T-Mobile supports Apple's iOS 9 Continuity feature to get calls and texts on Macs over cellular

T-Mobile US (NYSE:TMUS) is the only carrier that is supporting a new feature in Apple's (NASDAQ: AAPL) iOS 9 operating system that lets customers receive calls and text messages over cellular networks on their Macs and iPads when they are away from their iPhone.

The feature, known as Continuity, became available last year on Apple's Yosemite operating system for Mac. However, a key requirement of the feature was that both the iPhone and the iPad or Mac needed to be on the same Wi-Fi network. With iOS 9's beta release, the feature now works over cellular.

So far, according to T-Mobile, it is the only carrier in the world supporting the new functionality in the iOS 9 beta, which Apple said during this week's Worldwide Developers Conference will be released to the public in July. Apple has never released a beta version of iOS to the public; the completed platform is rolled out in the fall, likely with the next iPhones. Apple added that iOS 9 will be available on all phones and tablets that can run iOS 8. T-Mobile is currently supporting the feature for developers running the iOS 9 preview build.

"So, only T-Mobile customers will be able to answer that important text message or call on your Mac or iPad even if you left your phone at home," T-Mobile said in a statement. "You can leave your phone on your desk and just take your tablet or your Mac to your meeting and never worry about missing anything."  

This isn't the first time T-Mobile has gotten a jump on a new iOS feature. In June 2014 T-Mobile had crowed that it was the only U.S. carrier to support Wi-Fi calling for Apple's iPhones, a feature Apple enabled last year via its iOS 8 software update. Sprint (NYSE:S) added support for the feature to its newest iPhones in April. Other carriers are likely going to add support for Continuity over cellular in the coming months.

For more:
- see this The Verge article
- see this TMoNews article
- see this PhoneScoop article

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