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 👏 🙄

[keremakyuz]

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.

[g8mb1t77]

This is such bad news! great feature and one of the main reasons I'm with EE.

[kalle_96]

Could we know what the reason for this is?

[kevdyas85]

I agree! It is a value added service, EE promote themselves as being a network for iPhone - even Full Works Plans for iPhone and now they’re dropped the only feature which set them apart from other networks. 

[robwp]

@kalle_96 It’s a bit confusing but I’ll paste the answer from Live Chat:

The fuller explanation was:

It is for all the customer who are using.
iPhone which is running on iOS 11 or later, can make and receive calls, as well
as send and receive texts across the UK using the single phone number from
their primary device on up to five different Apple devices. This capability
will cease from 9 December (or when a customer next updates their iOS) on all
devices, apart from their Apple watch.

The reason behind this decision was explained like this:

If you login all Apple
devices with same Apple ID then you'll get notification, calls, text on all the
apple devices. Suppose, you are away from your Apple watch and you got the call
on your phone because Apple ecosystem, the call will reflect on your watch as
well and any body can listen you call without your permission that's the reason
EE has taken this decision to secure from any fraud. Is it making sense?

I think the adviser made a mistake and should have chosen a Mac or iPad as her example rather than an Apple Watch. It kind of makes sense, except there are ways for the user to minimise the risks - set a password, stop notifications from reaching the Lock Screen, etc. 

Live Chat also confirmed I would be able to continue receive SMS & RCS texts (I guess by iCloud Messages sync if nothing else), and more confusingly SEND SMS/RCS texts from other devices (though I am not sure I trust this information yet!). 

My wife still has not received this text and I wonder if the original message has more to do with the more rare “shared number service” (which allows, for example, a business to receive calls and texts to one number on several devices) rather than WiFi Calling (which seems to be linked to Apple ID/iCloud than mobile carrier) and SMS/RCS texts (which again are synced via iCloud)?

If so, why did I receive the text, as far as I am aware I don’t use this rare service? Maybe because when I swapped from an Apple bought Watch Series 10 from an 8 I had to get the EE technical team to transfer the Apple Watch plan for me. What they did instead was begin a new one and forget to cancel the old one. So I discovered today in sorting this out I was still paying for two Apple Watch plans. Maybe that made my account look like I was using the shared number service?

[kevdyas85]

Based on previous experience of EE when discussing this service, the advisor will have no clue what you’re talking about. What they have said doesn’t stack up though when a near identical service is available using Alexa on EE. 

[robwp]

@kevdyas85 I’m inclined to agree. The shared number service is separate from WiFi Calling and Forwarding Texts to Other Devices, but the confusion obviously goes beyond the Live Chat Adviser as she gathered information from elsewhere in response to my query about the text received. 

I wonder if others who have received this text could confirm whether they use the shared number service (as opposed to WiFi Calling and Text Forwarding)?

[esimreplacement]

I've received the same text. This is a really disappointing change which doesn't make a lot of sense. As some have already pointed out, EE is/was the only provider in the UK which supported 'Wi-Fi Calling on supported iCloud-connected devices" (https://support.apple.com/en-gb/108048). This was the only thing keeping me from switching to O2.

I  assume EE might have been paying some license fee to Apple, and that they are now looking to save some money by ending the service...

[MSK001]

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?

🤔

[esimreplacement]

In my experiance, EE customer support usually don't know what they are talking about. I had problems with enabling "Wi-Fi Calling on supported iCloud-connected devices" a few years ago, and I had to call EE five times just to reach a person who was even aware of the service existing. The first four support agents I spoke to tried to persuade me that there is no such thing as "Wi-Fi Calling on supported iCloud-connected devices", and that I must be confusing it for Wi-Fi Calling.

Anyway, the idea of someone listening to a call without your permission doesn't make any sense. How would that even work in theory? You cannot connect to a Wi-Fi call via iCloud on several devices simultaneously (as far as I am aware). So there wouldn't be any situation where someone answers a call on a phone, followed by another person accepting the same call on a linked Apple Watch or MacBook in order to listen in to the call. You would need to transfer the call from device 1 to device 2. 

The only other scenario I can imagine is if you were to leave your computer unattended, and then someone would answer a call on that computer. But then what? Would the person just stay quiet and hope that the one who is calling just starts doing a long monologue where they disclose personal information? The same "risk" already exists with mobile phones (someone stealing a phone, and then answering a call). So EE might as well stop their mobile SIM services for the same reason.