Key points
- EE includes iPhone Handoff free on its Full Works Plus plan.
- Other EE customers pay £5 per month for the feature.
- The service launches by the end of the year.
UK carrier EE has announced the pricing structure for Apple’s iPhone Handoff feature, marking the first time a British provider has disclosed specific costs for the service. This move clarifies how customers will access the ability to share a single mobile number across two devices.
How it unfolded
- Apple announced iPhone Handoff during its September keynote, listing EE among the first carriers to support the technology.
- Competitors T-Mobile and Verizon in the US previously set prices of $5 and $10 per month respectively for similar services.
- EE revealed its pricing alongside the preorder announcement for the iPhone Duo, confirming free access for premium users and a £5 fee for others.
Who is affected
Subscribers to EE’s Full Works Plus plan will receive iPhone Handoff at no extra cost. This tier already includes Fast Lane benefits, so the handoff capability adds to the existing package without changing the monthly bill. Customers on this plan can access the feature when it becomes available.
For users on other EE contracts, the feature costs £5 per month on a rolling basis. This price point applies to standard plans that do not include the premium tier. These customers must opt into the add-on to enable the shared number functionality across their two iPhones.
What happens next
The service is currently listed as coming soon, with Apple stating availability by the end of the year. EE has not provided a specific launch date beyond this window. Customers should expect the feature to become active by the end of the year, as stated by Apple.
The background in plain language
Teams usually explain that eSIM technology allows mobile profiles to exist digitally rather than on physical chips. This flexibility enables users to switch devices without swapping cards. For this feature, carriers must support a specific protocol that lets one number register on two phones simultaneously. Check whether your current plan includes such multi-device benefits before upgrading. Understanding these underlying mechanics helps users evaluate the value of shared-number services against their actual usage patterns and device rotation habits.
What to do and how to stay safe: EE
- Review your current mobile contract to see if it includes multi-device or premium tier benefits.
- Monitor carrier announcements for specific launch dates before attempting to activate the feature.
- Compare the monthly cost of the add-on against your expected usage of a second device.
- Ensure both iPhones are updated to the latest software version when the service becomes available.
Step-by-step guide: Mobile Device Security for Small Business: Control Without Cost
General security guidance from the Circuit Observer newsroom. It is not confirmed advice from the organisations named in this story.
Frequently asked questions
How much does iPhone Handoff cost on EE?
It is free on the Full Works Plus plan and costs £5 per month on other plans.
When will iPhone Handoff be available in the UK?
Apple stated the feature will be available by the end of the year.
Which carriers support iPhone Handoff?
Apple announced support from T-Mobile, Verizon, EE, and Deutsche Telekom.
