AT&T just made a video call from space - and the implications are astronomical

Kerry Wan/ZDNET AT&T and its partner AST SpaceMobile have successfully completed a video call using an unmodified smartphone connected via satellite, showcasing the potential of space-based cellular networks to bridge connectivity gaps in remote and underserved areas. Also: AT&T and Verizon users can try T-Mobile's Starlink satellite service now - here's how The call, conducted on AT&T's spectrum, used AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird satellites launched in September 2024. Originating from Midland, Texas, the video call was made using a standard WhatsApp application on an everyday smartphone, demonstrating how seamlessly integrated the satellite technology was with existing mobile devices. "It's transparent to the phone," John Wojewoda, AVP at AT&T Mobility, tells ZDNET. "It just looks like another wireless network." A decade in the making This moment resulted from nearly a decade of AT&T and AST SpaceMobile collaboration. The two companies have been working together to develop technol ... Read full article.