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Thank you so much. 24 00:01:19,800 --> 00:01:24,680 SpaceX filed A trademark for the name Starlink Mobile, and that 25 00:01:24,680 --> 00:01:28,000 move points toward a serious push into phone service. 26 00:01:28,600 --> 00:01:31,560 Is SpaceX preparing to run a mobile carrier that blends 27 00:01:31,560 --> 00:01:34,800 satellite links with everyday cellular plans? 28 00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:38,040 Now, after the break, I'll unpack what a trademark filing 29 00:01:38,040 --> 00:01:41,600 actually signals about this, how a Starlink mobile brand could 30 00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:46,040 work in practice, and what product clues usually follow if 31 00:01:46,240 --> 00:01:49,040 a company plans to sell true phone service. 32 00:01:49,440 --> 00:01:52,920 And I'll breakdown possible customer experiences, business 33 00:01:52,920 --> 00:01:55,960 models, and the roadblocks that shape a launch timeline. 34 00:01:56,680 --> 00:02:01,120 So this is what, you know what to look out for in the future 35 00:02:01,240 --> 00:02:02,560 when it comes to Sterling Mobile. 36 00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:05,440 I think this will be really cool if they actually pull this off, 37 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:09,680 if they try to compete with the big carriers, it's going to be 38 00:02:09,680 --> 00:02:11,080 amazing. They have a partnership with 39 00:02:11,080 --> 00:02:14,600 T-Mobile right now, but we're going to get into this right 40 00:02:14,600 --> 00:02:19,560 after this short break. Now we have 1 concrete data 41 00:02:19,560 --> 00:02:22,400 point right now, a trademark filing for the name Sterling 42 00:02:22,400 --> 00:02:25,040 Mobile. Now a trademark reserves 43 00:02:25,040 --> 00:02:28,040 branding for specific goods and services and companies file 44 00:02:28,040 --> 00:02:29,880 before they announce their actual products. 45 00:02:30,280 --> 00:02:33,880 Now this gives us a narrow fact plus a wide field of 46 00:02:33,880 --> 00:02:37,560 implications to test out. Now let's start with what a 47 00:02:37,560 --> 00:02:41,920 trademark is and what it is not. A filing protects a name or a 48 00:02:41,920 --> 00:02:45,320 logo for certain uses, such as telecommunications services or 49 00:02:45,320 --> 00:02:48,240 software. It does not confirm a product 50 00:02:48,240 --> 00:02:50,400 launch date or a final feature list. 51 00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:53,720 Companies often secure names early to prevent rivals from 52 00:02:53,720 --> 00:02:57,120 squatting on a brand they plan to use in the future. 53 00:02:57,960 --> 00:03:00,840 Now, the word in the name actually matters. 54 00:03:00,840 --> 00:03:04,800 Starlink Mobile reads as a consumer facing label that you 55 00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:08,720 would expect to see on a SIM or an esim, a rate plan or a phone 56 00:03:08,720 --> 00:03:13,560 app that signals intent to serve people who carry phones not only 57 00:03:13,560 --> 00:03:15,520 homes, boats, trucks or airplanes. 58 00:03:15,520 --> 00:03:19,440 Currently, it also pairs cleanly with the existing Starlink brand 59 00:03:19,440 --> 00:03:21,000 that people already connect with. 60 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:25,120 Connectivity now mark like this usually sits on top of a few 61 00:03:25,120 --> 00:03:28,400 possible offerings. One possibility is a mobile 62 00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:31,920 virtual network operator that sells phone plans under the name 63 00:03:31,920 --> 00:03:36,000 brand while it rides on existing terrestrial towers in cities. 64 00:03:36,680 --> 00:03:40,560 Another possibility is a hybrid plan that uses ground towers 65 00:03:40,560 --> 00:03:43,920 first, then falls back to satellite links and dead zones. 66 00:03:44,360 --> 00:03:49,640 And #3 is a stand alone satellite first plan for basic 67 00:03:49,640 --> 00:03:53,920 messaging and safety coverage and eventually phone service 68 00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:57,840 with a consumer friendly label people recognize. 69 00:03:58,720 --> 00:04:01,600 Now think about the customer journey that a name like this 70 00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:05,400 tries to simplify. You own an app, you scan AQR 71 00:04:05,400 --> 00:04:08,320 code and your phone loads an E SIM labeled Starlink Mobile. 72 00:04:08,880 --> 00:04:12,200 You pick a tier that covers your home region, a travel add on 73 00:04:12,200 --> 00:04:15,760 maybe, and a satellite fall back option for hiking, driving or 74 00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:18,399 sailing. Now the brand promises simple 75 00:04:18,399 --> 00:04:22,120 coverage in the plan. Names mirror that promise. 76 00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:26,720 That means you could have Starlink Mobile within seconds, 77 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:32,040 no crazy sign up processes like the current carriers because 78 00:04:32,040 --> 00:04:36,160 they want every single penny out of your pockets, they want to 79 00:04:36,160 --> 00:04:38,400 bleed you dry, and they want to make as much money as they can 80 00:04:38,400 --> 00:04:41,800 from that subscription. A baseline tier could focus on 81 00:04:41,800 --> 00:04:46,640 text and basic data in remote areas, which keeps costs aligned 82 00:04:46,640 --> 00:04:49,200 with the limited capacity of space links. 83 00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:52,520 For now. Until of course, SpaceX and 84 00:04:52,520 --> 00:04:57,560 Starlink ramp up their operations with Starship now a 85 00:04:57,560 --> 00:05:00,440 mid tier could bundle traditional city coverage with 86 00:05:00,440 --> 00:05:04,240 satellite fall back, which reduces anxiety about dead zones 87 00:05:04,240 --> 00:05:07,040 on long road trips. And then you could have the 88 00:05:07,040 --> 00:05:09,680 premier tier. And it could add global roaming 89 00:05:09,680 --> 00:05:12,640 and priority support for frequent travellers, media 90 00:05:12,640 --> 00:05:14,840 teams, field workers and just you and me. 91 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:19,080 We could have regular phone service, but it could be phone 92 00:05:19,080 --> 00:05:22,320 service from space. And you could be always 93 00:05:22,320 --> 00:05:26,360 connected, no matter where you are, no matter what you do, you 94 00:05:26,360 --> 00:05:28,160 could have a connection. And this is a great thing 95 00:05:28,160 --> 00:05:32,320 because I know I've been traveling a lot in the last few 96 00:05:32,320 --> 00:05:37,200 years, and the fact that I have driven hours without a signal in 97 00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:42,240 the mountains is incredible. And when you're out hiking 98 00:05:42,280 --> 00:05:46,320 someplace and there's absolutely no service, there is no way to 99 00:05:46,320 --> 00:05:47,960 contact people if something happens. 100 00:05:48,600 --> 00:05:51,800 So I understand where they're coming from. 101 00:05:51,920 --> 00:05:56,080 If they want to make a premier brand, they need to consider 102 00:05:56,120 --> 00:05:59,400 phone service, tech service, all the stuff that we have now, all 103 00:05:59,400 --> 00:06:03,120 the data may need that as well and start like we cannot accept 104 00:06:03,120 --> 00:06:06,240 anything less. If it's just text when they roll 105 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:08,080 out, I get it. They have to test it. 106 00:06:08,080 --> 00:06:09,560 They're doing that right now with T-Mobile. 107 00:06:11,480 --> 00:06:15,360 But you know there there's going to be a whole slew of things 108 00:06:15,360 --> 00:06:17,960 that they need to accomplish before this actually happens. 109 00:06:18,440 --> 00:06:21,360 Now they're going to do the E SIM first approach it because it 110 00:06:21,360 --> 00:06:24,280 removes cards like plastic cards. 111 00:06:24,280 --> 00:06:28,280 You know the little SIM cards in an app reduces support overhead 112 00:06:28,280 --> 00:06:30,840 for that. The app can also expose status 113 00:06:30,840 --> 00:06:33,960 indicators that tell you when your phone sits on a ground 114 00:06:33,960 --> 00:06:37,680 tower, like when there's something to to connect to. 115 00:06:38,840 --> 00:06:42,440 Either they might have a partner network if they cannot connect 116 00:06:42,440 --> 00:06:44,720 to the satellite or if you're on a satellite link. 117 00:06:45,360 --> 00:06:48,880 So clear labels will keep people from guessing, which cuts down 118 00:06:48,960 --> 00:06:52,400 on angry support tickets. And we all know that SpaceX and 119 00:06:52,400 --> 00:06:55,600 Star Lake do not like to answer support calls. 120 00:06:56,920 --> 00:06:58,600 Now this is a credible mobile brand. 121 00:06:58,600 --> 00:07:02,320 Possibly it also needs emergency features. 122 00:07:02,320 --> 00:07:06,240 People expect 911 calls to route location dated to reach 123 00:07:06,240 --> 00:07:10,120 responders, a text to push through during storms. 124 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:14,720 You need to be able to contact everybody all the time. 125 00:07:14,720 --> 00:07:17,600 A product that carries the word mobile should set expectations 126 00:07:17,600 --> 00:07:19,720 about emergency behaviors in plain language. 127 00:07:20,120 --> 00:07:24,600 And that clarity builds trust early and keeps churn from new 128 00:07:24,600 --> 00:07:26,360 customers low. We don't want these people 129 00:07:26,360 --> 00:07:28,960 coming in for a month or two and being like, eh, don't like it 130 00:07:29,280 --> 00:07:33,920 and then leaving. Startling Mobile needs to build 131 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:38,000 on what current mobile providers provide. 132 00:07:39,040 --> 00:07:40,760 Now. The international angle adds 133 00:07:40,760 --> 00:07:43,400 layers to this too. A consumer plan that claims 134 00:07:43,400 --> 00:07:46,760 mobile in the name will face country by country rules. 135 00:07:47,200 --> 00:07:51,520 Number assignment in roaming agreements Slows down expansion 136 00:07:51,520 --> 00:07:53,880 a little bit compared to a single nation data service. 137 00:07:53,880 --> 00:07:55,720 Maybe they start in the US because that's where they're 138 00:07:55,720 --> 00:07:58,000 based. Careful rollout sequence that 139 00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:02,000 starts in one market and adds regions in waves wouldn't match 140 00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:04,240 how these launches typically unfold. 141 00:08:04,240 --> 00:08:07,120 Start in the US and in just a certain spot. 142 00:08:07,120 --> 00:08:08,880 That's what they did with regular Starling satellite 143 00:08:08,880 --> 00:08:12,320 service. Start with a few places, Maybe 144 00:08:12,320 --> 00:08:15,800 start in California, maybe start in New York, maybe start in 145 00:08:15,800 --> 00:08:16,960 Florida. Places. 146 00:08:16,960 --> 00:08:18,320 They have clear skies all the time. 147 00:08:18,320 --> 00:08:22,680 Arizona, New York isn't a good example of that by the way. 148 00:08:22,960 --> 00:08:27,880 I but start places that have a clear sky would be a great way 149 00:08:27,880 --> 00:08:31,200 to start this out, test this system, test the limits, and 150 00:08:31,200 --> 00:08:35,159 then move on from there. So there might be some technical 151 00:08:35,159 --> 00:08:38,640 constraints too, for anyone dreaming of phone calls from the 152 00:08:38,640 --> 00:08:40,559 wilderness. Satellite coverage can extend 153 00:08:40,559 --> 00:08:43,400 reach, but capacity remains finite. 154 00:08:43,400 --> 00:08:45,840 So it just depends on how many satellites they have in orbit. 155 00:08:46,720 --> 00:08:49,840 And you share your signal with everybody else as well. 156 00:08:50,600 --> 00:08:54,320 That favors text first features before phone calls. 157 00:08:54,320 --> 00:08:58,720 So maybe they start a roll out really early with just text and 158 00:08:58,720 --> 00:09:01,720 data. But if there's heavy storms, 159 00:09:01,800 --> 00:09:04,640 it's hard for satellites no matter who you are. 160 00:09:04,640 --> 00:09:09,280 Even if you are * lake, it's difficult to get a get reception 161 00:09:09,320 --> 00:09:13,840 through those storms. So we all know how difficult it 162 00:09:13,840 --> 00:09:18,880 is to reach somebody when you're far away, but add a storm into 163 00:09:18,880 --> 00:09:23,000 that in the possibility of reaching somebody, whether it's 164 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:26,520 data or a phone call is very difficult. 165 00:09:27,360 --> 00:09:31,160 Now there's going to be trade-offs upfront, but they're 166 00:09:31,160 --> 00:09:33,800 not going to over promise right away. 167 00:09:34,000 --> 00:09:36,880 Elon will of course, we all know Elon will over promise. 168 00:09:36,880 --> 00:09:39,240 He'll say that it's going to be the best thing ever and it's 169 00:09:39,240 --> 00:09:41,240 going to connect to humanity more than we've ever been 170 00:09:41,240 --> 00:09:42,840 connected and etcetera, etcetera. 171 00:09:43,480 --> 00:09:50,560 But those things are going to be mitigated over time and they're 172 00:09:50,560 --> 00:09:53,280 going to start small, of course, like tiny, tiny, tiny. 173 00:09:54,160 --> 00:09:57,760 On the network side, a startling mobile label would apply, a full 174 00:09:57,760 --> 00:10:02,440 service for subscribers, a phone number, authentication, 175 00:10:02,440 --> 00:10:05,760 voicemail, spam controls and call features that like 176 00:10:05,760 --> 00:10:08,600 everybody knows already well built product. 177 00:10:08,920 --> 00:10:11,960 How's the complexity of how this signal reaches you? 178 00:10:12,120 --> 00:10:14,080 You don't even think about your cell phone, do you? 179 00:10:14,080 --> 00:10:19,640 You don't think about your phone or how you get connected, how 180 00:10:19,640 --> 00:10:23,360 your phone transmits to a relay station and then it transmits to 181 00:10:23,360 --> 00:10:24,600 somebody. You don't think it just works, 182 00:10:24,600 --> 00:10:25,840 right? And that's what Starlink is 183 00:10:25,840 --> 00:10:29,160 going to be doing and it's going to focus on familiar experiences 184 00:10:29,160 --> 00:10:32,520 that anyone can use right away. So there's going to be an app to 185 00:10:32,520 --> 00:10:35,400 sign up. Super simple sign up. 186 00:10:36,280 --> 00:10:43,520 Probably a I would assume a five step process, maybe name, phone 187 00:10:43,520 --> 00:10:46,480 number, e-mail address to start with. 188 00:10:47,560 --> 00:10:50,080 Maybe your current, like your current physical address as well 189 00:10:50,080 --> 00:10:55,240 if you have one, depending on regulations and then what tier 190 00:10:55,240 --> 00:10:56,560 you want. I mean, I could see them 191 00:10:56,560 --> 00:10:58,000 breaking this down. It depends on what the 192 00:10:58,080 --> 00:10:59,520 regulations are wherever you are. 193 00:10:59,840 --> 00:11:02,080 But I can see them breaking this down into like the smallest 194 00:11:02,080 --> 00:11:04,360 bits, right? Because phone companies, when 195 00:11:04,360 --> 00:11:06,240 they get all your information, they don't just get it for 196 00:11:06,240 --> 00:11:07,920 themselves. They sell all your data. 197 00:11:08,640 --> 00:11:12,280 They sell your data to other brokers so they can make money 198 00:11:12,280 --> 00:11:14,840 off you even if you're not using their service. 199 00:11:15,360 --> 00:11:19,240 So they have their hands in so many different cookie jars here 200 00:11:19,720 --> 00:11:22,560 and they're making money even if you aren't signed up. 201 00:11:23,880 --> 00:11:26,600 So they'll sell it to other mobile carriers, they'll sell it 202 00:11:26,600 --> 00:11:28,520 to other outreach programs, whatever. 203 00:11:29,120 --> 00:11:31,920 They sell your data. So I can see start like making 204 00:11:31,920 --> 00:11:36,400 it super simple to sign up, scan AQR code, start your thing, 205 00:11:37,120 --> 00:11:39,040 maybe 3 steps. What do you want your phone 206 00:11:39,040 --> 00:11:40,960 number to be? Here's the ones available. 207 00:11:41,120 --> 00:11:42,880 Here you go. And that's it. 208 00:11:43,040 --> 00:11:46,160 You don't need anything else unless there's regulations, of 209 00:11:46,160 --> 00:11:48,560 course. So this is going to be of 210 00:11:48,560 --> 00:11:52,160 course, very slow, very slow roll out. 211 00:11:52,160 --> 00:11:56,080 Maybe they, they might, they might partner with somebody like 212 00:11:56,080 --> 00:11:59,800 T-Mobile who they've already partnered with for those 213 00:11:59,800 --> 00:12:02,040 overlaps. If you cannot connect to a 214 00:12:02,040 --> 00:12:04,840 satellite, maybe T-Mobile will be the backup for that because 215 00:12:04,840 --> 00:12:06,160 they already have a partnership with them. 216 00:12:07,400 --> 00:12:12,560 So that's going to be a something to really think about 217 00:12:12,560 --> 00:12:14,840 because Starlink cannot work everywhere. 218 00:12:14,840 --> 00:12:18,480 It doesn't really work well in cities like a major city like 219 00:12:18,480 --> 00:12:23,680 New York City or LA. The buildings get in the way and 220 00:12:23,680 --> 00:12:25,960 you can't have a signal. So they must partner with 221 00:12:25,960 --> 00:12:28,760 somebody else who's local in order for you to get that 222 00:12:28,760 --> 00:12:33,080 signal. So there might be, I mean, there 223 00:12:33,080 --> 00:12:36,520 might be a way for them to figure this out, but maybe 224 00:12:36,520 --> 00:12:38,800 there's a relay, maybe they have relay stations throughout the 225 00:12:38,800 --> 00:12:42,240 city on rooftops or I am not 100% sure what they're going to 226 00:12:42,240 --> 00:12:44,080 be doing. But remember how long it took 227 00:12:44,080 --> 00:12:47,440 mobile carriers to get us where we are now in the speeds that we 228 00:12:47,440 --> 00:12:51,040 have now was because they spent decades building out this 229 00:12:51,040 --> 00:12:54,960 infrastructure and it's like they didn't do it overnight. 230 00:12:55,000 --> 00:12:58,280 And of course, Starlink is, they're building it over time, 231 00:12:58,280 --> 00:13:04,640 but it there's not going to be a Starlink service right away that 232 00:13:04,640 --> 00:13:06,560 will be able to penetrate buildings. 233 00:13:06,800 --> 00:13:08,480 There's no way that, I mean, they just can't do it. 234 00:13:08,480 --> 00:13:14,320 That's not how physics works. So what should you watch next if 235 00:13:14,320 --> 00:13:17,680 you care about this? We're going to look for 236 00:13:17,680 --> 00:13:21,720 regulatory filings that describe mobile services in plain terms 237 00:13:21,720 --> 00:13:25,000 that we can all read. Look for partner mentions and 238 00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:27,720 marketing copy. Starling might send something 239 00:13:27,720 --> 00:13:31,640 out in an e-mail with some hints or tips, and there are going to 240 00:13:31,640 --> 00:13:36,200 be a leaks, I'm sure, and I look for help with that. 241 00:13:36,200 --> 00:13:40,800 With the leaks now, a press event that shows an E SIM 242 00:13:40,840 --> 00:13:45,600 activation end to end would mark a huge step, of course, but 243 00:13:45,760 --> 00:13:47,400 that's not going to happen anytime soon. 244 00:13:47,400 --> 00:13:50,840 This is just a trademark. We don't have to think about it 245 00:13:50,840 --> 00:13:52,800 too deep right now. It's going to be years before 246 00:13:52,800 --> 00:13:56,440 this thing comes out because they don't even have Starship up 247 00:13:56,600 --> 00:13:59,720 launching Starlinks yet. Once they get Starship launching 248 00:13:59,720 --> 00:14:02,800 Starlink, I think that's when we should really think about this 249 00:14:02,800 --> 00:14:07,400 because right now, even though they got the trademark, they 250 00:14:07,400 --> 00:14:11,680 might not have the the systems in place to get this started. 251 00:14:12,000 --> 00:14:15,560 But who knows, they may have Starlink mobile as a a Co brand 252 00:14:15,560 --> 00:14:21,200 to their T-Mobile partnership. So it does not guarantee you a 253 00:14:21,200 --> 00:14:26,040 launch date at all, but it does reveal some intent from SpaceX. 254 00:14:26,640 --> 00:14:29,520 When a company with an existing connectivity brand moves to 255 00:14:29,520 --> 00:14:34,040 reserve a consumer phone label, it sets expectations. 256 00:14:34,360 --> 00:14:36,800 Now, simplest read is often the right one. 257 00:14:37,080 --> 00:14:39,440 Reserve name points toward a product the company wants to 258 00:14:39,440 --> 00:14:44,960 sell under that name. So Starlink Mobile might exist 259 00:14:45,240 --> 00:14:48,000 in the near future. Support, if you could take a 260 00:14:48,000 --> 00:14:50,960 second and hit the subscribe or the follow button on whatever 261 00:14:50,960 --> 00:14:53,720 podcast platform that you're listening on right now. 262 00:14:53,720 --> 00:14:56,080 I greatly appreciate it. It helps out the show 263 00:14:56,080 --> 00:14:58,760 tremendously and you'll never miss an episode. 264 00:14:58,960 --> 00:15:02,320 And each episode is about 10 minutes or less to get you 265 00:15:02,320 --> 00:15:05,040 caught up quickly. And please, if you want to 266 00:15:05,040 --> 00:15:10,560 support the show even more, go to patreon.com/stage Zero. 267 00:15:11,000 --> 00:15:12,840 And please take care of yourselves and each other. 268 00:15:13,040 --> 00:15:14,160 And I'll see you tomorrow.