Verizon is joining T-Mobile in charging customers a monthly fee for Apple’s new iPhone Handoff feature.
The feature is part of Apple’s iOS 27 update, which rolled out to iPhones on Sept. 14. It allows customers to use the same phone number across two compatible iPhones running iOS 27, and it requires carrier support.
With iPhone Handoff activated, customers can choose a primary and secondary iPhone. Their phone number automatically switches to whichever phone they unlock.
Calls, voicemail, messages, and “Find My” location also automatically move to whichever iPhone customers are using.
Verizon faces consumer backlash for $10 iPhone Handoff fee
T-Mobile currently charges its U.S. customers $5 per month for iPhone Handoff; however, Verizon has recently announced it will charge more.
According to a recent update on its website, Verizon said that iPhone Handoff will be “coming soon” and will cost customers $10 per month.
Some consumers took to social media platform Reddit to express frustration over the $10 fee, with some calling it a “rip-off.”
“What a rip-off. Just transfer the eSIM yourself in settings. It takes 30 seconds,” wrote one consumer.
“That’s basically the same price for an additional line on some plans. WTF are we doing here,” wrote another.
Related: T-Mobile adds monthly fee to a new iPhone feature for customers
“I didn’t expect this to be something free; but $10 is ridiculous. At most it should be a couple of dollars a month,” wrote another consumer.
In the U.S., the feature is currently available only to T-Mobile customers. AT&T has not announced plans to offer iPhone Handoff yet. Outside the U.S., Deutsche Telekom customers in Germany have access to the feature, and soon, EE customers in the United Kingdom will as well.
If Verizon customers choose to pay monthly for iPhone Handoff, they should be aware that the feature has a few restrictions, which Apple highlights on its website.
First, the feature does not allow a single phone number to operate on two iPhones at once. Second, while payment cards and car keys stored in Apple Wallet can be used on both iPhones, corporate badges, IDs, and some transit passes may be restricted to one device at a time.
Third, Apple recommends connecting an Apple Watch to the iPhone they use most, as iPhone Handoff does not automatically move the watch connection between devices.
Lastly, for Dual SIM users, the feature requires that both eSIMs be supported by compatible carriers. When the setup meets those requirements, unlocking either iPhone triggers both eSIMs to switch to that device.
Verizon’s latest fee follows a string of price increases
Verizon’s decision to charge $10 per month for iPhone Handoff comes during a time when it has been asking its customers to pay more in recent months.
For instance, in May, it raised the monthly price of its Unlimited Ultimate wireless plan by $5 and increased the price of its Netflix and HBO Max bundle by $3. In September, Verizon also raised prices for its Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ perks.
Amid these changes, a recent survey by Market Force Information found that Verizon customers spend an average of $160 per month on wireless service, the highest among rival carriers.
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Against this backdrop, the survey data also revealed that Verizon’s customer loyalty isn’t as strong as its competitors’. Verizon falls below the 25th percentile with a customer loyalty index (CLI) score of 3.9. Consumer Cellular, Cricket and Mint Mobile claimed the top spots in this category with scores of 4.60, 4.56 and 4.46, respectively.
Also, 22% of Verizon customers are considering switching carriers, with cost of service being the top reason for exiting.
In a February Light Reading report, Recon Analytics analyst XJ Wang warned that raising prices has consequences for wireless carriers.
“Carriers cannot unilaterally raise prices without risking subscriber losses,” wrote Wang. “The market has become commoditized.”
Related: Verizon launches generous customer perks after raising prices
