No timeline for local iPhone Handoff telco support

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There's no timeline for when Apple's feature that allows two iPhones to share one number will be available in Australia, WhistleOut can confirm. 

Dubbed iPhone Handoff, the iOS 27 addition is similar to how companion SIMs for Apple Watches work. Both iPhones share the same phone number and data allowance, and can connect to mobile networks when the other isn't around. The functionality does require telco support, however. 

WhistleOut reached out to Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone to see if iPhone Handoff support was on the cards, but none of The Big Three providers was able to provide confirmation that they'd implement the functionality or a timeline for when. 

So far, only two telcos globally are supporting iPhone Handoff: T-Mobile in the USA and Telekom in Germany. 

If iPhone Handoff does launch in Australia, it will likely cost extra. Companion plans for smartwatches currently cost between $5 and $10 per month on top of regular plan fees. It would make sense if the same held true for iPhone Handoff plans, given the similar functionality. 

Alex Choros

Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor | X | Instagram | Threads | LinkedIn

Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

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