AT&T today announced NumberSync, a service that aims to link all of your connected devices to the same phone number. This means that if you conduct a call or send a text from your connected device — like a smartwatch or tablet — it’ll appear to the recipient from the same number as your regular phone number. NumberSync is a network-based service, and so it doesn’t require your connected devices to be paired with your phone to work. Your phone can even be turned off.
Additionally, NumberSync will synchronize your voicemails so that you only have to check them once. The service is also cross-platform, which will let you use a smartphone running one OS and a tablet or wearable running another OS, and both will still have the same phone number.
AT&T says that NumberSync will launch “fairly soon” on one device, with more arriving in time for the holidays. The big blue carrier tells Engadget that the first device will arrive later this month, though there’s still no word on exactly which device will support it.
Connected devices like smartwatches and tablets can let you do things like send texts and make calls without needing your phone. For example, the Samsung Gear S can accept a SIM card, letting you make calls and messages even if you don’t have your phone on you. The issue is that this requires your friends and family to keep track of another number for you. That’s the problem that NumberSync aims to solve, using some network magic to make it appear as though messages being sent from your smartwatch are coming from your phone.
