Calls on other devices ending?

[Plymouthbloke1]

Hi,

Recieved this earlier via text:

Hi,

We wanted to let you know that, from 09 December, you'll no longer be able to use your EE shared number service on MacBooks and iPads.

Watch functionality, along with the Apple-provided iCloud number-sharing function, won’t be affected.

We’re sorry for any inconvenience caused by this update.

I’m assuming this is the “Calls on other devices” feature? That’s really annoying as both an iPad and MacBook user. A really good and unique feature (I don’t think other networks offer this) being binned. Bravo EE, well done 👏 🙄

[robwp]

@esimreplacement I think that will be the same for me at next contract renewal. EE don’t seem to have noticed the competition has caught up on their exclusives like Visual Voicemail, Apple Watch SIM only plans. May as well go somewhere cheaper. 

[domi40]

I've spoken to EE today, according to them, the service simply recognizes the number of your iPhone and therefore you can see whose calling you on the other devise or who you've got the text from, basically call recognition on MacBooks & iPads (the watch is different, because it has to be coupled with the iPhone), so now effectively, you will get these calls and text's without the number recognition, so from an Apple user it will be their iCloud email and everybody else, just the number.

It's pathetic by EE, they told me it's because hardly anybody uses the service and this service was one of the two main reasons I chose EE 5 years ago.

I will seriously look at more competitive networks in December, I'm particularly fuming at the blaze way they've gone about this!

[domi40]

It's one of the main reasons I chose and stayed with EE over the last 6 years, despite the fact they are more expensive, one of the major added values was this service!

What EE don't understand is that people like me, influence, friends and family members, if they go through with this, they're going to lose 9 other customers, not just me, especially as they've cut a service from my mobile plan and refuse to reduce my cost.

[keremakyuz]

So true! and same here. I chose and stayed with EE because they were supporting cutting edge technologies. As a network engineer I also suggested EE to friends and family despite the higher price tag.
Not anymore.

[Infinion]

I have 2 phones on my account and we will all be leaving as soon as possible now, it's a shame it's come to this, EE won a lot of awards touting themselves as 'The Best' and for supporting 'calls on other devices - even without iPhone close by or switched off' they got my vote.

EE are now just run of the mill same as the others and I think they will be surprised at the level of backlash they get from ending support for something that was so good and made EE special.

I was happy to pay a little extra for that bit of a sparkle but it's been squashed out with backward thinking which I suspect could be a result of being taken over by BT, it was always a dark day when that was announced.

I have spoken to Apple about all this and they haven't officially been told by EE they are withdrawing EE shared number service on Macbooks and ipads.

Apple are desperate for this function to be supported, so if any network operator out there would like to win awards and stand out above the rest, you have a massive opportunity here! 

EE could still save this, re-instate the service for another 12 months at least, be transparent about it, look like they care and value their customers, call it damage limitation perhaps? Just a thought.

[Infinion]

What really bites is I have been a customer since the old days of 'Orange' which then became EE, I think I am one of their oldest customers in England and it used to mean something but now they really don't care especially since BT got in the door.

I had an account audit by an over zealous and jealous service representative which concluded my account wasn't economically viable! This was for 'deals' they had offered to me for being a loyal customer of over 20 years and I was stripped of most of them and almost accused of stealing or that's how it felt.

This new removal of service is the last straw, once everyone in my family was on EE and proud of it and as you say would not hesitate to recommend EE to others, now that's gone, what a fall from grace! I hope the penny pinchers are happy.

ID here I come! 

[Colstalex]

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@keremakyuz wrote:

This is bad. It was the only reason I chose EE. It was the only network provider with this great feature in the UK (and Europe): Wi-Fi Calling on supported iCloud-connected devices https://support.apple.com/en-gb/108048

WiFi Calling for other devices allows other devices signed into your iCloud account to make and receive calls EVEN WHEN YOUR iPhone IS NOT NEARBY. 

More info here: https://support.apple.com/en-gb/108066

I might churn.

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No one else offers it in the UK

[Colstalex]

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@MSK001 wrote:

I too received this text....... Probably the most poorly written notification I have ever received!

I have been with EE with multiple contracts/SIMS for years, I have never heard of "EE shared number service" and can't find any reference to it on EE's Website also Live service know nothing about it!!!!!!

Judging by the 26 replies on the EE Community I am not alone in failing to understand what this actually means.

Perhaps EE can clarify?

🤔

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EE called it Smart Number

[robwp]

@domi40 I honestly don’t think EE know what is going to happen when they switch off this service! I’m more inclined to think it’s about WiFi Calling only working on other devices if your iPhone is switched on and nearby. Surely, if the telephone number that’s ringing is in your contacts, the Operating System has a way of linking the number ringing to the contact and will display the name? I can’t see why this would be reliant on the shared number service?

[Infinion]

The fact no one else offers "Smart Number" in the UK is ridiculous to comprehend, I have it first hand from Apple, they are desperate for this feature to be supported in the UK as it is in most of Europe and the US! 

To be expected these days I suppose, the UK at the back of the line, losing it's way, slipping off the radar.

Desperate days I am sorry to say. The only way to make EE listen is to leave and take all your family and friends with you, maybe then they may think on... but probably not.