When switching to a new phone system, customers will keep calling or texting your old business number and hope you answer. If you miss these calls, your customers may feel upset, you could miss out on business and your team has to deal with more browser calls.
Luckily, VoIP number porting keeps your business working uninterrupted so there’s nothing to worry about. If you’re considering shifting your phone number to a VoIP service, here’s what you should do. This detailed blog will help you to understand the complete process of VoIP number porting.
What is VoIP number porting?
VoIP number porting making phone calls through VoIP allows you to use your internet connection and skip using a regular phone line.
Moving your number from your traditional or VoIP carrier to another VoIP provider is easy through the process of porting your number.
According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), you are able to retain your phone number when changing carriers. You will be able to move from old landline services to new VoIP ones, with your company number kept.
The advantages of using VoIP number porting
Although porting requires a few steps, the results make it a good investment. Here’s why:
- Work to avoid losing customers.
Retain your current number so clients won’t have trouble reaching you and won’t miss out on calls.
- Faster setup:
With porting, you won’t have to tell family and friends about a different number when you switch to VoIP.
- Stronger efforts to help customers:
Customers don’t have to look for your contact information if you keep the same telephone number. In addition, creating a good customer experience commonly includes call routing, automated texting and auto-attendant systems for VoIP services.
- Lower costs:
It’s much cheaper to use VoIP than to use old-fashioned telephone providers. When you transfer your number, you won’t have to pay extra for old phone numbers or share new contact information with customers.
- Brand consistency:
Your phone number works alongside your other brand features like your cards, website and advertising. Moving your brand to all the channels guarantees consistency.
How can you transfer your phone number to a VoIP service provider?
The porting process involves only a few easy steps, regardless of who you are switching from or switching to.
If you want to move your number to another service, this is how you do it.
1. Let your current carrier understand you want to port out.
Informing your current provider that you’re leaving can ensure everything moves smoothly when you begin porting. You should let them know in advance, but they don’t need to do anything right now.
2. Provide the information your new provider needs.
Your new company will require your phone bill, latest statement and the number connected with your account. Include your name, billing address, phone number and a transfer PIN (if available) in your documentation.
You must also sign a Letter of Authorization (LOA). The document shows that you are the one who owns the phone number and you allow for the transfer. As a result, you are better protected from fraudulent transfers.
It’s possible that your VoIP provider will want more information about your business.
- Your existing provider’s name
- If you have a toll-free, local US or local Canada number
- When your account is set up under a business identity, you should use a business name
- Whether you’re moving a mobile, landline or VoIP number.
- If you have several numbers to switch (it’s important to confirm this in writing with your provider),
3. Keep your service active until you have completed porting it
To prevent any issues with your service, finish your port first and then end your present contract. This approach allows you to keep calling as your provider does their job in the background.
Your new carrier will tell you your port date, following which you may cancel your old service. Before your phone number has been transferred, if you cancel service you may lose it and might be unable to use the new service right away.
4. Make sure you know the regular timeframes for porting.
Switching to a VoIP provider can take a different amount of time because it depends on both providers’ reactions. The sooner both providers answer the porting request, the faster the whole process happens.
Still, it usually takes about 5-7 days for US numbers to be processed. You’ll need to wait up to 10-12 days because the process is longer for Canadian requests.
It’s essential to give correct personal details, because incorrect information may result in delays.
5. Register your phone number for A2P 10DLC when texting US customers
When you want to text US customers, you’ll have to finish A2P 10DLC registration. Cloud phone users who want to prevent spam and fraud must meet this new registration requirement.
With some providers, you can even sign up for this before you start the porting process. Then, you won’t face any problems sending a text once your number is moved over. VoIP offers sign-up from the web or desktop so you can bring over a local US or Canadian number right after.
6. Stop using the service you no longer need.
After you’re done porting and can make calls and texts with your new VoIP number, you can terminate your service with your previous provider.
Points to consider when porting your VoIP number
How long it will take to transfer your number depends on a few elements. The following information will help you avoid facing delays or anticipate them.
Things you need to do for VoIP number porting
Staying efficient during porting is best accomplished by delivering your provider the necessary papers as soon as they are available. Legally, your provider must receive these documents and facts:
- The phone number is associated with an LOA signed by its owner
- A phone bill or newest invoice that includes the number you’re moving and your billing information and name
- The provider you use and the account number assigned to you
- The list of phone numbers you intend to bring over with you
- The default PIN for your porting out is called a PIN. If you aren’t sure if you have a porting-out PIN, you can ask your carrier.
Your name and phone number from the phone bill should also appear on the LOA.
Things that can cause delays in porting your VoIP number
Most of the time, porting your VoIP number is simple, but there are a few things that may result in delays. If you are satisfied that your documents are accurate, there may be certain reasons that porting is unexpectedly taking extra time.
- Your existing supplier delays responding to your new supplier.
- Your number was disconnected, is now inactive or is not in service
- The area you live in isn’t picked up by the new VoIP, so they are unable to transfer your phone number.
- You’re switching your landline to a new company
- There are problems with your current provider because you have ongoing balances that have not been settled
Bottom Line:
With porting, you don’t have to change your phone number when moving to a different VoIP provider. You can send messages to everyone with no problems about their updated contact details.
Find out how porting your phone number can be beneficial, what the process looks like and what factors to think about.
It’s most important to select the best provider for your own requirements. A VoIP phone system comes with new functions, better reliability and helpful customer support.
FAQS
Q1. Is it possible to move a cell phone number to VoIP?
If your VoIP provider services that part of the country, your phone number can be moved to the VoIP system.
Q2. Is it possible to transfer a VoIP number to a cell phone?
Sometimes, it is possible to bring a VoIP number to your cell phone. Even so, if your VoIP number is not assigned to your local area code, you might need to get a new cell phone number.
Q3. Is it possible to transfer my phone number to a VoIP company?
Usually, you can take your phone number to a VoIP provider. Since these systems use the internet instead of local towers, you can use VoIP to transfer many phone numbers regardless of your place.
Q4. Which phone numbers are not allowed to be ported?
The majority of people and business phone numbers can be transferred to another provider. Even so, some landlines and numbers abroad may not be reachable because of incorrect name and number details.
Q5. How much time is required to move a VoIP number?
You should expect porting a US number to take about 5-7 days and a Canadian number about 10-12 days.
