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SpaceX’s cellular StarLink system was designed to connect to phones, but it can now connect to Apple Watches in Japan and Canada.
In a quarterly earnings report, Japanese telecom operator DDI said its Au wireless carrier now supports the Apple Watch, according to Okla analyst Mike Dino. That means SpaceX satellites can beam data from the three latest Apple Watch models, the Ultra 3, Series 11, and SE 3.
AU also updated its support page about compatibility between the Apple Watch and SpaceX’s Cellular StarLink. However, satellite support is only available if Japanese users purchase the cellular version of the Apple Watch and sign up for AU’s StarLink Direct service.
(Credit: KDDI)
“Only sending and receiving text messages are supported with the Apple Watch Messages app,” the earnings release added.
Meanwhile, SpaceX’s partner in Canada, Rogers Communications, has also added support for the Apple Watch. Cellular StarLink is available as a free beta for all Canadian customers.
The news suggests that SpaceX’s U.S. partner, T-Mobile, could bring the same capability stateside, where it already supports land-based cellular plans for the Apple Watch. The carrier did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But T-Mobile’s T-Satellite supports more than 70 phone models, including the iPhone 13 and iPhone Air.
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This capability also enables more Apple Watch owners to get satellite connectivity whenever they travel in cellular dead zones. In September, when Apple introduced its new smartwatch models, only the Apple Watch Ultra 3 featured built-in satellite connectivity for emergency response. The same model also includes satellite-enabled texting and location sharing, but only if you have an active carrier plan associated with the watch.
The news comes as Apple’s satellite partner, GlobalStar, is considering selling itself to SpaceX, fueling speculation that the cellular StarLink system could eventually play a bigger role in Apple products. This technology can not only enable satellite-based texting, but also transmit data to a growing number of Android and iOS apps, and even power video calls.
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About our expert
Michael Kahn
Senior reporter
Experience
I have been a journalist for over 15 years. I got my start as a schools and cities reporter in Kansas City and joined PCMag in 2017, where I cover satellite Internet services, cybersecurity, PC hardware and more. I am currently based in San Francisco, but previously spent over five years in China, covering the country’s technology sector.
Since 2020, I’ve covered the launch and explosive growth of SpaceX’s StarLink satellite Internet service, writing 600+ stories on availability and feature launches, but also regulatory battles over expanding satellite constellations, battles with rival providers like AST SpaceMobile and Amazon, and efforts to expand satellite-based mobile service. I’ve combed through FCC filings for the latest news and reached out to remote corners of California to test StarLink’s cellular service.
I also cover cyber threats, from ransomware gangs to the emergence of AI-based malware. Earlier this year, the FTC forced Avast to pay $16.5 million for secretly harvesting and selling its personal information to third-party clients, as revealed in my joint Investigation Along with the motherboard
I also cover the PC graphics card market. Pandemic-era shortages led me to camp out in front of a Best Buy to get an RTX 3000. Now I’m following how President Trump’s tariffs will affect the industry. I’m always eager to learn more, so please jump into the comments with feedback and send me pointers.
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