I heard about it from a participant at an offline event the other day, looked it up the day I got home, and signed up the next day... Well, that's what happened
"au Starlink Direct"
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Android users can finally use satellite communications on their smartphones, regardless of carrier
In other words, even though I'm an Android user and not an au user, I can now finally use the emergency SOS function via satellite communication on my smartphone! (Of course, it costs money.)
There is nothing more appreciated than this for people who often engage in fairly risky activities such as river climbing or winter mountain climbing,
In the past, I sometimes had to carry around heavy equipment like a walkie-talkie, but a few years ago, satellite communication devices like the Garmin inReach finally became affordable for the average person, and I have been using this revolutionary device ever since it was first released
*Just to be clear, Cocoheli is a service that assumes that someone will look for you, so in the sense that you cannot actively request rescue (although I don't think it's completely unnecessary), it is nothing more than a talisman
However, since then, new models of devices have been released every few years, the service content has not evolved much, the UI is still based in English, and yet the monthly fees have been increasing without us even realizing it. Meanwhile, around the summer of 2024, all iPhone users were told that the satellite SOS function was implemented as standard
As a hardcore Android user with a Pixel 9 Pro XL, I was honestly a little annoyed that iPhone users can get almost the same services for free, so I still have to pay so much
Then came au Starlink. It allows even Android users to make emergency calls via satellite. I knew it had launched, but I was skeptical, thinking, "It's probably just a service available only to au users, using money to lock in users." (I was one of those people who had the mineo Docomo plan.)
Then, while I was away for a moment, a new service called "au Starlink Direct" was launched in April, allowing users of carriers other than au to use au Starlink. What a wonderful development... With this, I might finally be able to say goodbye to that money-eating Garmin!
So I couldn't sit still any longer and signed up for the service the day after the event ended
The other day, I actually went to a place in the mountains where there was no radio signal and tried it out, so although I won't go into detail yet, I'll give you a brief report on my experience using it
What is au Starlink Direct?
Simply put, this service allows you to send text messages and location information even outside the au 5G/4G LTE area as long as you are in an environment where you can see the sky
https://www.au.com/mobile/service/starlink-direct/
au Starlink Direct is a service that allows you to communicate directly with SpaceX's low-orbit satellite "Starlink" simply by having an au smartphone. When you leave the au service area, your smartphone will automatically search for signals from Starlink satellites and attempt to connect. If you are in an environment where you can see the sky, the connection will be completed and some communication services will become available
However, at present, even if you can connect, not all data communications on your smartphone can be used, and only some of the services listed below can be used
in particular,
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Sending and receiving text messages (SMS/RCS/iMessage)
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Share your current location on Google Maps
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AI chat (Gemini or Simple AI chat) function
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Receive emergency alert emails in the event of a disaster
In other words, at present, you cannot send or receive images or files, use data communication (i.e. browsing the internet in a browser or using apps like YouTube or LINE), or make voice calls. This is an important point to note. For now, this is not a service that will allow you to connect to the internet anywhere
*Data communication is not available "for now," but it is planned to be supported from summer onwards. We have high hopes for the future!
https://topics.smt.docomo.ne.jp/article/itmedia_mobile/trend/itmedia_mobile-20250410_116?redirect=1
Luckily, the prices are quite reasonable
, it's free for the time being for au users . And for users of other carriers like me, if you apply by June 30, 2025, it's free for the first six months from the month of application, and then 1,650 yen/month after that (initial handling fee included) .
https://www.au.com/mobile/service/starlink-direct/exclusive-plan/
I use Garmin inReach and my monthly fee is 1,780 yen for an annual contract, so it's totally worth it. Furthermore, Garmin recently updated their plans, so the monthly fee for new users is now even higher at 2,280 yen or more, so it's honestly not comparable
https://www.garmin.co.jp/products/outdoor/garmin-inreach-subscription/
Of course, the content is slightly different as you can send images and voice messages, but considering you also have to buy a device, it's already a winner in terms of price
It only takes a moment from application to start using the service
*The following is a report from an Android user using the mineo Docomo plan. Please note that this does not apply to iPhone users or UQ mobile users
First, to subscribe to the service, your device must be compatible with au Starlink Direct
https://www.au.com/mobile/service/starlink-direct/enabled-device/
Then select the SIM card you want to use. Since I have dual eSIM support, I select eSIM
From there, you can apply by verifying your identity and other details via smartphone (there are no particularly difficult steps). All applications are linked to your "au ID," and various operations will be possible using the "My au" app in the future
As soon as the contract is completed, you will receive an order confirmation email, and a few hours later you will receive an email with instructions on how to set it up. Simply download the eSIM from the My au app on your smartphone and activate it as one of the dual SIMs, and you're ready to use au Starlink Direct
Once complete, two antennas should always be displayed in the top right corner of your smartphone screen (see photo below) just as if you were using dual SIM cards (although the display may differ depending on the smartphone)
au Starlink Direct's first communication was also a success
au Starlink Direct itself is a service that only connects when you are outside of the au service area, so to actually try it out, you have to go outside the au service area. So, I went to the course from Oyari Pass to Mt. Kinpu, which I did the gear test the other day
By the way, au Starlink Direct can also be used as a regular au carrier dual SIM within the au 4G LTE area, so it feels like a good deal. Data communication is free up to 1GB/month (excess charges are unknown)
After walking for a while, I often found myself losing signal when I entered the forest. However, in places where the signal was weak but within range, I sometimes found myself in frustrating situations where I couldn't connect to the internet, but couldn't connect to the satellite either, and the connection didn't always seem smooth. I guess I need a fairly clear view of the sky. I think I need to test it in various situations
After walking for several hours, we finally reached a ridgeline outside of communication range, and the radio wave indicator in the upper right corner changed from the usual triangle to a communications satellite mark!
I immediately ran an SMS communication test using the Google Messages app, and the message was sent without any issues. I also tried sending my current location using this app, and it was sent without any issues!
I was also able to receive messages from others
As expected, there were no major issues and communication was possible without much stress on the ridgeline even when out of range. This means that even Android users can contact the world below without any additional devices, even if they are lost, as long as they have a smartphone battery. It's so futuristic
There are still some unknowns regarding connectivity, and I would like to try it out in various situations, such as whether it can be used when I'm in a stream, such as when climbing a stream or fishing in a mountain stream, but for now I was able to confirm that the performance was enough to make me decide to switch from Garmin to au Starlink Direct
I'll give a more detailed report once I've tried it a bit more
The 6-month free campaign period ends on June 30th, so if you're interested, apply now!
