AT&T to Let You Use One Phone Number for Multiple Devices

If you're on the AT&T network, you'll soon be able to pick up incoming phone calls on your smartphone, tablet and other mobile devices.

NumberSync links your cellular devices through a universal number. When someone calls your phone number, all your linked devices ring — your phone, tablet, smartwatch, smart-wearable or even your smart car. You can take the call on whatever mobile device is within your reach, and if your primary phone has run out of battery power, you can still take calls and send texts on other connected devices.

Devices using NumberSync still need SIM cards under the AT&T network. But all of the SIM cards will be assigned one number to share among your devices.

Since NumberSync is a network-based service, connected devices don't need to be physically near one another in order to receive routed calls or messages. As long as they are receiving a signal from the AT&T network, all of your devices will receive incoming calls and texts. This resembles Apple's Continuity feature that allows calls and texts coming in through an iPhone to be picked up on a Mac or iPad, provided all devices are on the same network.

For now, AT&T won't charge extra for multi-device sharing of one number. It already charges (usually $5 to $10) for each device connected to a shared data plan.

AT&T has not given a specific date for the official launch of NumberSync. Initially codenamed Cascade, the feature has been undergoing refinement and polishing in AT&T's incubator lab since last year. In a blog post, an AT&T officer said that the new number-sharing technology will be rolled out "fairly soon." AT&T also said that once NumberSync is launched, a good number of smartphones will be able to support the feature through software upgrades.

[Image credit: phone, tablet & laptop stacked via Shutterstock]

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