Most of the trunking I’ve done to the PSTN has been on T1 PRI circuits. In many cases, when upgrading the trunks at a small site, I would want to port the main phone number for a given site (which is already established for several years in the phone book, 411 & corporate promotional materials) away from a T1 circuit & have it ported to a different carrier or forward to a newer number. 9 times out of 10, the site’s main number was the BTN (Billing Telephone Number) for that circuit/trunk. Meaning that number was used as a reference all throughout the carrier’s billing system & also in several instances in the actual config of the trunk in the carrier’s CO switch.

Just breaking that number out of a trunk and either porting it or turning it into a remote call forward would require the local carrier to rebuild the entire trunk, taking anywhere from 5 to 10 days to process the order & also causing a few hours of no service while the trunk is being reconfigured. The months that follow would result in billing issues because the old number is still stuck in their billing system & is still posting a monthly charge alongside the new BTN that the carrier established for the trunk.

The two are tied together in many instances. Cleanest way to port your number would be to port to Google Voice (whenever they offer it), let you old cell die as the previous carrier closes the account when the port is complete, then open a whole new account for your existing cell phone with the wireless carrier.

The carrier (in this case I think it was TMO?) was more than happy to do so, because they kept a customer where they usually loose one.

I was advised by Sprint that when I port my phone number to ATT, my Sprint line would automatically close (my account would remain open because my wife was still on it, but that line would cease along with its contract start date-expired), but since I was prequalified for 2 lines already, that I could open a new line with Sprint (back up to 2 accounts, my business and wife) and port the MetroPCS phone number to Sprint. Sprint was obviously better than Metro as far as quality was concerned, hence the reason for the wanted change.

Anyways, I battled with Sprint about this saying that I did not want to lock into a new contract with a new line as they indicated I would have to do. I told them “my contract with my existing line is done, its up….. I could cancel now and not port a new one in at no penalty and your loss…” After an hour of debate they finally gave in telling me that after my line is closed from ATT porting my number out, they would open a new line and use the existing contract date, that it was extremely rare they would do this, and its my lucky day. They even tried the “what can we do to keep you as a customer” pitch… I told them “that’s what I’m trying to do- you’re making it difficult…”

Anyways, all in all, at least with Sprint you can fight to the bitter end to retain your contract status if and when Google allows porting in, and seemingly will have no differences on your account overall—I don’t know about ATT or Verizon which is your case.

Additionally, if you only have 1 line on your account, at least I have done this back in 2004. (again with Sprint) I was not thrilled with the price of one of my bills. So I threatened to cancel my line. Rep said OK.. So I did it. Oops. I didn’t really want to! lol Anyways, I called back a day or 2 later and explained that somehow it got canceled, maybe a miss communication, and I need it back. They gladly reinstated my account and put the same contract start date back on the account. So, in case when you port out, you can say you didn’t know it would close your entire account, maybe they will just bring it back online for you with a new number??

The issue I have is my wife doesn’t want to give up our Phone Number as it is unlisted and have had it for years. People we only speak with once in a while have it. I would prefer that people call me on the Google Voice number so I can use its features but I just want to drop my Land Line expense and use Magicjack as a Landline.

I hear rumors that Google Voice is working on Apps that will get around the “People seeing the Actual Number”. You can also dial your Google Voice number and then dial the number and it will show your Google Voice number. Kind of a pain but if is really is important to you, this is a current option. I am also sure that you can program the phone book in your home phones to do this your you automatically.

Google, help me save my $60 month by allowing me to port my home phone to you