The worry-free guide to VoIP number porting

If you’re considering porting your landline number to VoIP, or porting your existing VoIP number to a new service provider — and you’ve never done it before — you have the right to be cautious.

It’s not difficult, but there are some strange rituals that people may encounter if they are unfamiliar with VoIP number porting.

Best of all, follow each step of the well-documented, highly structured process. By following a very specific sequence of operations, you can successfully port your VoIP number to a Business phone service Whichever suits your needs best..

We’ll provide a detailed guide so you can do it right without panicking, even if you have a ton of phone numbers to port, including 800 numbers or vanity numbers.

How to Port a Landline Number to VoIP

Porting a number simply means transferring it to a new service. You can switch to VoIP phone service from a landline and keep your existing phone number. Many people decide to do this because of the flexibility and low cost of VoIP services.

If you’re ready to convert your landline to VoIP, it’s a good idea to check with both your current and future service providers. Your current provider will need to release your phone number, and your new provider will request it.

Let’s start with the steps you will need to follow:

1. Notify your current service provider: This step is very important because they will generate a port PIN for you, or tell you how to get one, usually on the website. A port PIN, also known as a port out PIN, ensures that no one else can use your phone number when you migrate. Entire online communities are sitting on expired website domains, and you don’t want to fall victim to a group that takes your old, well-known phone number instead. Will you be able to port if you don’t notify your current provider? Since your new carrier wants business, they can arrange this step for you, but you can expect a slow process.
2. Select a new VoIP service provider: Choose a VoIP service provider that suits your needs and your wallet. But check this post How much should VoIP cost? And make sure they can port all the numbers you want. Should you cancel your current contract yet? Absolutely not. Wait while your new provider is set up.
3. Contact your new VoIP provider: Contact your new VoIP provider and tell them you want to start porting your number with them.
4. Provide required information: To make the porting process go smoothly, you’ll need to give the new VoIP provider some information. They’ll likely ask for things like your current phone number, your current provider’s account details, and payment information, provided you haven’t registered on the landing page first.
5. Fill out a Letter of Authorization (LOA): You will need to sign an LOA.which stands for Letter of Authority (or Letter of Agency, in some cases). This document allows your new VoIP provider to port your phone number from your old provider. VoIP companies want business, so they usually take care of the LOA for you and just email you a form that you can e-sign. If they ask you to send it, ask them what information you should include. Because LOAs require your signature, they serve as proof that you are the one requesting the change. It is also a legal record of who and when you requested the port. If you are unlucky enough to be delivered a surprise with a new number, the LOA will work to your advantage when you file a complaint. This is an easy way to protect your interests.
6. Expect to wait: It usually takes a few days to port your number, but sometimes it can take up to two weeks. According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), a carrier must submit a preferred carrier change request on behalf of a subscriber within 60 days of receiving a letter of authorization. This does not mean that they must migrate in two months, but they are forced to start the process at least by then. Be prepared for a short break in service when things change, but your new VoIP service will be up and running soon. To avoid delays, make sure you provide accurate information on the LOA to both your old and new service providers. Mistakes in your details may cause the porting process to take longer.
7. Minimize potential problems: To avoid any hiccups during the porting process, double-check that all the information you provide is correct and matches the information on file with your current provider. Also, keep in frequent contact with both providers. More information is better than less information.
8. Cancel with your old provider: Once you’re sure your number is working on VoIP, cancel your legacy landline provider.

If you’re unsure about what to look for in a new provider or about this technology in general, check out my post on All About. You should know about VoIP before signing the contract..

Additional tips for porting VoIP numbers

This should not be a difficult process. Your new provider is going to do everything they can to make the switch easy — they want your money — but here are some things you can do to make sure the process goes smoothly. :

• Start the porting process at least two weeks before your intended switch date. At least two weeks – even longer is not bad. This will give your old and new suppliers plenty of time to complete the process and minimize any downtime.
• Have your account information from your old service provider ready when you contact your new provider to begin the porting process. This will help speed up the process.
• Keep a copy of your LOA for your records.
• Be aware that there may be fees associated with porting your number. Your old service provider usually charges this fee.

If you have not been sent an LOA template, and need to write one, you should include:

• Your name and current phone number.
• The name of your new service provider, as your new provider will use this letter on your behalf.
• Your old service provider’s name and, possibly, the port pin.
• Your account number with the old service provider, if you have one. Many carriers these days use an email or phone number as your account number.
• In addition to the LOA, you may be asked for a bill from your current carrier and your ID, so keep both with you.

How to Port a VoIP Number to a New Provider

The process of porting a VoIP number to a new provider is quite similar to the process of transferring VoIP from a landline.

Here are the steps you should take to successfully port your VoIP number to a new provider:

• Research and choose a new provider: Do some research to choose. Best VoIP Service Provider Don’t forget to choose a provider that can port your number if you decide on a provider that offers low-cost solutions but doesn’t allow you to use the phone number without it. If it does, you could be setting yourself up for future headaches.
• Contact your old and new provider: Many VoIP providers don’t offer a port-out PIN, but you should still contact them to let them know you’re away from their service. Some providers offer a support email address for this. You can connect to your new provider immediately afterwards.
• Prepare your information: Have everything you need ready when contacting your new provider. Enter your existing VoIP account details, including your account number and PIN, if you have one. Your new provider may also require an LOA.
• Complete Paperwork: Fill out any necessary paperwork provided by your new provider. Be sure to double-check the accuracy of the information. It’s better to double check than start over because of a small mistake.
• Wait for confirmation: You will receive a message from your new provider when the porting process is complete. How long this takes can vary from a few business days to a few weeks. The FCC has a category called “simple ports.” If you fall under this class, your provider is expected to complete the porting process within a day.
• Test your new service: Once your number has been successfully ported, give your new VoIP service a short test drive to make sure it’s working the way you want it to. Go ahead and make some calls and check if everything is working as it should.
• Terminate the contract with your old provider: Cancel your current provider only once you have already started the porting process with the new one. Be prepared to provide your porting request and confirm the cancellation date.

Don’t worry if porting your VoIP number seems a little difficult at first. With the right information and a little help, it’s totally doable. Your new supplier wants business, so try to trust them as much as possible. You can ask them for an electronic LOA on which you can write only your name.

What prevents people from porting VoIP numbers?

When it comes to porting your VoIP number, there are rules in place to ensure that most of the time, carriers must comply with your request. The FCC has very specific rules so carriers can’t easily deny your porting request. So, yes – if things go by the book, the “no porting available” situation should not exist.

But like any rulebook, there are some exceptions where you may encounter some setbacks when trying to port your VoIP number, including:

• Contractual Obligations: If you already have a contract with your current provider, you may have to pay additional fees or follow certain rules if you want to transfer your number to a new service. Before starting the porting process, check your contract to see what you need to do.
• Account Balance: Before porting your number, make sure to pay off any outstanding balance with your current VoIP provider. Carriers cannot release your number for porting until you have been paid.
• Incomplete Information: Missing or incorrect information may delay or prevent your number from being ported. Make sure you have your account information from your old service provider ready when you contact your new provider to start the porting process. If you’re porting a large batch of numbers, make sure the account and billing information is correct for each number.
• Disputes with current provider: If you have a dispute with your current provider, this may delay or prevent your number being ported. For example, the dispute could be over an unexpectedly large bill from months ago. This can be frustrating, but you’ll want to resolve it so you can begin the porting process.
• Geographic Restrictions: Not all VoIP providers offer service in all areas. If you’re going to use VoIP internationally, you’ll probably want to double-check how the provider’s infrastructure will work with your target locations (see my post on Rate centers (If you are concerned about this issue). In general, geographic restrictions on VoIP are a thing of the past. It may be, though, that your VoIP service doesn’t offer inbound customer numbers for a particular country, so that’s what you should focus on.

You’ll soon realize that most of these challenges are ones you’d expect to encounter when switching from a new utility to another, or changing your ISP at home. In a worst-case scenario, you could be stuck when Company A has to transfer custody to Company B. Fortunately, the FCC has regulated this process, so you shouldn’t face long-term obstacles preventing you from porting. your number

Most of the time, porting numbers is pretty straightforward, as long as you start early and meet all the important responsibilities during the process. Switching phone services is always a bit tricky, so feel free to check out my posts. How to run a smooth VoIP installation. Or how small businesses can do it. Replicate a familiar key phone system in the cloud..