A scene from T-Mobile’s Super Bowl commercial advertising its Starlink beta service. Screenshot via T-Mobile

T-Mobile went big promoting its direct-to-cell partnership with SpaceX’s Starlink constellation in a Super Bowl ad on Sunday night. The mobile network operator revealed details about the Starlink service, including the pricing structure and compatibility for U.S. customers with Verizon and AT&T service and even iPhones. 

T-Mobile and SpaceX have been working together since 2022 to enable everyday cell phones to send messages outside of cellular network coverage via satellite. SpaceX has launched more than 300 specially configured Starlink satellites that make this type of connectivity possible. The service is currently in a free beta program, and full service is set to launch in July. 

In the Super Bowl ad, T-Mobile put out an invitation for customers on any wireless carrier to join the free beta program. This is possible through digital sim cards, called eSIMs, T-Mobile said in a statement to Via Satellite. 

“For a non T-Mobile customer to get T-Mobile Starlink service, they just need an unlocked phone with an eSIM. Because an eSIM is digital, it’s now possible for a wireless user to switch between two different wireless provider services on the same phone,” T-Mobile explained. 

When the Starlink full service is operational, it will be included in the cost of T-Mobile’s premium plan Go5G Next, and will be available as an add-on for other plans for $15 per month. There’s currently an early adopter discount to lower the price to $10 per month. For non-T-Mobile subscribers, it will cost $20 per month. 

Also, it’s now out in the open that iPhones are included in the beta program. In late January, Bloomberg first reported that Apple had been working with SpaceX and T-Mobile to have support for iPhones with the service. 

T-Mobile now lists the iPhone 14 and later models among the list of approved devices for the Starlink service. It also includes the Google Pixel 9, Motorola 2024, Samsung Galaxy models, and REVVL 7. 

Apple was the first to make direct-to-device service available widespread, through its work with Globalstar that debuted with the iPhone 14, but until now it was a question whether iPhone users with T-Mobile service would have access to the Starlink connectivity as well. 

The T-Mobile beta program begins with just text messaging support, but the company plans to expand service to picture messaging, data services, and voice calling in the future. 

Wireless carriers are amping up their promotion of direct-to-device capabilities. Verizon aired an ad during the Grammys that featured astronaut Buzz Aldrin touting its capabilities.