Blocking Starlink access in iOS 18.3

Adrieeee wrote:

I feel Apple sold out. Anyone know anything about Android? We are thinking of moving over to Androids. Any thoughts? Pros and cons?

Have you actually read the posts in this thread? You should.

Adrieeee wrote:

I feel Apple sold out. Anyone know anything about Android? We are thinking of moving over to Androids. Any thoughts? Pros and cons?

YES! Android has had support for T-Mobile’s StarLink for quite a while, Apple is late to the party. So if you want the more mature StarLink platform switch to an Android phone.

Booboo1111 wrote:

I refuse to update and just ordered my first Chinese phone. I trust them with my data more than Elonia and Google, and other USA tech oligarchs.

Great move, you can have the People’s Republic of China spy on you. All content on Chinese phones (even iPhones) is stored on servers in China, and Chinese security services have access to all of it.

Yes, and I agree. I went into an Apple Store this Saturday to ask this question and they gave me “incomplete” info, assuring me that Apple was not using StarLink at this time. Well, not true. I have been using Apple products since 1985 and this is the first time I am seriously thinking of trading in my IPhone and IPad.

I refuse to update my new phone until they do not automatically add Starlink. I have always used Apple products, but now I’m going to have to take my business elsewhere. I will not stand for teaming up with criminals.

RFguyTN wrote:

A simple connection to a service doesn’t grant access to the phone’s data. Think about that. Every time you go overseas for travel you are on someone else’s network. Do they steal your data??

You are being perfectly logical; unfortunately, many of the users in this thread have long given up on logical thinking.

Newmansmama wrote:

I refuse to update my new phone until they do not automatically add Starlink. I have always used Apple products, but now I’m going to have to take my business elsewhere. I will not stand for teaming up with criminals.

They are not automatically adding starling. Just like they are not automatically adding AT&T or Verizon or Tmobile or any other carrier. Just like the radio in your car does not "automatically add" the right wing talk radio station in your city. Please stop it with the paranoia.

Wow, I was the very first person to reply to this thread, and look how far it’s become. Every day the pages just keep growing, we are now at 16, and most people don’t even bother to read the answers provided and just keep piling on.

jeneanfarris wrote:

Point remains… Many folks are skeptical of anything that apartheid techno-brat oligarch grifter touches. If Apple just enabled some hardware/software needed to connect to starlink only, that’s highly concerning. If it can connect to any satellite not limited to starlink / only limited by carrier, then sure that’s fine — if it’s actually optional. 

We know Apple devices can be tracked even when location is disabled and when phone is off.. and often, not all features that facilitate surveillance without consent are fully advertised to public. Also sneaking in Apple intelligence (forced on us through the update), and not giving a heads up is also suspect. And the CEO donating a million $ to the pres inauguration party to signal compliance with an authoritarian regime is also highly concerning. People have reason to be concerned. That is the point. And they don’t want more of their private info stolen by apartheid techno-brat billionaire oligarchs. 

Folks may be somewhat misinformed about how this satellite service works, but a lot of the folks getting lost in semantics here are missing the bigger sentiment and message. However, the clarity is appreciated and I’m sure folks get it now from you and several others sharing the same explanation. 

The bigger message that might be getting lost is that people are pushing back on anything possibly associated with starlink / musk or his rich buddies. Hopefully Apple gets that larger message. 

Said as simply as possible. Why or what message does Apple need to get here? They HAVE NOT partnered with Starlink. They have NO NEED to partner with Starlink. Send the message you want heard to who has partnered with Starlink, which in the U.S., is T-Mobile. And posting here on this user to user only forum, which with the exception of Moderators, who monitor these threads for adherence to the Terms of Use for this forum, does NOT get any message to Apple anyway. Pushing back, as you suggest is a wasted effort here, when the pushback doesn't make it to Apple, who again, HAS NOT partnered with Starlink.

Folks aren’t just misinformed, they lack an even basic understanding of how telecommunications works.

Your iPhone has a radio/modem that’s a chip inside your iPhone. It receives specific channels or wavelengths. This is just like the FM radio in your car.

The Federal Communications Commission regulates what providers get which channels. The telecoms actually bid billions on specific channels and thereby have specific rights to those channels or frequencies (wavelengths). T-Mobile has the exclusive rights to the 1900 MHz frequencies. The FCC HAS granted Space X (Starlink) to use that band for direct to cellular service.

The 1900 MHz frequencies and the specific channel on the radio/modem on your iPhone is referred to as n51 as I recall. All cellular radios are capable of receiving that channel. Just like your car FM radio can receive all the FM channels.

If you or I don’t want to listen to conservative talk radio, then we won’t tune our radios to those stations. If you don’t want Starlink, don’t subscribe to T-Mobile.

Zachyy wrote:

I didn’t realize Apple publicly disclosed that information, so thank you.

Yes, they are quite open about any vulnerabilities they have fixed. Not the ones they haven’t fixed, obviously.

Here is the entry point to security update information→Apple security updates - Apple Support

Acer13 wrote:

Yes, and I agree. I went into an Apple Store this Saturday to ask this question and they gave me “incomplete” info, assuring me that Apple was not using StarLink at this time. Well, not true. I have been using Apple products since 1985 and this is the first time I am seriously thinking of trading in my IPhone and IPad.

Apple gave you correct information. Apple is NOT using Starlink. Apple has no need to use Starlink. T-Mobile is using Starlink. But sure, trade in your iPhone and iPad (iPad couldn't connect to Starlink if you wanted it to) and hop on over to whoever you want. But be advised Android, has had access to Starlink THROUGH T-MOBILE for some time now.

Read this if you'd actually like to learn something --> The Starlink Myth - Apple Community

It wasn’t this large, but close.

I remember when Mercedes offered a built in Motorola car phone in their cars, for about $3,000, which took up the entire arm rest cubby:

xrayman394 wrote:

Thanks!

I strongly suggest NOT updating to 18.3 until we know more, we must try and learn more about this before upgrading.

You're welcome.