Go5G Next Plan Already Bundles Starlink Access for Free
If you’re a T-Mobile customer already, it kind of sucks that you don’t get the chance to get a year of free Starlink service. However, it is meant to bring new customers in through the door, so I understand why it is the way it is.
There is one little perk for T-Mobile users, though. If you have the money to subscribe to the carrier’s Go5G Next plan, among a bunch of other perks, you will also get Starlink access bundled in entirely free—and not just for a year. So, at least there’s that.
