In the US, satellite texting is built into every iPhone 14 or later (Emergency SOS plus two-way iMessage and SMS, currently free), every Pixel 9 or later except the 9a (emergency Satellite SOS, free), and recent Galaxy S and Pixel phones on Verizon (free two-way SMS via Skylo). The broadest option is T-Mobile’s T-Satellite with Starlink: $10 per month for any carrier’s customers, included on T-Mobile’s top plans, working on iPhone 13 and later plus many Galaxy, Pixel and Motorola phones, with texting, photos and limited app data. AT&T has no consumer satellite texting service of its own yet; its AST SpaceMobile beta was still pending as of October 2026.
This guide covers what each service lets you do, which phones qualify, what it costs, how to send a message, and why you must be outdoors.
The short version: who talks to which satellites
Four separate satellite networks serve US phones; your phone and carrier decide which one you can reach:
- Apple uses Globalstar. Emergency SOS and Messages via satellite on iPhone 14 and later connect to Globalstar’s network.
- Google and Samsung use Skylo. Pixel Satellite SOS, and Verizon’s satellite SOS and messaging on Galaxy and Pixel, run over Skylo’s licensed mobile satellite spectrum.
- T-Mobile uses Starlink. T-Satellite connects ordinary LTE phones to more than 650 Starlink Direct to Cell satellites.
- AT&T and Verizon are building on AST SpaceMobile. Both have agreements with AST for broadband-class direct-to-device service, still in pre-beta as of October 2026.
If you want the engineering story behind the “cell tower in space” approach, see our companion piece direct-to-cell explained.
Satellite messaging services compared (October 2026)
Apple Emergency SOS via satellite
- Compatible phones
- iPhone 14 or later, all models (not iPhones bought in Armenia, Belarus, mainland China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia; Hong Kong and Macao models need iPhone 16e or later)
- What you can send
- Text with emergency services or Apple's Emergency Relay Center, questionnaire, location, Medical ID, battery level, emergency-contact alerts
- Cost
- Free for two years after activation; Apple extended free access for existing iPhone 14, 15 and 16 owners again on September 9, 2026
- Outdoor requirement
- Clear view of sky and horizon
- Status (Oct 2026)
- Live in the US since iOS 16.1
Apple Messages via satellite
- Compatible phones
- iPhone 14 or later with an active SIM, iOS 18 or later (US)
- What you can send
- Two-way iMessage and SMS, emojis, Tapbacks. No photos, video, audio, stickers or group messages
- Cost
- Same free period as above; carrier SMS fees may apply
- Outdoor requirement
- Clear view of sky and horizon
- Status (Oct 2026)
- Live in US, Canada, Mexico, Japan
Google Pixel Satellite SOS
- Compatible phones
- Pixel 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, 9 Pro Fold, Pixel 10, 10 Pro, 10 Pro XL, 10 Pro Fold (not Pixel 9a)
- What you can send
- Emergency text conversation with Garmin Response, questionnaire, optional alerts to emergency contacts
- Cost
- Free
- Outdoor requirement
- Clear view of sky
- Status (Oct 2026)
- Live in 33 countries including US
Verizon satellite SOS and messaging (Skylo)
- Compatible phones
- Galaxy S25, S25+, S25 Ultra, S25 Edge, Z Fold7, Z Flip7, Pixel 9 series, Pixel 10, 10 Pro, 10 Pro XL; Galaxy S26 series per Samsung
- What you can send
- Two-way basic SMS in Google Messages, Satellite SOS to 911 via Garmin Response. No MMS, RCS, attachments or emergency alerts
- Cost
- No extra fee
- Outdoor requirement
- Outdoors with continuous line of sight
- Status (Oct 2026)
- Live, continental US, Hawaii, parts of Alaska
T-Mobile T-Satellite (Starlink)
- Compatible phones
- iPhone 13 and later, Galaxy S21 and later, many Galaxy A and Z models, Pixel 9 series, Motorola Razr, Edge and Moto G (2024 and later), REVVL 7 and later
- What you can send
- SMS, MMS, RCS, photos, location sharing, Text to 911, limited data in satellite-optimized apps (WhatsApp, Google Maps, AllTrails, AccuWeather, X and others), WhatsApp voice chat
- Cost
- $10 per month per line for any carrier's customers (limited-time price); included on Experience Beyond and Better Value plans
- Outdoor requirement
- View of sky; not on planes, indoors or cruise ships
- Status (Oct 2026)
- Live since July 23, 2025; app data since October 1, 2025
AT&T (AST SpaceMobile)
- Compatible phones
- Not published
- What you can send
- Not published (texting first, "limited voice" promised for late 2026)
- Cost
- Not published
- Outdoor requirement
- Not published
- Status (Oct 2026)
- Beta for select customers and FirstNet was planned for first half of 2026; AST said beta capabilities would come "later in 2026"
Verizon (AST SpaceMobile)
- Compatible phones
- Not published
- What you can send
- Not published (text, voice, data and video demonstrated)
- Cost
- Not published
- Outdoor requirement
- Not published
- Status (Oct 2026)
- Commercial agreement signed October 8, 2025; service "slated to start in 2026"
Carrier phone lists change, so check your carrier’s compatibility tool before relying on any one line.
Does my iPhone support satellite texting?
If you have an iPhone 14 or later, yes, in two layers.
Layer 1: Emergency SOS via satellite. Available on every iPhone 14 and later since iOS 16.1 in the US. When a 911 call fails for lack of cellular or Wi-Fi coverage, your iPhone offers “Emergency Text via Satellite”. You answer a tap-based questionnaire, choose whether to notify emergency contacts, and follow the on-screen guide to point at a satellite. Apple shares your answers, location including elevation, remaining battery, and your Medical ID and emergency contacts if set up. Messages go to the local 911 center or through Apple’s Emergency Relay Center, which supports English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Dutch, Portuguese and Japanese.
Layer 2: Messages via satellite. Since iOS 18, iPhone 14 and later can send and receive ordinary iMessages and SMS over satellite in the US, Canada, Mexico and Japan. You need an active SIM. Text, emojis and Tapbacks work; photos, video, audio, stickers and group chats do not. iMessages stay end-to-end encrypted. For SMS, your carrier must support SMS over satellite and may charge messaging fees. Recipients need iOS 18 or later for iMessage via satellite, or iOS 17.6 or later (or any non-Apple phone) to reply by SMS. Apple says Messages via satellite “shouldn’t be used in emergencies”.
What it costs. Apple’s support pages say satellite features are free for two years after activation. In practice Apple has pushed the deadline every year: on September 9, 2026, it extended free access for existing iPhone 14, 15 and 16 owners for at least another year, for devices activated in a supported country before midnight Pacific Time that day. Apple has not announced a post-free-period price.
Hardware note. Satellite connectivity is not offered on iPhones purchased in Armenia, Belarus, mainland China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan or Russia; Hong Kong and Macao models support it only from the iPhone 16e onward. iPhone 13 owners can still get satellite texting through T-Mobile’s T-Satellite for $10 a month.
Which Android phones work with satellite messaging?
On Android the answer depends on the phone maker and, more often, the carrier.
Google Pixel: Satellite SOS
Google’s own feature is Satellite SOS, available on the Pixel 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, 9 Pro Fold and the whole Pixel 10 lineup (10, 10 Pro, 10 Pro XL, 10 Pro Fold). The Pixel 9a is excluded because it lacks the required modem, and older Pixels do not qualify: a September 2025 bug briefly showed the settings page on Pixel 7 and 8, and Google removed it.
Satellite SOS is emergency-only. When you dial 911 without mobile or Wi-Fi coverage, the dialer offers Satellite SOS. You complete a questionnaire, choose whether to notify emergency contacts, and point the phone following on-screen prompts. Garmin Response, a 24/7 coordination center, relays the conversation with emergency services and replies by text, usually within a few minutes. Google Messages must remain your default messaging app. The feature is free, over Skylo’s network, in the US, Puerto Rico, Canada, Australia, the UK and most of Europe (33 countries per 9to5Google). For casual two-way texting on a Pixel you need Verizon’s Skylo service or T-Satellite.
Samsung Galaxy: it depends on your carrier
Samsung’s February 27, 2026 press release framed Galaxy satellite support as carrier-driven. In the US:
- T-Mobile supports select Galaxy flagship and A series models released after the S21 series, through T-Satellite with Starlink: Text to 911, texting and data.
- Verizon supports all Galaxy flagships from the S25 series onward, including the Galaxy S26, S26+ and S26 Ultra, with emergency SOS and text.
- AT&T: Samsung says only that it is “working with AT&T”.
FCC filings reported by 9to5Google in January 2026 showed all three S26 models certified for satellite standards (SCS and NTN), with Skylo expected as the provider. Samsung does not publish a minimum One UI version and warns availability “may vary depending on the OS/One UI version”, so update before you travel.
Verizon: free satellite SOS and SMS on Skylo
Verizon launched emergency messaging on Skylo in fall 2024 and opened two-way satellite texting to Galaxy S25 and Pixel 9 owners on March 19, 2025. As of October 2026, Verizon’s support FAQ lists:
- Samsung Galaxy S25, S25 Edge, S25+, S25 Ultra, Z Fold7, Z Flip7
- Google Pixel 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, 9 Pro Fold, Pixel 10, 10 Pro, 10 Pro XL
There is no extra fee. You get basic two-way SMS in Google Messages, which must be your default app. MMS, RCS, attachments and Wireless Emergency Alerts are not supported. It works in non-coverage areas of the continental US, Hawaii and Alaska (with gaps in parts of Alaska), and your phone shows “No Service” even when the satellite link is available.
Verizon separately signed a commercial agreement with AST SpaceMobile on October 8, 2025 for a broader direct-to-cell service “slated to start in 2026”. Joint tests have included video calls, RCS messaging and a voice over LTE call, but Verizon has published no launch date, phone list or price.
Which phones work with T-Mobile T-Satellite?
T-Satellite is the only US service that works across carriers and brands, because Starlink’s Direct to Cell satellites talk to the standard LTE radio already in your phone. T-Mobile’s launch-day list (July 24, 2025, via 9to5Google) and its support page together cover:
- Apple: iPhone 13, 14, 15 and 16 series (all models)
- Google: Pixel 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, 9 Pro Fold, 9a
- Samsung: Galaxy S21 through S25 series including FE and Edge; Z Fold 3 through Fold 7 and Flip 3 through Flip 7; XCover 6 Pro and 7 Pro; Galaxy A14, A15 5G, A16 5G, A25 SE, A35, A36, A53, A54 and A56 5G SE
- Motorola: Moto Edge 2025, Moto G 5G 2025, Moto G Power 5G 2025, Razr and Razr+ (2024 and 2025), Razr Ultra 2025, Edge 2024, Moto G Stylus 2024
- T-Mobile: REVVL 7, 7 Pro, 8 and 8 Pro
The surest check is the T-Life app (Account, select line, Status, T-Satellite) or T-Mobile’s IMEI checker. Phones from other carriers must be unlocked and eSIM-capable.
What you can send. SMS, MMS and RCS, picture messages, location sharing and Text to 911. Since October 1, 2025, you also get limited data in satellite-optimized apps: WhatsApp (including voice chat), Google Maps, Apple Maps, AllTrails, AccuWeather, X, Messenger, CalTopo, Gaia, onX, Trailforks, Overwatch x Rescue and T-Life, among others. Full web browsing is not available. Android Authority found the apps work once connected but establishing the connection can take patience.
How you know you are connected. The network name changes to “T-Mobile SpaceX” or “T-Sat+Starlink”, with “SAT” in the iPhone status bar or a satellite icon on Android. You cannot force the satellite network while any terrestrial signal is available.
Coverage. Continental US, Puerto Rico, Hawaii and parts of southern Alaska, plus partner networks in Canada (Rogers), Australia (Telstra), New Zealand (One NZ) and Japan (KDDI). iPhone 14 and later are excluded from T-Mobile’s standalone Text to 911 add-on, since Apple’s own SOS covers that, but they get full T-Satellite texting and app data.
What about AT&T satellite texting?
As of October 2026, AT&T does not offer a consumer satellite texting service of its own. Its plan rests on AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird satellites. In April 2025 AT&T briefly ran a campaign promising satellite texting on “select compatible devices” and “limited voice connectivity” in late 2026, then pulled the dates. In January 2026 it said a beta for select consumers and FirstNet public safety users would start in the first half of 2026, with a commercial launch to follow.
That beta slipped. On its August 10, 2026 earnings call, AST SpaceMobile said consumer beta capabilities were expected “later in 2026”, and that roughly 45 satellites, enough for continuous US coverage, would be in orbit in early 2027. Tech Times reported that early beta coverage gaps would be “measured in hours rather than minutes” with only 13 BlueBirds deployed.
Meanwhile, AT&T customers have two practical options: an iPhone 14 or later with Apple’s built-in features, or a $10 per month T-Satellite subscription, which AT&T customers can buy without switching carriers.
How much does satellite texting cost in the US?
As of October 2026:
- Apple (iPhone 14 and later): free for two years after activation, extended on September 9, 2026 for existing iPhone 14, 15 and 16 owners for at least another year. Carrier SMS fees may apply. No post-free-period price announced.
- Google Pixel Satellite SOS: free, emergency use only.
- Verizon Skylo SOS and SMS: no additional fee on an eligible phone and line.
- T-Mobile T-Satellite: $10 per month per line, a limited-time price T-Mobile calls a $5 saving (9to5Google reported an eventual $15). Included on Experience Beyond, Better Value and Go5G Next plans, plus SuperMobile and T-Priority business plans. AT&T, Verizon and prepaid customers pay the same $10. Cancel anytime in T-Life.
- T-Mobile Text to 911 by Satellite: free for anyone with a compatible phone, no T-Mobile account needed (not offered to iPhone 14 and later).
- AT&T and Verizon AST SpaceMobile plans: no pricing published.
How to send a text over satellite
The steps differ by platform; the physics does not: get outside, face open sky, and wait.
On iPhone (Apple, Globalstar)
Practice first: Settings, Apps, Messages, Satellite Connection Demo (the Emergency SOS demo does not call 911). Before you leave coverage, turn on iMessage and set up emergency contacts. Off the grid, a Lock Screen prompt or Messages notification appears: open Messages, accept it and follow the Connection Assistant. For 911, try calling first; if it fails, tap Emergency Text via Satellite, or text 911 in Messages and tap Emergency Services. Hold the phone naturally, out of pockets and bags; on iPhone 14 Pro and later the Dynamic Island shows signal strength and arrows telling you where to turn. Expect about 30 seconds in ideal conditions, several minutes under foliage or at high latitudes.
On Pixel (Satellite SOS)
Dial 911. With no cellular or Wi-Fi, choose Satellite SOS in the dialer, tap Use Satellite SOS, then Start, and complete the questionnaire. Choose whether to notify emergency contacts, then follow the prompts to point and tilt toward the satellite. Wait for Garmin Response to reply, usually within a few minutes. Stay outside.
On Verizon (Galaxy or Pixel, Skylo)
With no cellular or Wi-Fi, open Google Messages and send a text as normal. A satellite dialog opens; follow the on-screen pointing steps. Keep line of sight while you text. For 911, dial 911 and follow the Satellite SOS dialog.
On T-Mobile T-Satellite (any supported phone)
There is nothing to point. Your phone connects automatically when it loses all terrestrial coverage and the network name changes to “T-Mobile SpaceX” or “T-Sat+Starlink”. Open your normal messaging app and send; the phone keeps retrying until the message sends or fails. For 911, enter 911 as the recipient and your location is shared automatically. T-Mobile’s advice: sign in to T-Life and download apps before you leave coverage, keep your main SIM primary for voice and text, and if you see no signal, wait, because satellites move overhead.
Why you have to be outdoors with a clear view of the sky
Every service says the same thing: outside, clear sky, no heavy tree cover. The reason is the link budget.
A cell tower is usually within a few miles. A satellite, in Apple’s words, is “hundreds of miles away”, and your phone’s antenna is a small strip designed for that nearby tower, not for orbit. The signal reaching the satellite is extremely weak, and the signal coming back is spread over a huge footprint. The link only closes when nothing is in the way: no roof, no canopy, no canyon wall. Apple lists dense foliage, hills, mountains, canyons and tall structures as things that can block the connection outright, and Verizon requires continuous line of sight for the whole conversation.
That weak link is also why messages are short and slow. Apple’s support page says satellites “have low bandwidth”, which is why Messages via satellite is limited to text, emojis and Tapbacks. Starlink’s Direct to Cell satellites fly in low Earth orbit, which Techlicious notes means lower latency and more capacity, so T-Satellite can push pictures and limited app data. Even so, T-Mobile says satellite data is “not high speed” and only optimized apps work.
Local conditions matter too. Apple says “local conditions that affect signal quality” can stretch delivery to several minutes, and connectivity may fail above 62 degrees north, including northern Alaska. Plan for tens of seconds per message and several minutes per two-way exchange.
What satellite texting cannot do yet
- No regular voice calls for consumers. T-Satellite supports WhatsApp voice chat only, and AT&T has promised “limited voice” in late 2026 via AST SpaceMobile. See phone calls with Starlink for the current state of calling.
- No group messages, photos or attachments on Apple and Verizon Skylo. Only T-Satellite carries MMS.
- No full web browsing anywhere. T-Satellite data works only in a curated app list.
- No indoor, aircraft or cruise-ship use. T-Mobile says so explicitly; the clear-sky rule implies it elsewhere.
- No Wireless Emergency Alerts over Skylo on Verizon (T-Mobile’s T-911 does receive them).
- Hours-long coverage gaps during AST SpaceMobile’s beta until roughly 45 satellites are in orbit in early 2027.
Which option should you pick?
- iPhone 14 or later: you already have free Emergency SOS and two-way iMessage/SMS. Add T-Satellite only if you want photos, WhatsApp or maps off-grid.
- Pixel 9 or 10 (not 9a): free emergency SOS. For casual texting you need a Verizon line or T-Satellite.
- Galaxy S25, S26, Z Fold7 or Z Flip7 on Verizon: free SOS and SMS once your software is updated and Google Messages is default.
- Older Galaxy, Motorola, iPhone 13 or Pixel 9a: T-Satellite is your only route, on any carrier.
- On AT&T: Apple’s built-in features if you have an iPhone 14 or later, otherwise T-Satellite.
Sources
- Connect to a satellite with your iPhone (Apple Support)
- Use Emergency SOS via satellite on your iPhone (Apple Support)
- Use Messages via satellite on your iPhone (Apple Support)
- Apple Extends Free Satellite Access for iPhone 14, 15, and 16 Users (MacRumors, September 9, 2026)
- Apple Extends Free Satellite Messaging for Older iPhones Yet Again (iPhone in Canada, September 9, 2026)
- Get emergency help through satellite with your Pixel phone (Google Pixel Help)
- Pixel 9 Satellite SOS: Garmin and Skylo partnership (9to5Google, August 16, 2024)
- Pixel Satellite SOS settings page briefly appears on Pixel 7 and 8 (9to5Google, September 30, 2025)
- Samsung Expands Satellite Communication Support to Galaxy Smartphones in the U.S. (Samsung Newsroom, February 27, 2026)
- Samsung Brings Satellite Communication Support to Galaxy Smartphones Across the Globe (Samsung Mobile Press, February 27, 2026)
- Galaxy S26 series listed with satellite texting and SOS support in FCC filings (9to5Google, January 28, 2026)
- Satellite SOS and messaging FAQs (Verizon Support)
- Verizon and Skylo launch direct-to-device messaging for customers (Verizon News, August 28, 2024)
- Verizon satellite texting now live on Pixel 9 and Galaxy S25 (9to5Google, March 19, 2025)
- Verizon Deepens AST SpaceMobile Ties With Commercial Agreement (Via Satellite, October 8, 2025)
- Verizon Satellite Messaging Is Already Available: What the 2026 AST Rollout Adds (iTechGuides, August 18, 2026)
- T-Satellite with Starlink satellite phone service (T-Mobile)
- T-Satellite support (T-Mobile Support)
- T-Satellite is here, and now it’s powering apps (T-Mobile Newsroom, October 1, 2025)
- T-Mobile’s satellite service launches: full device support list (9to5Google, July 24, 2025)
- T-Mobile T-Satellite data is live (Android Authority, October 1, 2025)
- AT&T preps beta D2D satellite service with AST SpaceMobile (Light Reading, January 5, 2026)
- AT&T teases ‘limited voice connectivity’ from satellites in late 2026 (Light Reading, April 11, 2025)
- The Sky’s No Limit: AT&T’s Satellite Successes and What’s Next (AT&T Blog, December 29, 2025)
- Half of AT&T customers can now access satellite services (PhoneArena, April 15, 2025)
- AT&T one step closer to AST SpaceMobile satellite beta (PhoneArena)
- AST SpaceMobile Q2 earnings call highlights (Nasdaq, August 10, 2026)
- Satellite Beta for AT&T and Verizon Gets Closer, But Coverage Gaps Will Span Hours (Tech Times, August 5, 2026)
- All the phones that have satellite messaging in 2026 (Techlicious, March 19, 2026)
All sources accessed October 19, 2026.
