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 👏 🙄

[esimreplacement]

By the way, the name of the service is "EE Smart Number" (this is EE's name for "Wi-Fi Calling on supported iCloud-connected devices"). If anyone wants to call customer support to get some clarification on why they are ending the service, please note that most people working at EE doesn't seem to be aware that "Smart Number" has existed since 2018. 

https://newsroom.ee.co.uk/ee-becomes-the-first-uk-network-to-launch-smart-number-technology-allowing... 

https://ee.co.uk/help/terms-and-conditions/offers-promotions/ee-smart-number-technology 

[Infinion]

Hi,

I have confirmed with EE it's WiFi calling on other devices, even when your iphone is not close by or switched off. 

This is a service limitation of a service introduced in 2018 which set EE head a shoulders above the rest and 'when' it worked it was excellent and very useful. 

Something to note though, as soon as you upgrade to iOS 18.01 or 18.1 it will stop working immediately, that's from EE tech support and I have it myself having just upgraded, either way come December 9th, it's gone for everyone. Shame and I will be moving elsewhere now, cheers EE (BT in sheeps clothing). Long live (bring back) Orange!

[robwp]

@esimreplacement @Infinion Thanks for your help. I think you are right, which makes it more of an inconvenience for me, rather than the disruption that no WiFi Calling or Text Forwarding would have been. 

Disappointed by EE’s rather lame “security” reason for withdrawing it, and as @Infinion implies, the more EE becomes less market leading for iOS users, the more temptation there is to jump ship to someone cheaper. Ah well. 

[esimreplacement]

Thanks for sharing. I am on 18.2 (beta) and can confirm that the option to “Add Wi-Fi Calling For Other Devices” has disappeared from the settings on both my iPhone and MacBook.

I’ve tried searching online to see if there are any reports of “Wi-Fi Calling on supported iCloud-connected devices” not working on iOS 18, 18.1, or 18.2, but I’m not finding anything at all. So based on that I don’t think it is a limitation of iOS 18.

My guess is that EE has simply chosen to disable it for whatever reason (possibly due to some license fee which they don’t want to pay any longer?). If it affected all providers worldwide I would expect to find several posts about this on MacRumors, Reddit, etc. 

[domi40]

This is nothing to do with wi-fi calling, that is not getting cancelled.

Number sharing allowed you to receive calls on MacBook & iPad from your iPhone number even if you iPhone wasn't close by....it's a feature that came in handy, whenever I forgot my phone and left it at my girlfriends.

So if you phone is near by, you will still receive the calls via wi-fi calling.

[domi40]

It works fine for me and the reason they are cancelling it is two fold, they want to monetise extra lines, like for the watch, however it's silly doing it now, as no Mac at the moment has the capability of having an electronic SIM and the other is to sell more iPads for Apple with the Cellular sim feature.

For me, this feature kept me with EE and their high prices for 5 years, just another reason to cancel and go with another network!

[domi40]

Yes, you're over reacting.

The number sharing allowed you to receive calls and messages, even if your iPhone was not present or switched off and your MacBook was connected to a wi-fi network, it was extremely useful on a number of occasions, especially when ever I left my phone at my girlfiends, the EE chat you refer to, haven't got a clue what they are talking about...at least that's the way I see it, if Wi-Fi calling is cancelled, then that's me looking for another network!

[domi40]

How EE have gone about this is really pathetic, no one is sure what is getting cancelled, most think it's wi-fi calling, if it is, I'm looking for another network

[robwp]

@domi40 I think you’re right and I have made other comments in the the thread to that effect. I have come to believe (but have yet to see) that you will be able to enable WiFi Calling on each of your devices and Text Forwarding on your iPhone as usual. The only change (a minor inconvenience to me, but can see it might be more than that for others) is that my iPhone will need to be on and nearby for WiFi Calling to work. 

[esimreplacement]

The service which you are referring to as “number sharing” is officially named “Smart Number” by EE, and this is the same thing as Apple’s “Wi-Fi Calling on supported iCloud-connected devices”.

There are three “types” of Wi-Fi Calling:

1. Wi-Fi Calling on This Phone

2. Wi-Fi Calling on Nearby Devices (connected to the same Wi-Fi network)

3. Wi-Fi Calling on supported iCloud-connected devices (this does not require your phone to be turned on, or connected to the same Wi-Fi network)

It is the third type of Wi-Fi calling that is named “Smart Number” by EE, and now in their recent text message they have referred to it as “shared number” for some unknown reason (I assume they just have forgotten that they named it “Smart Number” in 2018…). 

EE is/was the only provider in the UK that offered the third type of Wi-Fi calling, which is why many people are disappointed by them ending the support. The more “basic” types of Wi-Fi calling (type 1 and 2) will continue to work, same as with most major providers in the UK.

Personally I will be switching to O2 now that EE has abandoned the only functionality that made them slightly better for Apple users compared to other providers.