Are you unhappy with your current business phone service? Would you like to upgrade to a system that unites all of your communications for advanced productivity features and cost savings?
To do that, you need an online service that uses Voice over Internet Protocol. However, you might wonder if that means you need to get new phone numbers for your company.
You won’t have that issue if you know how to port an existing number to VoIP. By keeping your phone number, you won’t confuse current customers or have disruptions to the flow of your business.
Our Intermedia team has assisted thousands of companies to access VoIP phone service. Learn about the process.
Key Takeaways:
- You need a VoIP line to access powerful unified communications.
- Carefully follow the instructions from your new provider while porting, and don’t cancel your old phone service before your new VoIP line is active.
- It may take anywhere from two days to a month to complete the porting process.
What Does It Mean to Port an Existing Number to VoIP?
Phone number porting means changing your communications service to a different vendor while keeping the same number. Whether you are moving from a traditional landline, a mobile carrier, or another VoIP provider, you can typically transfer your phone number to a new company.
Number porting is not just a convenience. The Federal Communications Commission upholds your right to keep your number while changing providers as long as you are in the same geographic region and your new vendor serves that area.
As a result, your existing carrier generally cannot refuse to port your number. Neither can your new carrier refuse to port numbers in.
How Do You Port an Existing Number to a VoIP Service?
If you want to understand how to port an existing number to VoIP, follow these steps.
1. Compile Details About Your Current Account
You can save time by gathering information about your existing account before contacting your new provider. Crucial details include:
- Account numbers
- Phone numbers
- Any extensions
- Passcodes or PINs
- Login details
You must also provide the physical address for the account, your name or the name of the account holder, and your most recent bill.
You might be able to get all this information from your old account online. Otherwise, you’ll need to call or email your carrier for it. It can also be beneficial to contact your existing service first to let them know about the port, but it’s not necessary to begin porting an existing number to VoIP.
2. Contact Your New Provider and Follow Any Instructions
In most cases, you need to start an account with your new provider before the porting process begins. As you’re setting up, let the company know about your desire to port in a number.
Your new provider must first confirm whether that number is available for porting. You officially confirm the transfer with a letter of authorization. Be sure to let them know whether the number is on VoIP, mobile, or landline.
Wait for any further direction about what you need to do to complete the process. If your new provider requires anything more, a company representative will contact you to finish the transfer.
By this point, you should tell your current provider about the porting process to avoid any complications, but do not cancel your service yet. You may have to pay a nominal fee to port your number, but the convenience is worth it.
Fortunately, Intermedia makes it easy to port an existing number to VoIP with our Number Porting Wizard. Just follow the prompts for a worry-free transfer.
3. Ensure Your New Service Is Working
Think of changing your phone service like moving homes. In many instances, you wouldn’t completely leave your old place until you could start to bring things into your new location and receive deliveries.
Likewise, wait until the porting process is complete to disconnect your old service. You might get a firm order confirmation letter from your previous provider that shares the date on which it will make the transfer.
In the meantime, you can use a temporary number with your new provider and set up call forwarding to keep your communications active. This also allows you to start setting up features on your account.
Once you know your number has transferred over to your new service, test it out to ensure it’s working properly by dialing in from another line and dialing out. If you have any issues, your carrier’s support department can help you troubleshoot as you finish porting an existing number to VoIP.
4. Delete Your Old Service and Enjoy Your New Unified Communications Platform
Now that you’re sure your VoIP service is up and running, you can cancel your old account. You may need to pay off any remaining balance to do so.
Also, be sure to download any important files you may have on your old provider’s cloud. For example, you’ll want invoices and proof of payment, as well as anything that pertains to your business operations.
At this point, you can start enjoying the benefits of unified communications as a service. UC opens the door to many software integrations and features that enhance your productivity.
For example, you can start using a secure virtual assistant with Intermedia’s SPARK AI. This tool lets you access information more easily from call transcripts and automate repetitive tasks for greater efficiency.
How Long Does It Take To Port a Number?
Porting can take as little as a day or two, or it might take closer to a month. Business lines often have more features and require more time for porting. For this reason, never cancel your old service until you confirm that your new service is active and running smoothly.
Intermedia Will Help You Port an Existing Number to VoIP
If your business is ready to take advantage of the power of unified communications, contact us at Intermedia about our Unite phone system. We’ll help you learn how to port an existing number to VoIP and access all the benefits UC has to offer.
Melinda Curtis
Melinda Curtis is a Director of Product Marketing at Intermedia, where she focuses on helping businesses improve employee productivity and enhance their customer experiences using Intermedia's award-winning cloud communications solutions. Melinda brings over 20 years of experience in telecommunications, having worked in B2C and B2B marketing, product management, and vendor management roles. In her free time, she loves to travel with her family.
February 20, 2024
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