Starlink's long-awaited satellite cellular service is slated to launch next year, according to a new website detailing its capabilities.

Starlink now has a separate site dedicated to Direct-to-Cell, which explains that the SpaceX-designed cellular service will begin rolling out SMS capabilities in 2024.

However, if one is considering ditching their current cellular provider for Starlink, they will need to wait until 2025, when voice and data will be available. Similarly, IoT connectivity will be rolled out in 2025.

First announced last August, Starlink is partnering with T-Mobile in the US, Rogers in Canada, Optus in Australia, and other mobile carriers in Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and Switzerland on this project. However, once Direct-to-Cell is launched, there will be similar partnerships with other carriers in many more countries.

The partnership between Starlink and T-Mobile will allow T-Mobile to secure some of the 5G frequencies used by the second-generation satellites. From here, T-Mobile phones will be able to use Starlink's Direct-to-Cell for SMS, and voice and data in 2025. According to a press release at the time the partnership was announced, this would allow T-Mobile to offer "nearly complete coverage" in the US.

No information on pricing is available yet, but interested parties can go to the website now and fill out the inquiry form at the bottom of the page; more information will be available from both Starlink and SpaceX as the Direct-to-Cell launch approaches!

At the time Apple added emergency SOS to the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro Max last year, satellite cellular service did not seem consistently dependable. Rather, it was intended for emergencies in places where there was no cellular signal.

Qualcomm then rolled out its own Snapdragon Satellite feature for the best Android phones with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipsets that use the Iridium satellite network. Motorola also came up with its own way to add satellite cellular service to existing phones with a $149 Bluetooth accessory called the Defy Satellite Link.

But now Starlink is taking things to a whole new level, promising to provide voice and data via satellite in addition to text messages. Unlike Apple and Qualcomm, however, Starlink owns more than 5,000 satellites and launches a new one every month. This gives the company a significant advantage over its competitors and may one day make direct-to-cell reliability equal to or at least close to that of cellular carriers.

Because Starlink is partnering with cellular carriers for Direct-to-Cell, the service may end up being sold as an add-on to the best cellular plans, rather than sold separately. Starlink's Direct-to-Cell service could also be included in Tesla's best electric cars, such as the Model 3 and the upcoming Cybertruck.

Tom's Guide will be following the launch of Direct-to-Cell closely, so check back for all the latest news on Starlink's new satellite cellular service.