Elon Musk and SpaceX may develop a smartphone with Starlink satellite connectivity

Elon Musk’s SpaceX may develop a smartphone that can connect to satellite internet. Reports suggest that the company plans to expand into other products, including mobile devices. The device may be different from a regular smartphone, but details are limited for now.

Elon Musk recently bought xAI through SpaceX, and the company is now the most valuable private company. But the rocket maker has no intention of stopping and is exploring other markets for products even indirectly related to space.

After mastering satellite-based Internet and direct-to-mobile services through the Starlink project, SpaceX may begin manufacturing its own smartphones. The phone may have built-in hardware to use Starlink Internet services, provide direct connection to the device, and support the recently launched Stargaze space tracking service.

These plans aren’t new, and the company has reportedly been considering them for years. In fact, Musk reignited speculation by responding to a post on X about a SpaceX-branded phone. “It’s not impossible,” he said, adding that the device would be “very different from current phones.” Regardless of what it looks like, the device is expected to act as a gateway to xAI, furthering Musk’s vision of expanding X into a “all-in-one application.”

The phone could also play an important role in the future of Starlink under SpaceX. According to Reuters, Starlink accounts for between 50 and 80 percent of SpaceX’s profits, and the mobile device could increase its share further, especially as the company seeks to go public to fulfill Musk’s dream of running artificial intelligence data centers in space and building factories on the moon.

The Starlink satellite network already provides direct mobile service for T-Mobile, and SpaceX could expand its partnerships with other carriers to enable “worldwide” network coverage. It is also possible that the company will launch its own carrier service.

Although details are still unclear, this isn’t the first time a Musk-owned company has been linked to speculation about the phone.