Elon Musk’s Starlink Partners with Liftoff Mobile for Direct-to-Cell Service, but FCC Approval Still Pending Says Viral Claim. A rumor is spreading on social media that SpaceX has teamed up with Liftoff Mobile to launch a revolutionary direct-to-cell satellite service, bypassing traditional carriers. Viral posts claim the partnership will allow smartphones to connect to Starlink satellites without hardware upgrades, with a promised “liftoff mobile” launch date of early 2024. However, fact-checkers have verified this is fake: while SpaceX does have a direct-to-cell initiative, no such deal with Liftoff Mobile exists, and the FCC has not approved any commercial service. The rumor appears to have originated from a parody account, but users are still sharing it as real news.