Apple releases second public beta of iOS 9.2 with support for AT&T NumberSync

NumberSync in iOS 9.2 beta 2, via Jono Haysom.

Members of Apple's public beta program were issued a second pre-release build of iOS 9.2 on Wednesday, giving users the ability to test AT&T's forthcoming NumberSync technology for receiving phone calls across devices.

The public release of iOS 9.2 beta 2 comes one day after it was provided to developers. It is identified as build 13C5060d, and devices running iOS 9.2 cannot be restored to earlier versions of iOS.

After iOS 9.2 launched on Tuesday, it was discovered that Apple has included support for AT&T NumberSync, which is essentially a phone number-based version of Apple's own Continuity. With NumberSync, other devices can place calls and texts over Wi-Fi, such as an iPad or Mac, as well as other non-Apple devices as support for the feature expands.

Users running iOS 9.2 beta to can open the Settings app, choose Phone, then Wi-Fi Calling. From there, tap on Add Wi-Fi Calling For Other Devices, agree to the terms and conditions, and Wi-Fi Calling will be enabled for other devices tied to your iCloud account.

The initial public beta of iOS 9.2 was released last week. It's likely that Mac users will also receive a second public beta of OS X 10.11.2 this week.

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16 Comments

roake

said about 8 years ago

Would this offer anything at all to someone who had only Apple products?

gospelthegrey

said about 8 years ago

Is this only an iPhone 6 feature? Is this feature available on the iPhone 5s (five-s)? Thanks!

liuping

said about 8 years ago

1.2G (the delta from 9.2 Beta 1) seems like a hefty update for such a minor feature.

wiggin

said about 8 years ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roake

Would this offer anything at all to someone who had only Apple products?

I'm not sure the article was quite accurate:

"essentially a phone number-based version of Apple's own Continuity. With NumberSync, other devices can place calls and texts over Wi-Fi"

Is NumberSync really limited to wi-fi? From previous stories I thought it also worked over cellular. So in answer to Roake question, if for example you left your iPhone at home but had your cellular enabled iPad you could receive calls and texts on your iPad. Continuity would not provide that as is requires the devices all be on the same wi-fi network as the phone.

Edit: From AI's earlier article: http://appleinsider.com/articles/15/10/14/atts-announces-numbersync-a-phone-number-based-version-of-apples-continuity

"AT&T NumberSync will operate on the carrier's wireless network with LTE-connected, registered devices, meaning it isn't dependent on a Bluetooth connection to the user's smartphone. NumberSync will work even if a user's smartphone isn't near their other devices, or even if it's completely turned off."

So this would be quite useful if your phone had a dead battery, was lost, damaged or otherwise incapacitated. And if it works with two phones you could have a 6s+ for work and switch to carrying a smaller, lighter 5s when you don't need the larger screen. Just leave the other phone at home and still be able to get all your calls and texts.