T-Mobile is giving older phones a fresh reason to stick around: soon, they’ll be able to crash the satellite party. That’s right, even devices that weren’t originally certified for satellite use may soon tap into T-Satellite, T-Mobile’s life‑saving “text via space” network powered by Starlink.

According to PhoneArena, the FCC has just waived the requirement that forced each phone to individually get a satellite stamp of approval. In plain terms, if your phone already works on T‑Mobile’s regular network, it can now piggyback on satellites—no extra paperwork needed. This is a fast track to making the feature available far sooner and to many more devices.

T-Mobile kicked this off last month when it officially announced that T‑Satellite, using SpaceX’s Starlink network, will go live for all on July 23 even though only newer models from Apple, Samsung, Google, Motorola and a few others are enabled so far. But thanks to this FCC move, phones that were technically capable but just missing that “approved” badge can now join the party without waiting.

That means support is expected to quickly extend beyond flagship models like iPhones 13 and up, Galaxy S21 series, Pixel 9s, and Motorola’s Razrs so more people will be able to send texts from remote spots, at no extra charge; if they’re on the right T‑Mobile plan .

What this means for everyday users? No satellite hardware or apps to mess with. If you wander into dead zones, your phone could default to satellite text automatically. Voice and data over satellite arrive later this year, so for now the feature is text-only, making it ideal for emergency messages.

Some caveats worth noting: satellite texting is slower and battery-hungry compared to regular texting, and it only works outdoors with a clear sky view. Also, if you’re not on one of T‑Mobile’s top-tier plans, there’ll be a $10 monthly fee.

For T‑Mobile customers with older but still capable phones, this is a win; sudden emergencies, hiking trips, or power outages need not mean disappearing off the grid. And with the FCC’s stamp now removed, a wider range of phones should join the approved list faster.

Source: PhoneArena