Simultaneous ring means one incoming call rings two or more phones at the same time, and whoever picks up first gets the caller. It's the feature people want when a business number lives on one phone but the owner is on another, or when two partners both want to catch every call.
The catch is that neither iPhone nor Android has a "ring my other phone too" switch. What each one offers is a way to ring your own other devices (an iPad, a Mac, a watch, a Galaxy tablet). Ringing a teammate's phone takes something in the middle: your carrier, Google Voice, or a business phone service. This guide covers each option, with the settings paths as Apple, Google, Samsung, Verizon and AT&T describe them today.
Simultaneous ring, forwarding and sequential ring
| Feature | What happens | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Call forwarding | Calls go to another number instead of ringing your phone | Sending calls somewhere else while you are away |
| Conditional forwarding | Calls go elsewhere only when you are busy, don't answer or have no signal | A backup number when you miss a call |
| Simultaneous ring | Your phone and one or more others ring at once; the first to answer gets the call | Not missing calls when you carry two devices or share the load |
| Sequential ring (or "in order") | Phones ring one after another until someone answers | A main person with backups |
On iPhone: ring your iPad and Mac
Apple's built-in option rings your other Apple devices when your iPhone rings. It's meant for one person with several devices, not a team. These steps match Apple's iPhone User Guide for iOS 27 and its support article Make and receive phone calls on Mac, iPad and Apple Vision Pro, both checked on October 19, 2026:
- Before you start: Every device is signed in to the same Apple Account and to FaceTime with your phone number turned on, and all of them have Wi-Fi on and are on the same Wi-Fi network.
- On the iPhone: Open Settings, tap Apps, then Phone. Tap Calls on Other Devices, turn on Allow Calls on Other Devices, then choose the devices you want to ring.
- On an iPad: Settings, then Apps, then FaceTime. Turn on Calls from iPhone.
- On a Mac: Open FaceTime, choose FaceTime, then Settings (or Preferences on older macOS), and select Calls from iPhone. A Mac mini, Mac Studio or Mac Pro needs a microphone or headset.
Apple's guide says the devices you choose can take calls when they're near your iPhone and on the same Wi-Fi. If you want them to take calls when the iPhone is somewhere else, Apple points you to Wi-Fi Calling on other devices, which depends on your carrier. See Allow phone calls and text messages on your iPad and Mac.
What this can't do: ring someone else's iPhone. Everything is tied to one Apple Account, so it doesn't help two people share calls.
On Android: ring your Galaxy tablet or watch
Android itself has no simultaneous-ring setting, but Samsung adds one for its own devices. Per Samsung's US support page Make calls and send messages from your Galaxy tablet (checked October 19, 2026):
- Sign in: On the phone and the tablet, go to Settings, then Samsung account, and sign in with the same account.
- Turn it on: On both devices, swipe down with two fingers to open Quick settings and tap Call & text on other devices. If the icon isn't there, go to Settings, then Connected devices, then Call & text on other devices.
- Texts too (Google Messages): In Google Messages on the phone, tap your profile icon, then Messages settings, Advanced, Text on Galaxy devices, and turn on Allow Bixby and text on Galaxy devices.
Samsung lists limits worth reading before you rely on it: both devices need the same Samsung account, newer versions need both on the same Wi-Fi for calls, and the page says the feature currently doesn't work with Verizon and AT&T phones. Pixel and other Android phones don't have an equivalent setting; use your carrier or Google Voice instead.
Through your carrier: one number on several devices
The big US carriers sell number sharing for watches, tablets and some other devices. These ring along with your phone, but they're built for your own devices, not a coworker's phone. We checked these pages on October 19, 2026:
- Verizon Number Share: Verizon's Number Share FAQs say all devices connected to the shared number "should ring," with up to 5 connected devices per host smartphone line. Connected devices are eligible smartwatches and the Palm companion phone, and Verizon lists a $15 monthly charge per wearable. Call forwarding and voicemail don't carry over to connected devices.
- AT&T NumberSync: AT&T's NumberSync page says each synced device alerts you when someone calls your smartphone's number. Supported devices are select Apple Watch, iPad and Mac models, Android watches and some connected cars.
- T-Mobile and others: Check with your carrier. Features, prices and supported devices change, and prepaid plans often leave them out.
Google Voice: ring your number and your linked phones
Google Voice gives you a separate number that can ring the Voice app, a browser tab and up to six linked phone numbers. Google's help page Set up your phone to make and receive Google Voice calls (checked October 19, 2026) says calls to your Google Voice number "also ring on your linked number." To set it up on the web:
- Go to voice.google.com and click Settings at the top right.
- Under Account, then Linked numbers, click New linked number and enter the phone number.
- Verify it with the code Google sends by text (mobile) or by a call (landline).
- Under Calls, then Incoming calls, choose which devices and linked numbers get calls.
A number can be linked to only one Google Voice number, so this works for one person ringing their own phones. For a team, Google Voice for Google Workspace has ring groups. Google's admin guide Set up Google Voice ring groups lists three patterns: simultaneous (everyone at once), round robin and fixed order, available on the Standard and Premier plans. Google's Voice plans page lists Standard at $20 and Premier at $30 per user per month (checked October 19, 2026).
Business phone services: ring groups for a team
If what you want is "the shop number rings me and my two employees," you're describing a ring group, and that lives in a business phone service (often called a cloud phone system or VoIP). Most let you set:
- Who rings: Each teammate's app, desk phone or cell number.
- How they ring: All at once, in order or round robin.
- How long: How many seconds before the call moves on.
- What happens next: Voicemail, another group or an answering service when nobody picks up.
Ringing a teammate's personal cell number usually counts as forwarding a call out of the system, so it may use extra minutes and it shows up in their own recent calls. Use the service's app on their phone when you can.
Problems people run into
- Calls go to voicemail before the other phone rings: Your carrier voicemail may answer before a forwarded or linked phone gets a turn. Lengthen the ring time or turn off voicemail on the phones in the group, so only one place takes messages.
- A personal voicemail answers the business call: If one phone in the group is a cell with its own voicemail, it may pick up after a few rings and the caller hears a personal greeting. Ring the app, not the cell number, or turn off that phone's voicemail for forwarded calls.
- Two people answer at once: The first to answer gets the call; the other usually sees a missed call. Tell the team, so nobody calls the customer back twice.
- Nobody knows who called or what was said: Simultaneous ring gets someone on the line, but each person's call history lives on their own phone. Write it down somewhere shared.
- Texts don't follow: Almost every ring option covers calls only. Texts to the business number still land in one place.
Which option fits
| You want to | Use |
|---|---|
| Answer your iPhone calls on your iPad or Mac | Calls on Other Devices (Apple) |
| Answer your Galaxy phone calls on your Galaxy tablet | Call & text on other devices (Samsung) |
| Take calls on a cellular watch without your phone | Verizon Number Share, AT&T NumberSync or your carrier's version |
| Ring a second number you own, such as a home line | Google Voice linked numbers |
| Ring a whole team from one business number | A ring group in a business phone service |
| Never miss a call, even when everyone is busy | Someone (or something) that always answers; see below |
What Chargezen does instead
Chargezen doesn't sell simultaneous ring, ring groups or call forwarding. We start from a different question: why does every phone need to ring? Usually it's because a missed call is a lost customer. So instead of ringing more people, Concierge answers your business number itself:
- Every call gets answered: Concierge answers calls on your business number as an AI receptionist that can look up the caller's orders and subscriptions. See the phone channel.
- You join when it matters: Teammates can listen in from the Finn app on iPhone or from the browser, then tap Join the call. Concierge tells the caller, "Sam from your store has joined the call," using the teammate's first name and your store name. From the Finn app you can transfer the call to another teammate or hand it back to Concierge. See join and transfer calls.
- The team hears about it: When a customer needs a person, Concierge alerts your team in the Finn app and the browser, and emails or texts the teammates you pick.
- One thread, calls and texts: Calls and texts to the same number land in the customer's conversation in the team inbox, so whoever picks it up next sees the whole story.
You can use a new US number from us or bring the number you have. We offer US (+1) numbers only. Concierge Starter is $20 a month with 20,000 credits. Pro is $199 a month with 199,000 credits, or $1,990 a year. Phone and text charges are billed as used. See pricing.
Glossary: VoIP, AI receptionist and unified inbox. Read next: a business number that reaches your cell, how to share one business number with your team and what missed calls cost. See also how to forward calls and conditional call forwarding.
Frequently asked questions
Can an iPhone ring another person's iPhone at the same time?
Not with a built-in setting. Calls on Other Devices only rings devices signed in to your own Apple Account. To ring someone else's phone, use a carrier feature, Google Voice or a business phone service with a ring group.
Does Android have simultaneous ring?
Not in Android itself. Samsung Galaxy phones can ring your own Galaxy tablet through Call & text on other devices, with carrier limits Samsung lists on its support page. For anything else, use your carrier, Google Voice or a business phone service.
Is simultaneous ring the same as call forwarding?
No. Forwarding sends the call to another number instead of your phone. Simultaneous ring rings your phone and the others together, and the first person to answer gets the caller.
How many phones can ring at once?
It depends on the service. Google Voice allows up to six linked numbers, Verizon Number Share up to five connected devices per host line, and Google Workspace ring groups up to 50 members. Business phone services set their own limits.
