Porting/Keeping Numbers When Moving From State To State

Posts: 13 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Mar 05, 2005 Posts: 13

HI,

Not sure if this has been asked or explained. In short. If one moves to another state, do you lose your phone number? Vonage (that I have) implies no, but Verizon Wireless (also have) & Sun Rocket (don't have) tell me that if I move I would lose my phone number.

In addition, can I port a phone number that resides in a different state? Is there a difference whether I port before or after I move? I know some numbers can't be ported for whatever reason.

Below is the long version, for those who don't mind reading.

LONG VERSION

I am having trouble understanding) is Local Number Portability (LNP). I have gone around and around with Vonage, Sun Rocket, and Verizon Wireless (all emails) about keeping a phone number when moving out of state. Verizon Wireless & Sun Rocket stated that if I move (from NJ to MD, which will probably happen in a few years) then I would lose my 732 area code number. I want to keep my Verizon Wireless 732 number (and not change to a 410 number).

Both Verizon Wireless & Sun Rocekt state FCC rules (to the effect), "LNP applies to keeping numbers in the same rate center". Someone please explain this. They made it sound more of an FCC rule, but what I really think it is, that they are not required by law to port your number out of the geographics area for which you are located. We all know that the carriers were against LNP to begin with, so what they are not required to do, they will resist.

A friend of mine told me to just change the "BILLING ADDRESS" to the new location and keep the "SERVICE ADDRESS" where the rate center is. This is good (for a while), but what happens if I want to change providers or even upgrade my phone? Something sometime will happen where you will have to show proof of who you are (which will show current address) and they will see you don' t live there any more, then bye bye number probably instantly (am I overreacting?).

Now Vonage states that you can keep your number. I can even pick an area code 410/MD number while living here in NJ/732. However, I got kind a "funky" email response from Vonage. I told them what Verizon WIreless & Sun Rocket told me (about having to give up my number when moving). This is the response I got (QUOTING THEM).

"In response to your email, after consulting with a few colleagues, we feel that Verizon and Sunrocket may be stating this to you as they do not want to lose a customer. To avoid any issues in the future, it may be best to port your number prior to moving if possible.

If you have any questions now or in the future Vonage Customer Care is eager to assist you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Please visit our help center at http://www.vonage.com/help.php or send us an email from our Contact Us page at http://www.vonage.com/help_contactUs.php. You can also call us Toll Free at: 1-VONAGE-HELP (1-866-243-4357)

Sincerely,

Michael
E-Support Specialist
Vonage Customer Care "

Not sure if I understand this response. Then they are telling me "it is best to port prior to moving". You mean they still can't tell me if I can port later or not? I have Vonage, and I told them in the email that I will port my 732 Verizon Wireless number to Vonage (so I will not lose it), at least to keep the number *somewhere* (and long lost friends who had this number can find me, etc.). It goes to reason, if Vonage is allowing me to get a 410 number while living in 732, then why would I lose my 732 number when moving to 410?

Anyway, I may be making this too complicated. Someone please help. Thanks.

Rob

Posts: 1422

robtrnj wrote:

Not sure if this has been asked or explained. In short. If one moves to another state, do you lose your phone number? Vonage (that I have) implies no, but Verizon Wireless (also have) & Sun Rocket (don't have) tell me that if I move I would lose my phone number.

There is no law or regulation that prohibits you from relocating and keeping a phone number. Many people use Vonage overseas with US phone numbers.

There are technical reasons that Verizon will not let you keep a phone number if you move out of an area. You could, probably, establish forwarding service from an old number to a new number in a different location.

I am not certain why SunRocket told you what they did. If they have specific rules about tying phone numbers to service addresses then they are SunRocket rules, not federal regulation.

robtrnj wrote:

In addition, can I port a phone number that resides in a different state? Is there a difference whether I port before or after I move? I know some numbers can't be ported for whatever reason.

You can only port a number to a company that offers service in the area that number represents. So, if you have a Verizon number in an area that Vonage doesn't offer service, you can't port it to Vonage.

You must port before you move. If you wait until after you move you will lose your phone number (in most cases). The problem exists with POTS that your phone number is tied to a physical address, if you no longer reside at that address you can't use that phone number. The problem disappears once you port the number to Vonage. In some cases you can park a number. This means you still own a number but it isn't tied to a physical address, it can be used with call forwarding or it may be unused. If you choose to park a number you should do it prior to starting the LNP process.

Posts: 15 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Oct 17, 2006 Posts: 15

mr. scerruti's right. you should port your number before you move. also, please keep in mind that in order for vonage to successfully transer a number to their service, it should be in active status for 20 days. otherwise, if that number has already been disconnected long before it has been transferred (or in the process of the number transfer), then the porting won't be successful. also, please don't forget to fill out the letter of authorization (LOA) which vonage will be emailing you. ok?

Posts: 13 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Mar 05, 2005 Posts: 13

HI,

This is interesting, and is what I suspected. Vonage seems to be the best choice in this case to keep my number. I will port my Verizon Wireless number to Vonage, use Simulring (and decide whether to give callers my new wireless number).

The drawback is if I want to change VoIP providers if something better comes along (never say never). I haven't checked all VoIP providers regarding porting (only Sunrocket). Maybe others could port after moving. For now Vonage is great, but you never know. Maybe FCC rules will require porting everywhere some day. Who knew we would have gotten to this point to allow the port of numbers, already 3 years? You never know.

As you can see I look very far ahead. At least I will eliminate the 3 month period when I disconnected my landline phone years ago and had callers to the number get a recording for my new number (the Verizon Wireless number). I get attached to my number, like lots of us.

Thanks for the help.

Rob

Posts: 15 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Oct 17, 2006 Posts: 15

right, rob. we do get attached to our numbers. anyways, just take one day at a time. experience vonage first. then move on from there. as for me, i'm a contented vonage customer. so far, so good. Wink

Posts: 13 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Mar 05, 2005 Posts: 13

HI,

In January it will be 2 years that I have Vonage so I am very happy with how it works. My wife also uses it also. For the most part we had no problems. I can recall once or twice (more like once) that it dropped a call. I get more of this on my Verizon Wireless service. I want to get my parents on VoIP (also switch them from cable to DSL), and I was considering Sun Rocket, but a friend said to stick with Vonage plus I heard they are cheap to get customers and the price will eventually increase. Vonage costs me $31.19 with tax and everything (tax in NJ). I guess it is still a bargain compared to what we used to pay. I would rather pay more and have good service, but I heard Sun Rocket was good. I may not want to mess with a good thing so I think I will get my parents Vonage.

Thanks again.

Rob

Posts: 15 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Oct 17, 2006 Posts: 15

oh! so, we are happy vonage consumers. Lol

anyways, getting your parents the vonage service would be one of the wisest decisions in your life. aside from helping them save money on their phonebill, you'd also get a credit for the refer-a-friend program.

Posts: 1 · New Forum Member Joined: Nov 03, 2006 Posts: 1

It is very good to have a your number move with you, because it does not really matter where you are with vonage you can have a local number in Chicago, Illinois even if you are Nevada moving to Las Vegas, or the opposite if you live in Las Vegas and you are moving to Chicago

Posts: 13 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Mar 05, 2005 Posts: 13

HI,

Having the number you want anywhere is good. I still don't completely understand why some carriers refuse to let you keep your number if you move out of the local area. Not sure if this is a technical or administrative reason.

I found this out by accident when asking Verizon Wireless the question (What if I move to another state?), then I emailed Sun Rocket with the same question, and they also said I would lose the number. I don't know what other VoIP providers would say (haven't asked).

Verizon WIreless response to me made it appear that they were restricted from porting my number to another state because of FCC rules. But the rules state, to the effect, "carriers are required to port in the local area". I guess they are only fulfilling their obligation to the extent of the law.

Furthermore, when asking Vonage about porting "after I move" they suggested to porting "prior to moving." Some of the responses from Vonage were vague. I think they are also confused since some of the things some of us are trying to do (like me) may not be typical. I am one for scenarios.

Does someone know or have experience with this?

Rob

Posts: 13 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Mar 05, 2005 Posts: 13

HI,

Since I last wrote I think things have change with being able to keep or port phone numbers (at least it appears to me).

I will be moving to NJ to MD in the near future. I have Vonage and Verizon Wireless. I like my Verizon Wireless phone number with NJ 732 area code, and I want to keep it when I move to Maryland (where it would be area code 410).

Previously, I would have had to port to Vonage to do this, but Verizon has told me that I CAN take the number with me even when moving PLUS I can even port it elsewhere while in MD (in the same manner as if I lived in NJ - no difference).

Is what I am saying above true and makes sense? I am the type of person who keeps asking the same question now and then (especially when I get conflicting answers).

Some where I read that when you change billing address, move, then a problem could happen where you can't port to another provider (this may be old news as things keep changing). I guess in this case if I was switching from a NJ Verizon Wireless number to Sprint while living in Maryland, a (tedious) way around this is to temporarily switch the billing to someone living in NJ then I would have to go to NJ to get the Spring phone and port the number (then switch the billing address back).

If someone has an update on this please let me know. Verizon was pretty definite about keeping the number when I move. My friend took his AT&T NY 917 number and lives in NJ, but I question on how this affecting moving the number in the future when living elsewhere?

Rob