T-Mobile unveils "DIGITS," upgrades the phone number for the Internet age
Via T-Mobile USA Newsroom
Dec 8, 2016
In another industry first, T-Mobile opens customer beta for DIGITS, the Un-carrier’s breakthrough new technology enabling customers to get multiple numbers on a single phone, and seamlessly use them across multiple devices
Bellevue, Washington — December 7, 2016 —T-Mobile (NASDAQ: TMUS) today unveiled DIGITS and opened up a limited customer beta of this new technology that ends the century-old telecom limit of one number locked to one phone. With DIGITS, your T-Mobile number works across virtually all your connected devices—phones, tablets, wearables and computers. And, in another Un-carrier first, DIGITS lets customers put multiple T-Mobile numbers on the same device, so you can combine work, home and personal numbers on a single smartphone.
“Phones today are nothing like they were just a decade ago, but the phone number has basically stayed the same forever. It’s time to shake things up!” said John Legere, president and CEO of T-Mobile. “DIGITS works just like your T-Mobile phone number, except it is way more powerful. DIGITS works across virtually ALL your devices, and those devices can have multiple numbers on them. And this is my favorite part: you can even use DIGITS on Verizon, AT&T and other smartphones!”
DIGITS marks the first time customers can get a complete solution that lights up numbers on virtually any Internet-connected device, lets you use multiple numbers on one device and delivers carrier-grade calling. DIGITS prioritizes calls from your phone over other data so calls are more reliable with crystal clear HD voice quality and full mobility. That’s because DIGITS is your real wireless number with real wireless calling – not a best-efforts data connection like you get with over-the-top (OTT) Internet calling services.
“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.”
DIGITS: Overview
DIGITS is much more powerful than the plain, old phone numbers. DIGITS will work on virtually any Internet-connected device – smartphone, feature phone, wearable, tablet or computer. So you can make and take calls and texts on whatever device is most convenient. Just log in and, bam, your call history, messages and even voicemail are all there. And it’s always your same number, so when you call or text from another device, it shows up as YOU.
DIGITS will also let you put multiple numbers on one device – and seamlessly switch back and forth between your numbers. More than 30 million Americans carry multiple devices. So if you juggle identical phones with work and personal numbers, you can stop paying for two devices, two plans and two times the network access fees - a practice that costs US wireless customers an extra $10 BILLION every year. And, you’ll never have to compromise your security by giving out your personal number because you can use an extra set of DIGITS any time you don’t want to give out your primary phone number.
For businesses, DIGITS means they can finally move to a mobile-ONLY workforce. Businesses can give their employees DIGITS to use on their personal smartphones – even if those phones are on AT&T, Verizon and Sprint. Businesses can save millions spent on ancient desk phones and give employees and customers a better experience with DIGITS. You’ll be able to share DIGITS among employees, so your entire sales team can get both calls and texts to your company’s sales line – no more missed sales calls. And if an employee leaves, the business will be able to keep the employee’s DIGITS number along with any business contacts and relationships.
DIGITS: Just Works
DIGITS couldn’t be easier to use. In fact, it’s already built natively into the newest Samsung smartphones (Note 5 and Galaxy S6 and later), thanks to joint development between T-Mobile and Samsung. Once customers get an extra set of DIGITS from T-Mobile, they can just open up the dialer and pick the number they want to use.
T-Mobile is already working with other device makers to integrate DIGITS natively into their devices. Until then, DIGITS is available through an app on Apple’s App Store and Google Play as well as via browsers on PCs or Mac computers.
DIGITS: Brought to you by America’s Most Advanced LTE Network
DIGITS is made possible by years of development and technology advancements – including several patent-pending technologies – that touch nearly every part of T-Mobile’s network. To break free from the one-number-one-device limitation with many-to-many routing capability for calls, texts and data and to re-imagine traditional network authentication, T-Mobile’s engineers built an entirely new IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) service management layer and Identity Management solution. Instead of authenticating devices through SIM cards, DIGITS gives customers their own identity. When someone calls you, they reach you regardless of the device you have in your hand.
“Our team dug deep into the technology needed to free us from the one number one phone limit. And to do it right, we built a solution into the core of our network that breaks all the old telco rules,” said Neville Ray, Chief Technology Officer of T-Mobile. “To the carriers—and their telecom model—you’re just a SIM and a piece of hardware. With DIGITS, it’s all about you communicating the way you want. This opens up a new world of possibilities.”
DIGITS Beta: Another T-Mobile First
Starting today, T-Mobile customers can sign up to participate in the DIGITS limited beta for free. This is the first time a major US mobile carrier has debuted a new technology through a beta program.
After customers register for the DIGITS beta, the Un-carrier’s award-winning support team will help them get on-boarded with DIGITS. During the beta, customers can help shape the final version of DIGITS, which will launch commercially early next year, with their feedback.
Active T-Mobile postpaid customers (Simple Choice and T-Mobile ONE on individual and family accounts) can join the beta, and during the beta, they’ll need Android 5.0 and newer; iOS 9.0 and newer; or Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome (Mac and PC).
Check out the video blog from Mike Sievert, T-Mobile COO, and Neville Ray, T-Mobile CTO, unveiling DIGITS here. And join Sievert and Ray on Twitter (www.twitter.com/tmobile) where they’ll answer any and all questions about DIGITS today from 10:30-11:30 AM PT using #DIGITS.
For more information about DIGITS, visit here, and to sign up for the beta, visit www.t-mobile.com/getDIGITS.
Compatible device & qualifying service required. Taxes & fees on DIGITS beta refunded within 1-2 bill cycles. During beta, DIGITS supports up to 5 numbers per compatible device & up to 5 compatible devices per number.
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