T-Mobile's New 'Digits' Service Lets Customers Use Multiple Numbers Across All Their Devices

[MacRumors]

T-Mobile is famous for uncoupling device costs from mobile service plans through its "Uncarrier" initiatives, a move that changed the entire smartphone industry, and now the company is aiming to do the same thing with phone numbers.

T-Mobile's newly announced "Digits" service lets customers use their phone number across multiple devices, including smartphones, tablets, wearables, and PCs, while also allowing multiple phone numbers to be used on a single device.

Many people have separate phone numbers for work and personal use, and the Digits service, which is a souped-up blend of AT&T's NumberSync and Google Voice, puts both numbers on one smartphone. And then those numbers can be used on any device a customer owns, even if it's not on the T-Mobile network.

"Simply put, DIGITS is breakthrough technology that won't be replicated any time soon," said Mike Sievert, Chief Operating Officer of T-Mobile. "This isn't the first time you can add extra numbers to a device, but this IS the first time you can do it all -- multiple numbers on one device and one number on multiple devices - and do it with carrier-grade quality. DIGITS is your real T-Mobile number with every bit of the reliability, call prioritization, services and mobility you expect."

While Digits is built directly into newer Samsung smartphones like the Note 5 and Galaxy S6 and later (purchased on the T-Mobile network), on iOS devices, Digits will be available through an iOS app. On the Mac, Digits will work through the browser.

When Digits is used on a device without cellular service, voice calls and texts will be received over a Wi-Fi connection, delivering "crystal clear HD voice quality."

Simple Choice and T-Mobile ONE customers can sign up to test a beta version of the Digits service. iOS 9 and newer, Android 5.0 and newer, and Firefox or Google Chrome are required.

During the beta testing phase, Digits is free, but it will require customers to pay an additional fee when it launches next year. Pricing has not yet been announced.

Article Link: T-Mobile's New 'Digits' Service Lets Customers Use Multiple Numbers Across All Their Devices

 

[Gix1k]

This will be huge!! Lots of people dealing with carrying two or more phones.

 

[Steve.P.JobsFan]

Check your source MR - they haven't said it'll cost money. In fact, they said they haven't even determined pricing yet if you read their FAQ.

https://explore.t-mobile.com/digits-landing

 

[MrXiro]

Your drug dealer doesn't need to carry 2 devices anymore!!!

 

[StayPuft]

This would be amazing.

 

[Agent OrangeZ]

It it will suck on iPhones because when an iPhone user tries to iMessage your number, it will not be forwarded to other devices.

 

[acm1108]

It it will suck on iPhones because when an iPhone user tries to iMessage your number, it will not be forwarded to other devices.

This is what I was wondering how it will work, iMessage on one phone/SMS on another? I feel like this would mess up or cause a loss of texts between two devices.

 

[true god]

Very cool. Hopefully AT&T will allow it as well.

 

[Swift]

Your drug dealer doesn't need to carry 2 devices anymore!!!

Oh, yes, he will. Needs to be able to use once and throw away.
[doublepost=1481135811][/doublepost]

It it will suck on iPhones because when an iPhone user tries to iMessage your number, it will not be forwarded to other devices.

you can use multiple e-mails...

 

[bigjnyc]

cheaters and adulterers are porting over to T-mobile.

 

[nrose101]

Can ATT get this?

 

[usarioclave]

At some point someone will file a "net neutrality" complaint about this, which is why that particular set of rules is retarded.

 

[lorkkrue]

Have someone mentioned Magic Jack?

 

[MI MacGuy]

cheaters and adulterers are porting over to T-mobile.

Hilariously true.

I had T-Mobile for a time several years ago. The unlimited data for music was awesome but my god, the service was terrible. I've been on Verizon and will refuse to switch again.

 

[Lancetx]

I can already use my one number on multiple Apple devices without any additional fee, so I don't really have a need for this. For those that want to use multiple numbers on one device or that aren't entirely in the Apple ecosystem, this could have promise though.

 

[shyam09]

Turns ou the T in T-Mobile stands for Trump sycophants. No thank you.

That's one way of living life. But anyway, let's keep political discussions out of this.

 

[usersince86]

Nice.

 

[Cougarcat]

T-Mobile is famous for uncoupling device costs from mobile service plans through its "Uncarrier" initiatives, a move that changed the entire smartphone industry,

lol.

 

[dr4stic]

This is why I love T-Mobile. The subtitles are amazing... at 6:16, "It's advanced AF" ... and at 11:55 the phone representing "Discount Carriers" with the Sprint logo under it, next to phones for AT&T and Verizon.

I'm sure there are variations on this product around, but if it works as advertised (and I'm curious to see just how they integrate that), it'll have major advantages over so many other services. Specifically that i'll work with messaging, single voicemail stores, etc, AND incorporate use over traditional phone networks.

Yeah, T-Mo may not work everywhere, but they work enough of the major places, and tech like this covers the last mile beautifully.

 

[ecschwarz]

Anyone else catch the subtle jab when they talked about using numbers on phones from other carriers "like AT&T, Verizon, and discount carriers" (Sprint logo above Discount Carriers on the graphic)? Interesting with all the Sprint-may-try-to-buy-T-Mobile-again news circulating today...

Edit: dr4stic and I must've been hitting Post Reply at the same time...

 

[citi]

Doesn't Apple's new CallKit API already allow this? My ring central business phones rings through my IPhone like a normal phone now. I'm pretty sure google phone and the others could do this to.

 

[PlainviewX]

This should have been standard years ago. One number for business and one number for personal.

 

[macTW]

All it takes is one... and the rest (I hope) will follow.

 

[tchadrainwater]

Welcome to the age where you repackage and recopy and make $, google glass: Fail, Snapchat glass makes more, Google Voice: Fail, Digits make money, seems like a page from Apple book, everything they do is breakthrough only that it's last year's tech somewhere else.

 

[Rigby]

Doesn't Apple's new CallKit API already allow this? My ring central business phones rings through my IPhone like a normal phone now. I'm pretty sure google phone and the others could do this to.

The main difference is that Digits is not simply an over-the-top VoIP service over cellular data, but is integrated in T-Mobile's core network and thus uses carrier-grade voice service on devices that are connected to T-Mobile's network. This means it'll be more reliable due to the network's QoS features (especially when the network is congested) and exhibit less latency than a typical VoIP call. When you are using it on devices that are not connected to T-Mobile's network, it will use the same VoIP-type connectivity into the core network like existing carrier-supported Wifi Calling services.