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Can You Opt Out of Starlink Coverage on iPhone? What We Know

13 points by cf100clunk 2y ago

cf100clunk 2y ago
There seems to be a bit of worry about Apple possibly forcing Starlink upon devices, as seen in this other discussion: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/255954789?sortBy=rank https://discussions.apple.com/thread/255954789?sortBy=rank
- cf100clunk 2y ago
  This TikTok video seems to be one of the triggers for the ''panic'' and ''freakout'' I've been hearing about: https://www.tiktok.com/@kochead/video/7466562804363939114 https://www.tiktok.com/@kochead/video/7466562804363939114
- sigmoid10 2y ago
  It feels like those guys drank too much of Apple's Kool-Aid. The idea that one silicon valley offspring would be more trustworthy with your data than another is simply baffling. Apple might be stricter regarding what third party developers can see inside their walled garden than Google, but they themselves happily collect all your data. If you want privacy, don't buy branded phones (and especially not ones with closed source ecosystems). And if you want advice on the topic, don't listen to people with obvious cognitive dissonance due to them owning the product, like in the linked discussion.
  - cf100clunk 2y ago
    That's a fair opinion, but I think the fact that this consumer concern is happening precisely at the time of Musk's activities having such an overtly political significance speaks for itself.
    - sigmoid10 2y ago
      I think the causality here is reversed. People wouldn't give a damn if Musk hadn't turned into such a magnet for negative headlines. And I doubt anyone really knows what he's currently planning to do with his new powers (including himself).
      - cf100clunk 2y ago
        I was suggesting it was simultaneous, actually, and the worry these consumers are describing about not really knowing what he's up to is just revving it all up. I'm simply telling family and friends asking what they should do about all this to turn off auto update and make sure it asks permission to go ahead (always a sensible stance). I give them no advice about psychological, sociological, or political stresses, but I'd love some real info from Apple about what is truly going on.
thot_experiment 2y ago
I would be surprised if Starlink needed the handshake in order to locate a phone, I get the concern, and certainly an opt out would lower your attack surface, but I'm pretty sure if you can establish a bidirectional link with a satellite the satellite can hear your phone asking for the nearest cell tower (or whatever it's doing, I'm sure the IMEI is up there in the noise and you can pick it out if you have good ears) I'm only thinking about this from a first principles modulated EM radiation perspective though, eager to have someone point out why I'm wrong.
- butlike 2y ago
  Can you hear modulated EM radiation with good ears?
  - thot_experiment 2y ago
    Hmmm, maybe? If you had really really good ears you might be able to correlate out some kinds of modulated EM radiation from it's effects on the pressure in a medium. It seems plausible. I was of course originally using ears metaphorically to mean phased array antennas.
- deleted 2y ago
  [deleted]
electriclove 2y ago
Can you opt out of Globalstar coverage on the iPhone?
- dzhiurgis 2y ago
  It’s opt-in, as in - only works when you open app, go thru few steps and hold up phone in specific way. Starlink supposedly works in your pocket. Which I can see why it can freak someone out, but satelite phone tracking has been around for decades…
gruez 2y ago
>Apple Adds Starlink Support to iOS 18.3 Is there any source for this, specifically for the iOS 18.3 part? The article has links but none of them says anything specifically about ios 18.3. According to starlink's marketing materials, it works just like regular LTE and therefore wouldn't require a software update to work. >Direct to Cell works with existing LTE phones wherever you can see the sky. No changes to hardware, firmware, or special apps are required, providing seamless access to text, voice, and data. https://www.starlink.com/ca/business/direct-to-cell https://www.starlink.com/ca/business/direct-to-cell T-mobile's site also suggests this >All customers with compatible device and postpaid T-Mobile voice plan are eligible for T-Mobile Starlink beta test. Limited spots available for test. Developing technology available in most areas, most of the time; ultimately available in most outdoor areas where you can see the sky. https://www.t-mobile.com/coverage/satellite-phone-service https://www.t-mobile.com/coverage/satellite-phone-service
- cf100clunk 2y ago
  >The article has links but none of them says anything specifically about ios 18.3. I would dearly love to have this demystified, hopefully by someone with their finger on the pulse. This issue blew up and can just as easily be deflated with some fulsome info from Apple. My skin in the game is that I am the go-to geek in an extended family.

13 points by cf100clunk 2y ago

There seems to be a bit of worry about Apple possibly forcing Starlink upon devices, as seen in this other discussion: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/255954789?sortBy=rank https://discussions.apple.com/thread/255954789?sortBy=rank

cf100clunk 2y ago
This TikTok video seems to be one of the triggers for the ''panic'' and ''freakout'' I've been hearing about: https://www.tiktok.com/@kochead/video/7466562804363939114 https://www.tiktok.com/@kochead/video/7466562804363939114
sigmoid10 2y ago
It feels like those guys drank too much of Apple's Kool-Aid. The idea that one silicon valley offspring would be more trustworthy with your data than another is simply baffling. Apple might be stricter regarding what third party developers can see inside their walled garden than Google, but they themselves happily collect all your data. If you want privacy, don't buy branded phones (and especially not ones with closed source ecosystems). And if you want advice on the topic, don't listen to people with obvious cognitive dissonance due to them owning the product, like in the linked discussion.
- cf100clunk 2y ago
  That's a fair opinion, but I think the fact that this consumer concern is happening precisely at the time of Musk's activities having such an overtly political significance speaks for itself.
  - sigmoid10 2y ago
    I think the causality here is reversed. People wouldn't give a damn if Musk hadn't turned into such a magnet for negative headlines. And I doubt anyone really knows what he's currently planning to do with his new powers (including himself).
    - cf100clunk 2y ago
      I was suggesting it was simultaneous, actually, and the worry these consumers are describing about not really knowing what he's up to is just revving it all up. I'm simply telling family and friends asking what they should do about all this to turn off auto update and make sure it asks permission to go ahead (always a sensible stance). I give them no advice about psychological, sociological, or political stresses, but I'd love some real info from Apple about what is truly going on.

thot_experiment 2y ago

I would be surprised if Starlink needed the handshake in order to locate a phone, I get the concern, and certainly an opt out would lower your attack surface, but I'm pretty sure if you can establish a bidirectional link with a satellite the satellite can hear your phone asking for the nearest cell tower (or whatever it's doing, I'm sure the IMEI is up there in the noise and you can pick it out if you have good ears) I'm only thinking about this from a first principles modulated EM radiation perspective though, eager to have someone point out why I'm wrong.

butlike 2y ago
Can you hear modulated EM radiation with good ears?
- thot_experiment 2y ago
  Hmmm, maybe? If you had really really good ears you might be able to correlate out some kinds of modulated EM radiation from it's effects on the pressure in a medium. It seems plausible. I was of course originally using ears metaphorically to mean phased array antennas.
deleted 2y ago
[deleted]

electriclove 2y ago

Can you opt out of Globalstar coverage on the iPhone?

dzhiurgis 2y ago
It’s opt-in, as in - only works when you open app, go thru few steps and hold up phone in specific way. Starlink supposedly works in your pocket. Which I can see why it can freak someone out, but satelite phone tracking has been around for decades…

gruez 2y ago

>Apple Adds Starlink Support to iOS 18.3 Is there any source for this, specifically for the iOS 18.3 part? The article has links but none of them says anything specifically about ios 18.3. According to starlink's marketing materials, it works just like regular LTE and therefore wouldn't require a software update to work. >Direct to Cell works with existing LTE phones wherever you can see the sky. No changes to hardware, firmware, or special apps are required, providing seamless access to text, voice, and data. https://www.starlink.com/ca/business/direct-to-cell https://www.starlink.com/ca/business/direct-to-cell T-mobile's site also suggests this >All customers with compatible device and postpaid T-Mobile voice plan are eligible for T-Mobile Starlink beta test. Limited spots available for test. Developing technology available in most areas, most of the time; ultimately available in most outdoor areas where you can see the sky. https://www.t-mobile.com/coverage/satellite-phone-service https://www.t-mobile.com/coverage/satellite-phone-service

cf100clunk 2y ago
>The article has links but none of them says anything specifically about ios 18.3. I would dearly love to have this demystified, hopefully by someone with their finger on the pulse. This issue blew up and can just as easily be deflated with some fulsome info from Apple. My skin in the game is that I am the go-to geek in an extended family.