Yesterday, AT&T announced it was readying a new feature that will allow you to use one phone number across multiple devices. Perhaps predictably, T-Mobile says it’s also working to provide a similar service.
Speaking to Re/code, T-Mobile’s operating chief Mike Sievert explained that T-Mobile’s feature would build on AT&T’s offer, though he didn’t go as far as actually explaining how. Instead, he took the chance to have a dig at the carrier, explaining that “what [T-Mobile is] working on will make this version one offering from AT&T look small.... Our strategy is to ask customers what they want and need, and then build it. AT&T’s is to build or buy things, and then try to convince customers they asked for it.”
As Re/code points out, T-Mobile doesn’t yet even offer an option of sharing data allowances across multi-device accounts, while AT&T and Verizon both do. Regardless, it looks like the concept of device-spanning phone numbers is about to become a thing — though how long it might take to become commonplace remains to be seen.
[Re/code]
Image by sean hobson under Creative Commons license.
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DISCUSSION
I already have one phone number that’s portable across all my devices, regardless of mobile data provider and even if I don’t have a data provider. I’ve had it since before my first smartphone. Google Voice works pretty well!