Before using apps on the GO! exec Unlimited Plan, please review the guide to prepare your device to use apps, which includes to:

These steps will minimize the data transfer through the GO exec when connecting to the internet.

From our experience, the GO exec works best with apps when connected to a well-positioned GO exec external antenna with a clear view of the sky and horizon. For the best experience, the GO exec touchscreen or app should consistently display 5 bars of signal for the usage period. When the signal fluctuates, you will likely have difficulty making or maintaining app connections with the GO exec. Using cellular data or high-speed Wi-Fi via the DataHub in port is best.

Apps on your phone or tablet will not work as fast as cellular or high-speed Wi-Fi. To use the internet on the water as you do on land, we recommend Starlink.

This guide reflects the current best practice and proven usage of the GO exec for apps using Web/App Profiles on the Unlimited Plan. We will update it based on further usage experience and customer feedback.

The Iridium GO exec has a range of built-in Web/App firewall profiles that limit internet traffic and save the available bandwidth for the app you are using. To select a GO exec Web/App profile before connecting:

From our experience, we recommend the below Web/App profiles with additional usage notes or requirements by app:

The best way to use apps is in short, dedicated sessions with one device only. Connect for 15-30 minutes to chat, check and send messages or use apps, then disconnect.

SMS works through the GO exec using the All Open profile via Wi-Fi calling, where your device has a cellular connection and your network provider and device support it. Most network providers and current devices support Wi-Fi calling. iPhone to Android SMS works and vice versa.

PredictWind and Iridium cannot guarantee timely SMS sending or delivery. Receipt of SMS messages received while you are not connected depends on the cellular provider's system retrying when you next connect. Most providers will deliver pending messages promptly if you reconnect once or twice daily and send a message.

For best use, connect for short periods, say 15-30 minutes and actively use the connection before disconnecting.

iPhone / iPad: Open the iOS device Settings > Mobile > Wi-Fi Calling > On.

Android 14: Open the device Settings > Internet > tap on the cog right of the screen beside your network provider name > swipe down to Wi-Fi Calling > tap and select Use Wi-Fi calling.

Android 9: Open the device Settings > Connections > tap to enable Wi-Fi calling.

iMessage can work well through the GO exec using the iMessage Web/App profile when a connection with Apple's servers is successful and coverage is maintained. Stickers, Locations and short audio messages can sent.

To send images, enable compression in your iMessage settings on your iOS device by opening the iOS device Settings > Messages > swipe to the bottom and enable Low-Quality Image Mode.

When messages fail to send, iMessage can take some time to report a sending failure. Facetime audio calling is not recommended though it may work.

WhatsApp typically takes 1-2 minutes to connect through the GO exec and send its first message with the WhatsApp Full or All Open Web/App profile. Once connected, messages are delivered quickly, and voice calling works with strong satellite coverage.

If the connection is kept open for a long time and coverage drops, connectivity can take some time to recover. Disconnecting the GO exec from the internet and waiting until a full signal is restored before reconnecting can be quicker. Images can be sent as WhatsApp uses image compression; however, it's still worth cropping photos before sending to reduce upload time.

The recommended configuration to use WhatsApp through the GO exec is:

Gmail can send and receive small emails and email volumes through the GO exec using the All Open profile and the Gmail app. Gmail is not recommended for heavy email use through the GO exec; however, connecting for 15 minutes or so briefly to check new messages and send a few small emails can work. PredictMail via the DataHub is recommended for a simpler and easier email experience offshore.

Outlook can send and receive small emails and email volumes through the GO exec using the Outlook Web/App profile. The Outlook Web/App must already be token authenticated (if required) to work. You may need to use the All Open profile if authentication is required or you are not using a Microsoft-hosted Office365, Hotmail or Outlook.com account. PredictMail via the DataHub is recommended for a simpler and easier email experience offshore.

This app allows limited access to websites that are purpose-designed for low bandwidth connections or that do not have heavy media content. Most websites today include significant multimedia content, requiring a long loading time with a high chance of timing out before loading. To browse the web, we recommend Starlink.

Opera Mini on Android is the best low-bandwidth web browser we've found to use with the GO exec. Chrome or Safari can work on iOS.

Facebook can be accessed through the GO exec using the Facebook Web/App profile via a web browser at: https://mbasic.facebook.com. This website is a low-bandwidth version of Facebook, and it will load. This is best used to check notifications and messages or send short text posts. The Facebook App is too heavy with media content and not usable. To use the full Facebook App regularly, we recommend Starlink.

Facebook Messenger can be used through the GO exec with the All Open Web/App profile. Sending and receiving messages can be successful where strong coverage is maintained. If coverage drops, connectivity may not recover. Rather than wait, it can be quicker to disconnect the GO exec from the internet, force close the app, and wait until a full signal is restored on the GO exec before reconnecting.

The Twitter/X app can be used through the GO exec using the All Open Web/App profile. The main app screen, posts and comments will load, and you can send short tweets. Twitter/X native app performance is the best of all social media apps; however, we recommend Starlink for regular or heavy use of Twitter/X.

Instagram is too media-heavy, and the app will not work through the GO exec. To use Instagram, we recommend Starlink.