[dayglored]

> Would be an interesting idea, especially if connected directly to his Starlink network of satellites.

Alas, that's not how Starlink works. The client devices (phone, tablet, computer) do not communicate -directly- with the satellites. If you think about it, there's no way a phone can produce enough radio signal strength to make it to a satellite.

Starlink operates with a powered "ground transceiver" (sort of a sat-tv dish and electronics), which provides the link between the client device and the satellite.

What this means is if you use Starlink as your internet service provider, you are limited to a small radius around your ground transceiver. That's fine for your residence or business, but useless as soon as you get into your car or take a long walk.

[I-ambush]

I have owned satellite phones, which can reach a satellite with a signal and are relatively compact. There is even an android based smartphone version of a satellite phone. I grant that the starlink system may not have the capability because it hadn’t been built into the design, but Musk is launching new satellite constellations all the time.

[ltc8k6]

Satellite cellular service
In August 2022, T-Mobile US and SpaceX announced a partnership to add satellite cellular service to Starlink Gen2 satellites, and provide dead-zone cell phone coverage across the US using existing midband PCS spectrum that T-Mobile owns.[99][100] Cell coverage will begin with messaging and expand to include voice and limited data services later, with testing to begin in 2023. With Starlink Gen2 sats in low-Earth orbit using existing PCS spectrum, T-Mobile plans to be able to connect by satellite to ordinary mobile devices...

Gen2 Starlink satellites will also include a very large antenna to communicate in the existing midband PCS spectrum, one that will allow cell phone network customers to be able to connect by satellite through their regular mobile devices.
**********
Wiki

[dynoman]

They are working on it;
https://www.t-mobile.com/news/un-carrier/t-mobile-takes-coverage-above-and-beyond-with-spacex

[Radix]

Years ago (March, 2003) I received a phone call from Iraq, first few days of the invasion. I do not know what sort of phone it was but it, the call, was full of static, feedback, and all sorts of distressing radio type noise effects. The call was to assure me that my boy was not dead though it was a close call for him and some of his troops. It was 03:30 here, so that did not help.

A few days following, I received a 2nd call. It sounded as if he were in the next room. It was crystal clear with no ugly noises at all. I asked about that and it turned out to be a satellite phone. The quality was amazing.

I have not a clue just how all that stuff works, but it was not at all unsettling as the earlier call was. I would suppose that such phones are not cheap, but I would love to see real competition in these devices. I would pay more for one.