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If you need to port your number from an old provider, here are some guidelines to help speed the process.
If you’re looking to transfer your business phone number to a cell phone, you’ll need to contact the carrier. They will then send you a new SIM card with your new number.
When transferring to a new cellular carrier or voice-over-internet-service (VoIP) provider, number porting allows you to maintain your existing business phone number. Local or wireless number porting is a procedure that converts your phone number from one provider to another. The seven-step procedure for porting a phone number is detailed here, and the good news is that the carriers do the majority of the work.
To discover how to move a number to your new business phone service, follow the steps below:
1. Collect account information from your previous carrier
In most situations, any landline, toll-free, or wireless phone number in the United States may be transferred. Your new phone provider will ask you for details about your existing service to verify that you own the number you wish to move to.
Having all of the necessary documentation and information on hand speeds up the number porting procedure and eliminates delays. If you’re unclear or don’t have this information, call your prior carrier’s customer support department.
To transfer a phone number, you may need any or all of the following information:
- Your existing phone service’s account number
- The port’s phone number
- Your passcode or personal identification number (PIN)
- Your current phone number’s postal and/or physical address
- The name of the account’s principal account holder.
- A copy of the most recent bill you’ve received
- Login information for your company’s phone services
2. Inform your new provider of the details
It’s time to call your new VoIP provider or cellphone carrier with the information you’ve gathered. They’ll explain how to port a phone number to their organization and confirm that your present number may be transferred. This is also an excellent opportunity to inquire about any expenses associated with number porting.
Many providers, including RingCentral, will transfer the number you want to port at no cost to your business, and they’ll even pay any fees charged by your current carrier. On the other hand, Google Voice charges a $20 fee to port a mobile phone number from major carriers like AT&T and Verizon. It never hurts to ask a new provider to waive or reduce fees related to the number porting process.
3. Fill out a Request to Port a Phone Number to a New Provider form.
Although the specifics of the number porting procedure differ per provider, many providers need you to phone a customer support number to begin the process. Although some businesses, like Ooma, allow you to make a request through the Ooma Office Manager, we still advocate speaking with a live representative to prevent mistakes that might cause the process to be delayed.
You may be needed to sign a Letter of Agency in addition to supplying the essential information (LOA). The procedure cannot normally begin until the account holder signs the LOA, so if you’re contacting on behalf of an employer, you should complete this paperwork first. For example, Nextiva includes distinct forms for toll-free and local phone numbers. The proper forms will be sent to you by a member of the Nextiva sales team, or you may access them online.
4. Follow the instructions provided by the new provider.
Your new carrier may be able to finish the number porting procedure on their own, but they may still need your help. Log in to your new business phone service using the same device that you’ll use to log into your administrative portal. Your new provider’s agent will work with you to start the transfer, which should just take a few minutes.
5. Wait for confirmation that the phone number has been successfully transferred.
After requesting a number port, the procedure may take anywhere from two to thirty days to complete. Depending on the kind of number being transferred and the other carrier involved, your new carrier may be able to provide you with a time range.
Toll-free number porting, for example, may take up to two business days, while changing landline numbers from major carriers can take up to a week, according to RingCentral. Because your new provider works with your previous carrier to decide the termination date, the duration varies.
It’s critical to maintain your previous phone system operational while you wait for confirmation that the number porting procedure is complete. You risk losing your phone number if you cancel it before the porting procedure is completed.
During this period, you may get a firm order confirmation (FOC) letter from your former carrier, detailing the date the number will be transferred. When the number has been moved to your account, your new carrier will notify you. Many providers, however, publish updates via their administrative portal, so you may check there to see whether the procedure is complete.
In the interim, your new carrier will supply you with a temporary phone number so that you may continue to utilize your new services while your business phone number is being ported. Make the most of this time by adjusting user preferences and installing the mobile or desktop applications for the VoIP system. Most corporate phone systems provide setup and installation instructions, as well as information on how to transfer a number.
6. Make sure it works.
It’s time to test your new service when you get confirmation that the number transfer is complete. Pick up any external phone and call your company’s phone number. The port was successful if the call rang through to your office desk phone or another device linked to your new service. Contact your new carrier’s customer service number if the call does not go through.
7. Cancel Old Service & Pay Off Any Debts
If you owe money to your former carrier, they can’t keep your phone number hostage, but they might refuse to discontinue your service until your debt is paid in full. Before you terminate your account, make sure you retrieve any reports or data you need from your previous account. Request termination of your previous service after your account has been paid and you’ve downloaded whatever you want from it.
Most Commonly Asked Questions (FAQs)
What does it mean to transfer a phone number?
The act of changing your company’s phone number from your old carrier to your new business phone service is known as porting a number. If you’re moving carriers and want to maintain your company’s phone number, find out how to transfer a number with your new provider.
Is number porting a one-time process?
No. Porting takes a few days on average, but it might take up to a month. It may just take a day or two to migrate a single number from one corporate mobile phone provider to another. Switching a number from a rural carrier, on the other hand, might take longer.
Is it possible to transfer all phone numbers?
It’s possible that you won’t be able to transfer a phone number in certain circumstances. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) grants a waiver to certain rural services, exempting them from porting numbers. If you discontinue your existing phone service before finishing the number transfer procedure, you risk losing your number.
When porting numbers, what information must be provided?
To port a number, you’ll need to send your current account number, the 10-digit business phone number to transfer, and the account holder’s name and address to the new provider. Your new carrier may also ask for a copy of your existing provider’s most recent bill. You may also be requested to sign a letter of authorization (LOA) allowing them to transfer your number.
What is local number porting, and how does it work?
LNP, also known as local number porting, is the process of transferring a local phone number from one telecommunications provider to another. Moving a wireless number to a new carrier is known as wireless local number portability (WLNP) while porting toll-free numbers is known as toll-free number porting (TFNP).
What are some of the difficulties you could face?
You may lose access to emergency location and callback services when transferring numbers from a landline to a cellular or VoIP service. Check with your new carrier to see whether you may maintain your current phone number throughout the porting procedure. If you give incorrect information or terminate your existing service before the procedure is completed, you may experience delays.
Conclusion
Number porting takes place behind the scenes and needs a request from you as well as the right information to begin. All transfer requests are verified by business VoIP systems and cellphone carriers to avoid fraud and stolen phone numbers, but it’s critical that you keep your existing service until the porting process is complete. Understanding how to move a phone number correctly will save you time and guarantee a seamless transition.
