Apple’s iPhone Handoff feature lets eSIM users keep the same phone number on two devices and pick which one gets calls and messages. It is coming with the latest iOS update, and it works by letting you move your phone number between two iPhones. That sounds useful. What is not useful is that T-Mobile is charging for it.
The Handoff Feature
Handoff lets you activate one phone while the other stays inactive. You can switch between them whenever you want, and the active device handles calls, texts, and data.
T-Mobile’s Price
T-Mobile announced on its website that the feature will cost $5 per month. That is the whole story. The carrier is charging a flat fee for a feature Apple built into its operating system. The service is only available to T-Mobile customers in the U.S. at first.
How to Set It Up
Setting up Handoff is simple. Open the Settings app, go to the eSIM section, tap Phone, then tap Continue and Transfer. Unlocking the second device activates it. If everything works, you get a message saying a device has been activated.
The Problem With This Deal
T-Mobile did not build Handoff. Apple did. The carrier is simply charging for access to it.
Why This Matters
T-Mobile is taking advantage of being the only carrier with this feature right now. That is the whole reason the fee exists. The company is charging for something it did not build, and it is doing so exclusively in the U.S.
A Reasonable Setup
The setup process itself sounds easy enough. The fee is small, but it is a recurring cost. If you own two iPhones and want to share a number between them, you now need to pay T-Mobile for the privilege.
Comparing the Two Companies
| Company | Role | Cost | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple | Built Handoff | Free in software | Latest iOS update |
| T-Mobile | Sells access | $5 per month | U.S. customers only |
The Verdict
This is a feature Apple built into its operating system, and T-Mobile is charging for it. The fee is small, but the principle is strange. A company should not be able to charge for a feature it did not build, especially when that feature is free in software.
T-Mobile is making money off a free Apple feature, and the price is not large enough to stop anyone from buying it. The company is taking advantage of its position as the only carrier with the feature. The fee is a small annoyance, but it is a new model for how carriers treat features that were once free.
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