T-Mobile’s free Starlink beta adds enticing perks – for new and existing users
T-Mobile is tempting people to use its free Starlink beta program by promising a handful of cool perks. In an email sent to users who’ve signed up for the service, the carrier touted all the features now bundled into the package, namely:
- Free satellite service.
- Access to T-Mobile’s traditional 5G network, including 50GB of high-speed data and unlimited text messages.
- T-Mobile benefits such as $5 movie tickets, 25% off concert tickets, travel discounts, and T-Mobile Tuesdays for free stuff and new perks every week.
- A $5 Early Adopter discount for satellite service when the beta ends — normally $15 per month.
Lasts for 90 days
The perks last for 90 days after access begins. Beyond attracting new customers, the offers also serve to reward people who’ve already joined the beta program and are still waiting patiently for their formal invitation. The beta service has been available since early this year, but with so many people signing up, T-Mobile and its partners are struggling to keep up with demand.
Also: You can get a free $349 Starlink kit if you live in one of these US states
Offering a more concrete deadline, the carrier said that its “phone partners have been hustling to get more phones satellite-optimized,” and it promised that users would be invited to the beta in just a couple of weeks. Providing access to everyone who’s signed up is challenging, as the beta is scheduled to end in July. Of course, T-Mobile could extend the beta if necessary.
How T-Mobile’s Starlink works
T-Mobile’s Starlink uses a network of low-Earth orbit satellites to offer people high-speed internet access in dead zones where traditional cellular or Wi-Fi access is unavailable. The current lineup of Starlink’s 300 direct-to-cell satellites provides coverage for the 500,000 square miles of land in the US not covered by cell towers.
Also: I turned my Starlink Mini into a near-perfect off-grid internet solution. Here’s how
Tapping into the Starlink service is seamless. If you lose cellular coverage, your phone will automatically connect to a Starlink satellite to provide internet access. This contrasts with Apple’s satellite-based iPhone emergency service, which requires you to manually activate it.
The beta is available to iOS and Android users alike, though you’ll need a relatively recent phone — anything from the last four years. The service isn’t confined to T-Mobile subscribers; in February, the program was extended to AT&T and Verizon customers. Of course, the ultimate cost varies by carrier.
For T-Mobile customers, the price depends on your current plan. Starlink will be included for free on the top-tier Go5G Next plan, as well as variations like Go5G Next 55+ for people 55 and older, and the Go5G Business Next plan for business users. The service will also be included at no extra cost for Go5G First Responder subscriptions and other premium-rate plans.
T-Mobile users on other plans will pay $15 per month for Starlink. AT&T and Verizon customers will naturally pay more for the service — $20 per month.
How to join the beta
If you haven’t yet signed up for the beta and would like to try it out, fill out the form on T-Mobile’s Starlink page. You’ll then have to wait to see if and when you get access.
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