4 ms·

Odd that it's not mentioned in the article as this is probably the most ambitious proposal in this area.

hughes 4y ago
It is mentioned in the article. > Splashy announcements of satellite-cellular connectivity from Apple, Starlink, and T-Mobile in the third quarter of 2022 promoted the idea of anywhere, any-kind connectivity.
- kortilla 4y ago
  But the one from Apple is a joke compared to general sms and mms coverage. Or is apple’s system capable of much more and the first beta is just “SOS”?
  - mschuster91 4y ago
    Apple's stuff is probably orders of magnitude more reliable, the system they use has been battle-tested for decades. Both Starlink's sat-cells and Apple's Globalstar link will be a real benefit for people who get stuck in a bad situation unprepared, but if I were a serious rock climber or similar, I'd still prefer a full-scale Globalstar, Iridium terminal or EPIRB device, then an iPhone with Globalstar, and only then Starlink's offer.
    - dzhiurgis 4y ago
      > full-scale Globalstar, Iridium terminal or EPIRB device Remind me in 10 years
    - kortilla 4y ago
      Globalstar with an iPhone is not battletested at all. A huge chunk of the complexity of a sat system is in the ground side and the iPhone form factor is new.
  - dzhiurgis 4y ago
    I think they’ll def come up with a paid plan for extra features. Same way T-Mobile only basic features are going to be free. Same way Starlink residential is orders of magnitude cheaper than marine edition.
  - denlekke 4y ago
    TMobile/SpaceX proposed service does sound better than the one Apple currently provides. Apple's works right now though and T/S's doesn't which is a notable difference. I also haven't read anything about the T/S service that says they will exclude iPhones. As an iPhone user, I would love to have access to both services! It's unlikely I would switch to a different phone manufacturer to get access to this service if it isn't available to iphones, but i might switch to TMobile from my current mvno to get it on iphone.
aristophenes 4y ago
It’s actually significantly less capable than the network being attempted by ASTS.

It is mentioned in the article. > Splashy announcements of satellite-cellular connectivity from Apple, Starlink, and T-Mobile in the third quarter of 2022 promoted the idea of anywhere, any-kind connectivity.

kortilla 4y ago
But the one from Apple is a joke compared to general sms and mms coverage. Or is apple’s system capable of much more and the first beta is just “SOS”?
- mschuster91 4y ago
  Apple's stuff is probably orders of magnitude more reliable, the system they use has been battle-tested for decades. Both Starlink's sat-cells and Apple's Globalstar link will be a real benefit for people who get stuck in a bad situation unprepared, but if I were a serious rock climber or similar, I'd still prefer a full-scale Globalstar, Iridium terminal or EPIRB device, then an iPhone with Globalstar, and only then Starlink's offer.
  - dzhiurgis 4y ago
    > full-scale Globalstar, Iridium terminal or EPIRB device Remind me in 10 years
  - kortilla 4y ago
    Globalstar with an iPhone is not battletested at all. A huge chunk of the complexity of a sat system is in the ground side and the iPhone form factor is new.
- dzhiurgis 4y ago
  I think they’ll def come up with a paid plan for extra features. Same way T-Mobile only basic features are going to be free. Same way Starlink residential is orders of magnitude cheaper than marine edition.
- denlekke 4y ago
  TMobile/SpaceX proposed service does sound better than the one Apple currently provides. Apple's works right now though and T/S's doesn't which is a notable difference. I also haven't read anything about the T/S service that says they will exclude iPhones. As an iPhone user, I would love to have access to both services! It's unlikely I would switch to a different phone manufacturer to get access to this service if it isn't available to iphones, but i might switch to TMobile from my current mvno to get it on iphone.

aristophenes 4y ago

It’s actually significantly less capable than the network being attempted by ASTS.