Did T-Mobile just up the ante on interoperability in the Internet of Things (IoT)?

Just yesterday, AT&T, Inc. announced NumberSync, a soon-to-be-launched service that will allow all your connected device, like a fitness tracker or tablet, to use your phone number in order to send text messages. This feature is designed to eliminate the need to be tied down to a smartphone for performing certain tasks.

Not to be outdone, T-Mobile USA was quick to announce that it too will soon launch a similar number sharing service, but stated that it will be better than AT&T’s offerings. However, T-Mobile has yet to share what those improvements will be.

“What we are working on will make this version one offering from AT&T look small,” T-Mobile operating chief Mike Sievert said in an interview with Re/code. “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.”

It should be noted that out of the four major U.S. carriers, T-Mobile is the only that doesn’t offer shared data buckets for multiple-device accounts, which makes it quite intriguing that the telcom was so quick to announce that it too will be offering a number sharing service.

Number sharing is also quite an interesting move by carriers, as it would entice consumers to purchase more connected devices. But that doesn’t mean you can purchase multiple smartphones and use just one number. AT&T has already announced that it will only allow one smartphone per number, and T-Mobile will likely implement the same restriction.

No word yet whether Sprint Corp. or Verizon will be offering their own version of NumberSync.

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