Bluetooth-powered eSIM Transfer and Walkie-Talkie Capabilities Rumored in iOS 16
A preview of iOS 16 last week showed that it definitely has a lot more features than revealed at the WWDC 2022.The forthcoming iPhone OS is slated to sport multiple new APIs, i.e. one responsible for walkie-talkie capabilities that third-party apps may rely on. All the relevant details were demonstrated at a WWDC 2022 session. Another exciting feature is the possibility of transferring eSIM connections between iPhones using Bluetooth.
The walkie-talkie API is presumably called “Push to Talk”. Basically, it allows developers to add a walkie-talkie to their iOS apps. It will allow to send audio messages and play them in real time with a mere tap of a button, even in the case of the app running in the background.
The report also claims that users will see “communication at the top of the screen” – it means that the app icon and the name of your interlocutor will be on top of the screen. There will be an option to reply using an audio message in real time or leave the conversation. Push to Talk can be used for both individual and group chats. Curiously, there’s a walkie-talkie app already pre-installed in watchOS 5.
In another development, we can expect eSIM transfers to be enabled between iPhones via Bluetooth. Find this option in the Settings app if your iPhone is running iOS 16. If you go to Settings, and then Set up eSIM, you’ll see the option to transfer an eSIM and its associated phone number from another iPhone via Bluetooth. The other iPhone must be in the immediate proximity, unlocked, with Bluetooth switched on, and should also be running iOS 16 or a later version. Multiple countries already support this feature, but it ultimately depends on the specific carrier.