Direct-to-satellite text messaging service gets first Australian users
www.abc.net.au
An Australia-first service using satellites to deliver text messages anywhere in the country promises to provide service to those living in mobile black spots.

Telstra is launching Australia’s first satellite to mobile text messaging service.

It is limited to up-front paying customers with Galaxy S25 phones at this stage.

Voice calls via low earth orbit satellites are still two years away.

  • tau@aussie.zoneOPEnglish
    4·
    1 month ago

    Good to see this idea making its way over here, it’s still very easy to get out of mobile reception so satellite messaging is a useful backup.

    Note that the novelty here is satellite messaging from a normal phone, for those who want satellite messaging right now you can get it easily with a specialised device (e.g. I have an Inreach Mini for backup/emergency comms). Putting it in the device you already have with you is a solid step forward though.

      • tau@aussie.zoneOPEnglish
        2·
        1 month ago

        For me there’s a few reasons:

        • I needed a small device so I could easily bring it with me on the motorbikes (particularly necessary on the road bike as race leathers don’t have big pockets) and when hiking.
        • The SOS function like offered by the Inreach was a big reason why I wanted a satellite communicator - there’d been a few times riding in tougher stuff out in the bush where I’d thought about the lack of mobile reception and how unlikely it was for anyone else to come along where I was riding if things went pear shaped. I was considering an EPIRB but being able to send messages to reassure or solve a problem in my own circle instead of just calling in the cavalry swung the choice for me.
        • A reasonably shockproof/waterproof device is a real benefit for my use case.
        • I wanted to keep costs low and $20 a month is noticeably cheaper than Starlink’s offerings.