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Are you interested in learning about VoIP or toll free number porting? If so, this article will take you through the process to ensure you understand how to port your phone number. We will also cover other related topics about the number porting process.
What is Number Porting?
Porting your phone number means taking your current number from your initial provider and transferring it to another provider.
Porting is a semi-permanent way to move a phone number from one provider to another when you wish to close your old account and open a new one.
Some people feel a little apprehensive about porting a phone number, but there is no need for concern. It is very important to keep your current number in certain circumstances, especially a business number. This is one of the main reasons many people want to learn how to port your phone number.
Many people are concerned that they will not be able to port their phone number. But usually, you can keep your phone number, regardless of which service you choose to switch to. And you can do so whether the number you are porting is a wireless number, a landline number, or a VoIP number.
Why Port Your Toll Free Number?
There are several reasons why you may want to change to a new provider, and essentially, learn how to port your phone number.
These may be because the new provider:
- Has better rates
- Offers more advanced features
- Provides better customer service
- Supplies a wider range of options for virtual locations
What’s the Difference Between Porting and Call Forwarding?
Porting your toll free number is not the same as call forwarding. Call forwarding involves the number staying with the original account provider and having calls being transferred to a different recipient.
To know how to port your phone number, you should bear in mind that it should be a long-term solution. You don’t want to have to keep changing your provider frequently. The best way to find out if the new provider is the right one is to try it out first. Providers such as Global Call Forwarding offer a fully-functional free trial, so you can really see if they have all the features you need for your business.
What to Do When You Port your Phone Number?
When you are ready to port your phone number, you will need two pieces of very important information:
- Your account number and
- Passcode or PIN that is associated with your account.
Most often it is easy to find your account number from your bill, but for some providers, you will have to make a call to customer service. Make sure you have these details right, otherwise your port request will be rejected.
Additionally, you will also need:
- A list of all phone numbers to port
- Letter of Authorization (LOA)
- Copy of current phone bill
Keep these prepared before you start your porting request.
What Happens When You Port your Phone Number?
Once you have ported your 800 number to your new service provider, they will be providing all the services for your phone number.
Your new carrier will send you a confirmation when your number has successfully ported to a new service. If you wish to retain your former service provider as well, you will have to request that they issue you a new number on your existing account with them. This may be a good option if you wish to keep using their cellular and data coverage. If you do not wish to maintain service with your previous carrier, you should instruct them to close the account.
When you choose to port your 800 number to Global Call Forwarding, there is no limit to the amount of numbers you can port. It’s a really simple process; all you have to do is complete the online form, and a customer service representative will be in touch with you within 24 hours. The moment your phone number has been ported to Global Call Forwarding, you can go ahead and cancel the account with your previous carrier.
Generally, number porting takes just 2-3 days. In some circumstances, it may take several months. This will depend on several different factors including:
- The country of your location
- The type of numbers being ported
- Your current provider
- The status of the number
The expert team at Global Call Forwarding works hard to port your toll free number ported as quickly and efficiently as possible.
What Kinds of Number Can You Port to Global Call Forwarding?
Global Call Forwarding accepts a wide range of national, international, mobile, and toll free numbers. So, feel free to port your number, regardless of your location. You can even port toll free numbers to Global Call forwarding.
There’s no need to stress about how to port your phone number. Typically, the transfer goes off without a hitch, and you will soon be enjoying the benefits that your new provider can offer. Complications can occur, but usually, the only reason why a provider may reject your porting request is if you give the wrong information about your previous account or your PIN. So, it’s important to make sure that your details match the information on your phone bill.
If you want to find out more about how to port your phone number, check out our VoIP number porting guide. This will help you every step of the way to gather your information and help make porting your number simple and stress-free.
