T-Mobile US announced the launch of Digits, a new service that allows its customers to use one number across all their connected devices and the ability to use multiple numbers on a single phone.

Digits is available now as an opt-in customer beta before being rolled-out commercially early next year.

The first key feature, allowing T-Mobile customers to use their number across phones, tablets, computers and other devices, is hardly new. Apple offers a similar service, albeit limited to its own devices, while AT&T rolled out NumberSync last October, a capability allowing its customers to use multiple devices for calling and texting.

At the time, T-Mobile US COO Mike Sievert dismissed its rival’s solution, claiming that it was working on something that will make “AT&T’s solution look small”.

T-Mobile’s Digits is the operator’s response to AT&T’s service. Sievert stated the second feature, enabling multiple numbers to be accessed on a single device, is a “breakthrough technology”.

The feature enables customers to combine work, home and personal numbers on a single smartphone, with the added advantage of being able to mix, and access, networks from rival operators.

“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,” said Sievert.

With the solution, the company said it is addressing 30 million Americans that carry multiple devices, and means people can stop paying for two plans and two times the network access fees – a practice T-Mobile claimed costs US wireless customers an extra $10 billion every year.

For businesses, employees can now use “Digits on their personal smartphones – even if those are on AT&T, Verizon and Sprint.

T-Mobile US CEO John Legere said: “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.”