Apple iPhones To Support Starlink’s Direct-to-Cell Coverage in the U.S. - 1

Photo by Rui Silvestre on Unsplash

Apple iPhones To Support Starlink’s Direct-to-Cell Coverage in the U.S.

  • Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
  • Fact-Checked by Justyn Newman Former Lead Cybersecurity Editor

Apple, Starlink, and T-Mobile have been discreetly working on a partnership to provide satellite Internet service through iPhones in the United States.

In a Rush? Here are the Quick Facts!

  • Apple’s new iOS 18.3 update will enable T-Mobile users in the United States to access Starlink’s satellite connection
  • T-Mobile launched a beta direct‑to‑cell satellite service that now includes iPhones.
  • Musk confirmed that the service will support music and podcast streaming, as well as low-resolution image viewing in remote areas.

According to Bloomberg, Apple and Starlink have been developing and testing the new satellite communication alternative on the latest iPhone software, which was released on Monday. This will allow users to experience satellite coverage.

T-Mobile had previously announced a beta direct‑to‑cell satellite service to provide coverage in areas in the U.S. where cell towers can’t reach and suggested it would be only an option for Samsung mobiles.

Now, besides its partnership with Globalstar to send emergency messages using satellite connection, Apple will join T-Mobile’s program to access Starlink’s service.

Medium resolution images, music & audio podcasts should work with the current generation Starlink direct-to-phone constellation. Next generation constellation will do medium resolution video. https://t.co/yfDPbkgSJH — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 29, 2025

The new iOS 18 operating system also updates its Apple Intelligence Notification summaries, now warning about errors and including only news headlines and not summaries as the default option, as reported by MacRumors . Many iPhone users had been getting inaccurate news alerts generated by Apple’s AI, and multiple companies, publications, and organizations, urged the tech giant to remove the feature.

Business Travel Platform TravelPerk Raises $200M, Doubling Valuation to $2.7B - 2

Image courtesy of TravelPerk

Business Travel Platform TravelPerk Raises $200M, Doubling Valuation to $2.7B

  • Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
  • Fact-Checked by Justyn Newman Former Lead Cybersecurity Editor

The Barcelona-based business travel company, TravelPerk, raised $200 million in a Series E funding round, nearly doubling its valuation to $2.7 billion. The startup also announced the purchase of Yokoy, a Swiss company specializing in expense management and spend management solutions for businesses.

In a Rush? Here are the Quick Facts!

  • TravelPerk raised $200 million during a Series E funding round, nearly doubling its valuation to $2.7 billion.
  • The Spanish startup also acquired the Swiss company Yokoy to expand its travel and expenses platform.
  • With the new funding, they aim to expand into the U.S., develop more technology—including AI—and accelerate growth.

According to CNBC , the Spanish company will use the capital to expand to the United States, accelerate growth, and invest in new tech products and AI solutions. Atomico, EQT, and Noteus Partners were among the investors in the recent funding round.

Last year, TravelPerk raised $104 million in a funding round led by SoftBank—the Japanese company is also assuming financial responsibility in the $500 Billion ‘Stargate Project’ led by OpenAI in the U.S.—reaching unicorn status.

According to the president and chief operating officer at TravelPerk, Jean-Christophe Taunay-Bucalo, the startup has been growing because it proved to have a stable and solid product during the pandemic, and got to rebound after the challenges in the travel market during that time, gaining a good business reputation.

“Why we are doing so well now is because we had that period where you had to be strong. You had to have a good foundation, you had to be scrappy,” said Taunay-Bucalo to CNBC and explained they are focusing on long-term results. “We want to be here in 100 years… We have this almost unusually long-term view for a tech company. And as a consequence, the way we see the world is a little bit different. We don’t want to do these quick things and then get out.”

TravelPerk has over 1,500 employees and, a few months ago, acquired the American company AmTrav, a business travel management platform, as part of its strategy to expand into the U.S. market. The company has no intentions of launching an IPO and is focused on prioritizing its customers and leveraging technology, including AI, to its advantage.