During the ‘surprise and shine’ Apple keynote this week, the company introduced a new iOS 27 feature that’ll enable someone to use the same phone number and eSIM information across two different iPhone handsets.
The handy feature – which is great for people who like to have a different handset optimised for work and the weekend – allows users to easily switch back and forth between two iPhone models and easily make calls and send messages from the same number on either device.
In the olden days, this would have involved moving a physical SIM card between two different handsets and the finicky faff associated with that.
At launch the feature will only be supported by T-Mobile and the United States and Deutsche Telekom in Germany, but we expect availability to expand over time. Hopefully with UK networks getting involved too.
At least for now we know how much it’ll set folks back in the United States. T-Mobile has announced its subscribers will need to fork over an extra $5 a month to access iPhone Handoff.
iPhone Handoff – not to be confused with the Handoff features that make working between a Mac and an iPhone a lot easier – will become available with iOS 27 once it launches on September 14. Both devices need to be running iOS 27 and can’t make calls at the exact same time.
Apple says the two devices must also be connected to Wi-Fi, be sharing the same Apple Account, using Messages in iCloud to ensure messages sync, and signed into FaceTime and iMessage with the same Apple Account. Apple advises that Apple Watch users will want to pair their device with the iPhone they use the most because iPhone Handoff does not switch your Apple Watch to the other phone.
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