iOS 9 Extends Continuity Phone Call Features to Cellular Connections

With iOS 8, Apple introduced Continuity, a set of features that allow iOS devices and Macs to interface in new ways. One of the Continuity features allows the iPad and the Mac to receive both text messages and phone calls, so long as your devices, including your iPhone, are all on the same Wi-Fi network.

In iOS 9, accepting phone calls or text messages on your iPad or Mac routed from your iPhone is getting even better, with the addition of cellular support. With iOS 9, your iPhone no longer needs to be on the same network as your iPad or Mac for call forwarding to work.

iphonecontinuity
That means an iPhone can continue to forward calls to a Mac or an iPad even when it's in an entirely different physical location. So, for example, if you forget your iPhone at home, you can continue to receive incoming calls on your Mac while at work, so long as your Mac is connected to a Wi-Fi network.

The feature is tied to Wi-Fi calling, and as noted by The Verge, T-Mobile is the first U.S. carrier to support cellular Continuity. In iOS 9, T-Mobile devices have Phone settings that can be toggled on to allow calls on other devices.

"Wi-Fi calling for other devices allows other devices signed into your iCloud account to make and receive calls using your carrier account even when your iPhone is not nearby," reads the description of the feature.

On phones from other carriers, this setting reads differently: "Use your iPhone cellular connection to make and receive calls on devices signed into your iCloud account when they are nearby and on Wi-Fi."

Developers running iOS 9 who use T-Mobile can access this feature immediately, and beta testers will receive access in July, when iOS 9 is provided to public beta testers. It is not known if other carriers will implement support for cellular Continuity before iOS 9 launches in the fall.

Related Forum: iOS 9

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Top Rated Comments

farewelwilliams Avatar
131 months ago
still need to solve 5 Apple devices ringing the same room.
.
.
.
you know, when you pick up one to answer a call and the other 4 devices are still ringing and you have to leave the freaking room because you can't hear the person on the call.
Score: 63 Votes (Like | Disagree)
doelcm82 Avatar
131 months ago
still need to solve 5 Apple devices ringing the same room.
.
.
.
you know, when you pick up one to answer a call and the other 4 devices are still ringing and you have to leave the freaking room because you can't hear the person on the call.
Also, when you take the call on your phone and later your MacBook is claiming you have a "missed FaceTime call".
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Roessnakhan Avatar
131 months ago
I can't wait to use this when AT&T finally enables WiFi calling.

*dies waiting*
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
spaceballl Avatar
131 months ago
This is so freaking cool. T-Mobile coverage may not be as good as ATT / VZW, but when they continue to stay ahead of the game like this, it makes me feel even better about being a customer.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Yellowbean12 Avatar
131 months ago
That means an iPhone can continue to forward calls to a Mac or an iPad even when it's in an entirely different physical location. So, for example, if you forget your iPhone at home, you can continue to receive incoming calls on your Mac while at work, so long as your Mac is connected to a Wi-Fi network.
This is a really huge feature. Apple should've talked about this for a while and shortened that messy Apple Music intro :P
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MattJessop Avatar
131 months ago
So in theory I can leave my iPhone anywhere, and just take my iPad out? BLACK MAGIC.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)