The smartphone world could soon be met with a revolution when it comes to its networks, as people predict that Elon Musk's rumored Starlink phone will make an insane impact on roaming fees across the world.
Mobile phones these days run primarily via a connection to cellular towers, and when you're not in close enough proximity to your nearest tower – or if something is blocking the connection – then you're out of luck.
Furthermore, things become even more complicated when you go abroad, and the network you've chosen doesn't service you anymore, leading to potentially costly roaming charges if you don't have the right support.
Things could be set to change imminently if reports are to be believed, as it seems like all signs are pointing towards a brand new dedicated smartphone from Elon Musk's Starlink, and it would completely change how the service works — arguably for the better.
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As shared by Trusted Reviews, Musk's new phone would directly connect to satellites operated by the SpaceX subsidiary, meaning that you'll pretty much always have a persistent high-speed connection no matter where you are across the globe.
Apple has already implemented a similar service across its iPhone models, allowing users to opt into a satellite connection as a last resort when their regular service cuts out, although it's not quite as good as what Starlink could potentially offer with a dedicated device.
There were also rumors that Musk could strike up a partnership with Apple to take over from the company's existing satellite connection provider, Globalstar, but recent reports of the brand new device appear to contradict that.
Starlink currently has almost 10,000 satellites in the sky, and that number is almost guaranteed to continue growing over the next few years despite a worrying concern from one major scientist, but what that does provide is an arguably unbeatable connection.
It doesn't matter if you're in the center of New York or in the middle of the desert because you'll probably have an active connection to a Starlink satellite. Also, with no need to rely on local cell towers for a connection, roaming fees are nonexistent.
This could prove to be a major dealbreaker for both networks and phone manufacturers, and it could prompt a revolution that would see the industry shift over to satellite connections en masse — something that Starlink could also provide to win on all fronts.
Cost would likely be a major factor to consider, especially as Apple currently subsidizes the financial portion of its satellite features for iPhone users, and the existing Starlink monthly fees aren't exactly budget-friendly.