I request LNP in my area code and prefix 520-281. At present, Vonage does serve my area code, but does not offer numbers with my prefix, or numbers which are a local call from my prefix.
I have made various efforts to research this issue.
Dan has made the case from his experience that it is "not Vonage's fault", that the problem is not unique to Vonage, that there is difficulty with Number-porting, and that other competitors are pretty much in the same boat with respect to dealing with this problem.
But I'm not sure how this helps me make it known, to the Vonage higher-ups who may need to know where we would like to see success in this area. If they face choices about which numbers to try to get, over time, with their limited resources, then perhaps they'd like a way to hear from us, ... which area codes and prefixes are more vocally in demand from these customers.
To some extent, discussion of the whys and wherefores of this topic seem to be Verboten in this forum. We are told that the problem is not unique to Vonage, but discussion of Vonage competitors is moderated (heavily) at will, so we cannot compare notes.
Ok, that's fine, I might to some extent follow the same rules were I a moderator, but we still need a way to press for our numbers... to let Vonage management know which numbers we'd like to see.
In my readings, I read where one other Vonage customer reported that he was told it's a "waiting game" to see when you can do LNP in your area. I can't do that. I calculate not being able to go with LNP is costing me around $400 per year (a bare bones POTS line with only local service, a couple of essential features, and more than $10 per month in taxes and fees). I can wait two months, if I know for certain that's what it will be. I cannot wait that long if it's not clear if it will be 2 months or 2 years or 10.
I filled out the form under "availability" to be notified when my area code becomes available.... but my area code is already available. What's not available is my area code+prefix.
So: I am creating a thread which hopefully can serve as one source of information for the higher-ups at Vonage to see where certain area codes and prefixes are being requested. Thank you for this area in which to do so. jl
I also consider it odd that my father (who is considering trying Vonage) has a number that does not qualify for Vonage LNP -- 909-591. But When this area code and prefix is entered in AT&T CallVantage, it says that the number CAN be transferred.
???
Roland
reebok Vonage Forum MVM
Joined: Oct 24, 2004 Posts: 3198
Location: Lakeland, FL
any number can be transferred by law. the problem lies within the clec's vonage uses to serve XXX area code. if the clec doesn't offer that exchange, then vonage can't. so if at&t or whoever else uses a different clec, (or if they happen to be the ilec) then they can transfer the number.
clec = competitive local exchange carrier (companies that vonage gets phone numbers from)
ilec: incumbent local exchange carrier (like your ex-gte's and such)
any number can be transferred by law. the problem lies within the clec's vonage uses to serve XXX area code. if the clec doesn't offer that exchange, then vonage can't. so if at&t or whoever else uses a different clec, (or if they happen to be the ilec) then they can transfer the number.
clec = competitive local exchange carrier (companies that vonage gets phone numbers from)
ilec: incumbent local exchange carrier (like your ex-gte's and such)
Thank you. This does help me understand the issue slightly better. It does not unfortunately move the date closer when they can do LNP with me, or give me a more firm date when they can.
I'll give it just a little while longer to see if there is indication that management is thinking about this, or considering any policy changes, in terms of communicating with customers, and letting them have a timetable about when certain areas can expect LNP (if ever).
I recently signed up for Vonage service and I'm waitng for my exchange to be available to transfer my current phone line. At the current time, Vonage is not making any commitment of when and if that capability might be available and I'm paying Verizon about $20 a month just to maintain minimum service on my old phone number to avoid losing the number while I wait.
Does anyone have any idea of how long it might take Vonage to expand their service? I took a look at Packet8 today and they seem to have the ability to transfer my existing phone number. I'm considering dropping Vonage and switching to Packet8 for this reason. Any advice?
I've also had some voice quality problems occasionally with the Vonage line even though I've allocated the maximum bandwidth to the line.
I recently signed up for Vonage service and I'm waitng for my exchange to be available to transfer my current phone line. At the current time, Vonage is not making any commitment of when and if that capability might be available and I'm paying Verizon about $20 a month just to maintain minimum service on my old phone number to avoid losing the number while I wait.
Does anyone have any idea of how long it might take Vonage to expand their service? I took a look at xxxx today and they seem to have the ability to transfer my existing phone number. I'm considering dropping Vonage and switching to xxxx for this reason. Any advice?
I've also had some voice quality problems occasionally with the Vonage line even though I've allocated the maximum bandwidth to the line.
Thanks,
Basically, you've described my situation to the letter, except that I am paying more than you per month to maintain a POTS line, and the quality of my VONAGE calls is fine.
The reason I started this thread isn't to complain, so much as to attempt to establish a way for VONAGE management to start getting some orderliness to how they get communication from users about which exchanges we'd like to see them provide.
So far, though, I don't get the feeling that this idea of mine will succeed. I don't know if they will confirm or deny that they have any control as to which exchanges are "next in line" for them to try and get. There have been a few posts where people more expert than I will talk about how it is not in their control, but I'm not so sure how true that is....
You can try a search on the word "CLEC" to check out some of the other threads.
You mention a competitor of Vonage's, which is against the rules here, so probably a moderator will jump in and say so. But, as I say, you've pretty much described my own situation. I figure it's costing me about $400 per year, give or take, to maintain my POTS line.
FWIW, since I started this thread to try to build up some data as to vonage customers voicing requests for specific exchanges, can you say which area code and prefix you'd like to see?
The area code and extension I'm interested in is 508-359.
I did some further research into what other VOIP services offer. Packet8 wouldn't give me an iron-clad guarantee that they could transfer my phone line but they said that they probably could do it. Unfortunately the only way I can find out for sure is to sign up for their service.
I then looked into AT&T CallVantage and they told me that they could transfer the number within 8-10 days and gave me a guarantee that they would do it or they would cancel the service at no charge to me. I've decided to try them out. If they can't do it, I'll try Verizon VOIP next. I've got to find someone who can transfer my existing line. It is silly to keep waiting for something like this with no commitment if and when its ever going to happen.
[...] It is silly to keep waiting for something like this with no commitment if and when its ever going to happen.
Yup.
For a variety of reasons, there have been a couple of times I've been glad to have a POTS line for awhile. What if Vonage had done it for you, for example, but then you had the quality-of-call problems that you mention? That would be a big problem.
Nonetheless, I agree with you that it's silly, what they ask of us.
And, some of the competition consistently seems able to respond in the affirmative to various number porting queries, whereas Vonage does not seem to be able to accomplish this.
You mention one of the competition not giving you a definite answer until you signed up. I got this answer from one of them awhile back, but it wasn't the one you mentioned.
I put in an order with AT&T Call Advantage over the web on Sunday. On Monday morning I got an e-mail confirmation that my number would be changed by March 9th. That's approximately 10 days later.
They wouldn't even ship me a telephone adapter until they verified that my number could be moved - I think that's a very good practice. It apears that Vonage will ship you an adapter immediately and then string you along as long as they can to keep the expectation alive that they're going to be able to transfer your number.
I agree with you that going through Vonage and keeping my existing phone number for a while had some value to help me decide if I can live with voice quality issues over VOIP before I made the leap, but its been a nuisance to keep one phone for incoming calls and use another one for outgoing calls.
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