EE becomes first UK mobile network to confirm iPhone Handoff support
Mobile operator EE looks set to become the first UK network to introduce support for Apple’s new iPhone Handoff feature, which allows customers to easily switch back and forth between two iPhone models with the same mobile number (sharing the same active eSIM). But you’ll need to take one of their most premium plans or pay a bit extra to benefit.
We initially overlooked the new feature (credits nyoxy for the nudge) because it came buried underneath a mass of iPhone Duo launch announcements (we’re focused more on the network side). But crucially iPhone Handoff is a new iOS 27 feature that requires carrier support in order to function. So far neither O2 nor VodafoneThree (Vodafone and Three UK) have announced support for this, although they surely will.
The catch is that to get this from EE you’ll need to take their Full Works Plus plan, or take it for £5 per month extra on a rolling contract. But it’s also possible that EE’s boast of being the “first UK network to offer iPhone Handoff” may yet be premature, as they’re currently still listing it as “coming soon” (no solid launch date). As a rule, it’s usually wise not to claim “first” on something until it’s actually available.
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Mark is a professional technology writer, IT consultant and computer engineer from Dorset (England), he also founded ISPreview in 1999 and enjoys analysing the latest telecoms and broadband developments. Find me on X (Twitter), Mastodon, Facebook, BlueSky, Threads.net and Linkedin.
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Yeah :have this new featre, will only cost you £50 a month for a esim you don’t need
Where do you get £50 from ??
You’re right it’s actually a bit more than £50. Checking the EE website Full Works is £43 initially then £45.50 then £48. Add on the extra £5 for the feature and that takes the average to over £50 though by how much depends which month you sign up in.
I don’t get it
Its main purpose I see is if you want to have 2 phones, a workhouse phone you don’t care too much about (maybe thats just your old phone), and your fancy iPhone Duo which starts at 2 grand, which you might not want to take with you in certain cases (When your step brother ropes you into helping lug firewood about of your parents).
Or if you want a iPhone Pro Max for the camera/screen real estate, but the air for weight as another example.
Also rich see you next tuedays who want their phone to match their outfit / treat it like a high end watch and want to use their burgundy phone because its Thursday.
iPhones (and other phones) are heading towards being eSim only devices, The Air and Duo are esim only devices worldwide, and since the iPhone 14 in NA have been esim only devices.
How it basically works is if you 2 two phones both setup with handoff, which either phone you pick up and unlock is now your active phone, no need to swap sims (or even transfer a esim), No need for multiple numbers your other socialite friends need to try to contact you (nor multiple carrier plans).
There are uses for the feature. None I would personally use it for, but I can see it being useful for some.
I also don’t get it. For the same number on different phones I can swap the SIM or divert the calls. What most people want are multiple numbers (at the same time) with real SIMs on the same phone.
The days of having a separate carphone are long gone and I can’t imagine two Iphones with the same number being much use to anyone. This also doesn’t solve the issue that most people use apps like Whatsapp which can only be installed on one phone unless each phone has it’s own number.
Yeah, not sure I understand a use case for this. Anyone got any ideas?
This feature really does seem extremely niche. I would have much preferred a esim feature that would allow you to have a second esim for tablets/laptops, that would share your mobile data
Having the same number on two (or more) mobiles was possible 20 years ago when nobody even knew something like esim will ever exist. Moreover it was possible to do it at home by cloning physical sim. Then some networks started selling this feature as a service. Now with esim, probably both phones can ring at the same time, not the one that made an outgoing call as a last one. This is mainly a network provider feature not the device.
I took a 18 pro max for £30 a month interest free and got the Full Works Plus plan for £16 a month, the TNT add on is £33 a month and I get that as part of the plan.
For me personally it’s an incredible deal, factor in the world wide roaming and unlimited watch data and everything else and I feel a little guilty for robbing them.
UNLESS to can make FULL use of all that They are ROBBING YOU
SPY PHONES of convenience = DYSTOPIAN Times Ahead, Without them DIGITAL I.D, And CBDC Could never exist