AT&T Wants to Tether Your Phone Number to Everything

In the past, porting your cell phone number between devices was a pain. But along came SIM cards, which lets you take your number from smartphone to smartphone. Currently, however, you can’t have your number accessed by multiple devices simultaneously.

AT&T would like to change that. The company aims to make the phone number a ubiquitous form of identification in the same way that, say, e-mail is, and allow users to plug the number into a variety of devices with its Call Management API and its Alpha API Program. The new Call Management API, which the company announced at its Developer Summit [2], allows developers to make this one-number, multiple-device dream a reality.

"[The Call Management API] lets your standard AT&T mobile number be the one number to rule them all. You can use that standard AT&T number in your application and ring tablets, ring your connected car, ring your laptop. It's going to be fantastic," says AT&T Chief Marketing Officer David Christopher, in a video from the summit [3].

Still don’t get it? AT&T has created a forward-looking concept video of the connected car, which shows a man rerouting his commute because of a traffic jam, making video calls, sending text messages and placing food orders. Siri who? Siri what?

Watch the video [4], below.

Additionally, the company launched its Digital Life home security and automation service, which allows customers to adjust thermostats or lock doors remotely from their mobile devices.

AT&T has teamed up with Cisco to build the Digital Life control panel, which both companies are calling “revolutionary” for homeowners. AT&T outlined [5] some of the automated services that Digital Life offers:

• Video Package: View live video from inside and outside of the home.
• Energy Package: Control appliances, lighting and HVAC for convenience and energy efficiency.
• Door Package: Give access to a repairman or a pet sitter remotely by using automated door locks, or check to see whether your garage door is open or closed.
• Water Packages: Detect water leaks before damage occurs, or shut off water at the main water source if a leak is detected.

Like Frankenstein, mobile connectivity is going to bring our homes and cars to life in brand-new and exciting ways. Are you looking forward to a more connected future?