UK-based mobile joint venture Everything Everywhere has completed the final stage of its smart signal sharing initiative.

As of this week, the mobile devices of 27.5 million Orange and T-Mobile customers will automatically switch to the other network if their 3G signal drops “to a point at which performance may be impacted”, EE said in a statement.

The initiative began in October 2010 when 2G signals were shared, before 3G sharing was introduced a year later.

“The launch is yet another proofpoint to our commitment to provide our customers with the best network in the UK – now and in the future,” said CEO Olaf Swantee.

In other news, the company announced a new M2M partner and a new mobile contactless ticketing trial.

High-end UK oven manufacturer AGA is integrating Orange SIM cards into its new iTotal Control oven.

Customers with smartphones or tablets can control their oven by touchscreen, while those without an internet connection can use SMS to issue commands.

There is also a dedicated web portal that allows customers to control it via a computer.

AGA has also purchased EE’s M2M management platform to access and manage customer accounts.

Alongside Stagecoach Group, EE is undertaking the UK’s first Government-standard commercial deployment of mobile contactless ticketing in the transport field.

Customers in Cambridgeshire have been provided with an NFC-enabled mobile handset that is compatible with the Stagecoach bus network.

The trial also uses the UK Department of Transport’s Integrated Transport Smartcard Organisation smart ticketing technology.

The two companies said a nationwide roll out across select bus and rail services could happen in 2013 if the trial is a success.