There’s an App, too.
Those of you that signed up for more information on SpaceX’s Starlink internet service just got an email telling you all about it. For those lucky early beta testers, the service will cost $99/month, and you won’t be paying the $499 fee for the hardware kit necessary to use it. The email also mentions the apps for iOS and Android they’ve launched for the service. But you’d do well to tamp those expectations down; the email names the beta service the “Better Than Nothing Beta”.
Wait, is that a Mighty No. 9 reference, guys? I’m impressed!
As you can tell from the title, we are trying to lower your initial expectations. Expect to see data speeds vary from 50Mb/s to 150Mb/s and latency from 20ms to 40ms over the next several months as we enhance the Starlink system. There will also be brief periods of no connectivity at all.
The apps are meant to help you set up the hardware, and even help you locate the best place to install, as well as directions for doing so. They even come with a means of contacting customer service.
SpaceX started deploying the satellites for Starlink in May 2019. As of right now, they’ve launched over 800 satellites. But, according to Harvard-Smithsonian Center astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell, of these, 3% have failed; he does note, however that such a number is well within the expected margin for such things.
Starlink’s “Better Than Nothing Beta” hits the US and Canada this year. It’ll expand to other parts of the globe in 2021.
Source: Engadget
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