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The Early Days of Number Share
Verizon first launched Number Share capability back in 2019, restricted to just a small handful of smartwatch models. The goal was to provide flexibility to receive calls and notifications even if your phone wasn‘t handy – a common use case was going for a run while leaving your smartphone behind.
Take up was modest at first, but Verizon saw opportunity to expand the service as cellular-enabled wearables and "connected devices" continued growing in popularity over subsequent years.
By mid-2020, Number Share expanded to support more device types like tablets and saw a 125% increase in usage from the prior year. Verizon expanded marketing and promotions to drive awareness of Number Share‘s benefits.
Other carriers took notice and introduced their own offerings, but early reviews cited limitations compared to the seamless integration Verizon provided across hardware partners like Apple and Samsung.
Moving into 2023 and beyond, Verizon continues leading innovation to bring Number Share support to even more device categories like car dashboards, IoT sensors, and whatever emerging connected tech the future holds.
"We‘re committed to providing our customers flexibility to connect their mobile lives however they see fit. Number Share lays the foundation for all kinds of new innovations we have planned" – Verizon VP of Mobility Products
Early technical previews even suggest prototyping Number Share for desktops – so your cell number could simultaneously ring your phone, multiple wearables, tablet, car and even home office landline. Exciting times ahead!
Diving Into the Benefits for Different Users
While Number Share delivers universal value, we wanted to explore some specific use cases and benefits for customers across different demographics and needs…
For teens and young adults:
- Coordinate while hanging out with friends
- Never miss an important call or text
- Avoid distractions during schoolwork
For seniors and aging users:
- Access contacts and emergency services anywhere
- Simplify experience for non-technical users
- Reduce anxiety over missing communications
For fitness & activity junkies:
- Train phone-free while still connected
- Track pace & progress without distractions
- Listen to music and motivate progress
For professionals and busy families:
- Manage communications across multiple facets of complicated lives
- Quickly triage and respond no matter the situation
- Appear more responsive to calls/texts
The flexibility Number Share enables allows users across all walks of life to better integrate mobile connectivity into their specific needs.
33-year oldFelicia S. shared:
"As a busy mom trying to juggle kids and clients, having calls and notifications shared across devices keeps me connected without having to constantly check my phone. I‘d be lost without it!"
Advanced power users may be surprised just how deeply Number Share integrates…
Tips for Power Users
While getting started with Number Share is straightforward, experienced users can take advantage of more advanced features to really tailor the experience:
Per-Contact Preferences
You can configure which specific contacts should ring on which devices – ensuring you never miss that important call. Set a custom ringtone for your boss on your wearable.
Location-Based Alert Routing
Using IFTTT recipes, you can automatically disable watch notifications once you arrive home to avoid disturbances without having to manually toggle settings.
Emergency Contacts
Make sure calls from family members always ring everywhere in emergency situations when immediate response is crucial.
Find My Device Integration
Leverage smart home speakers to ring your misplaced smartphone by asking Alexa or Google to "Find my device".
While most users will be happy with basic capabilities, power users can truly customize Number Share as a seamless extension across the most important devices and contacts in their lives.
Overcoming Current Limitations
Despite the promise of Number Share, the service still has some limitations that Verizon continues working to address:
Limited Device Types
The roster of compatible devices, while growing, still restricts some use cases today. Verizon plans to continue expanding options.
Multi-Network Coverage Gaps
When moving across devices connected to different networks, there can be occasional drops or coverage gaps. Improving hand-off reliability continues being a priority.
Battery Consumption Concerns
Constant synchronization and communication between devices has raised battery life concerns, especially for wearables. Chipset improvements will help overcome this limitation.
While Number Share isn‘t perfect (yet!), Verizon engineers are clearly heads-down building out the next generation of capabilities. If any show-stopping issues emerge for you in the interim, here are some tips…
Troubleshooting Number Share
Inevitably with any complex solution, some problems can emerge for users. Here are quick fixes for some common scenarios:
Lost Connection
If devices fail to synchronize, first check network connectivity on all devices. Toggle airplane mode on/off to force reconnection.
Battery Drain
Reduce refresh frequency of background synchronization in settings if wearable battery life is unacceptable.
Missing Notifications
Double check notification privileges for the Number Share companion app on each device. Re-enable as needed.
Incorrect Information
On rare occasion data can become out of sync. Toggle Number Share off/on again to force a full re-sync.
In most cases, basic resets and refreshes should get you back up and running. But if issues persist, don‘t hesitate to engage Verizon support.
Industry Projections on Connected Device Growth
Reviewing the latest industry data on connectivity trends for emerging device categories helps contextualize where Verizon is heading with Number Share capabilities long-term…
| Connected Device Shipments (Billions) | 2025 Forecast | CAGR |
| Smartwatches | 277M | 15% |
| Fitness Trackers | 156M | 5% |
| Tablets | 165M | 3% |
| Vehicles | 125M | 25% |
With projections expecting strong growth across device categories from smart watches to connected cars, Verizon seems well positioned to enable users to take advantage of Number Share.
And early patent filings indicate Verizon envisions even more ambitious applications of the technology – ranging from pet collars to aircraft telemetry platforms. The limits remain to be seen!
Conclusion: The Future is Multi-Device
Verizon Number Share represents an early bridge to the emerging future where consumers access connected services across an ecosystem of devices – not just a smartphone.
Whether viewing number sharing as:
- A stopgap during the transition across devices
- An expansion augmenting your smartphone capabilities
- Or an integration unifying multiple facets of your digital life
…Verizon provides the underlying connectivity fabric enabling this multi-device world.
The roadmap promises expanding breadth of compatible devices, evolving feature depth, and broadening use cases – at competitive rates. For Picky Shoppers looking to maximize connectedness across all of life‘s adventures, Number Share aims to satisfy.
So strap a smartwatch to your wrist, drop a voice assistant on the counter, and clip a GPS to your pet‘s collar to embrace the full possibilities of Verizon Number Share flexibility in the palm of your hand…wherever you may roam!
