Tempory Virtual Number Will Not Forward to Existing Phone #

Posts: 8

I recently set my parents up with Vonage after my successful install.

They were assigned a tempory virtual number until their real phone number is ported over to Vonage. With the understanding that it takes a MINIMUM of 20days, I wanted to set up SimulRing to their existing number that will be eventually ported to Vonage. The idea is no matter what phone ringed, they could answer their regular existing home phone. However, when I go into the features tab and try to set up SimulRing, the Virtual Number does not show up in the list of pull down numbers, only the phone number that will be ported to Vonage (Their existing number.)

Current Number with Another Provider (734.282.xxxx)
Temporary Virtual Number (734.238.xxxx)

Hopefully to Clarify, Only number available to see in the features tab is the 734.282.xxxx number. I try to set up SimulRing to also call 734.282.xxxx, and it gives me what basically a circular reference error...can't forward a call to a number where the call was initially placed.

Is there a way to get the temporary virtual number to appear in the features tab.

Hope this is clear....Thanks for the help in advance!

Posts: 230 · Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2005 8:03 am Post subject:

Why would you give out your Tempory Virtual Number for people to call if there existing number is going to change once the LNP takes place?

Posts: 8 · Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2005 8:08 am Post subject:

I initially signed up with Vonage under the 500 minute plan. Since then, I got a lot of my family to do the same since there is free in-network calling. So naturally, we'll all be calling each other on the Vonage line and not be charged the minutes.

I don't want them to have to figure out what phone is ringing. Trying to make it easy for them to just answer their existing phone until the LPN takes place.

Posts: 218 · Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2005 8:23 am Post subject:

Maybe I'm not understanding what you are trying to accomplish, but why don't you just have all calls to your current provider (Verizon etc) forwarded to your Vonage line?

Posts: 230 · Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2005 8:27 am Post subject:

I see, I don't believe that you can setup call forwarding with a temp number. You may want to call customer service to make sure.

Posts: 8 · Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2005 8:30 am Post subject:

rlstjohn wrote:

Maybe I'm not understanding what you are trying to accomplish, but why don't you just have all calls to your current provider (Verizon etc) forwarded to your Vonage line?

They are slightly elderly and I'm trying to make it easy on them. Don't want them to have to figure out what phone is ringing...vonage or current provider. Current provider doesn't not have call forwarding as an included feature...it's an additional charge to have it.

Once the LPN is completed, I'll wire the house so all phones will ring. Until then, they'll need both lines as the family will be calling on Vonage, and others on the existing. I guess what I'm asking to clarify is why doesn't the temporary Virtual Number show up on the features tab since it is a number the service is using?

Posts: 218 · Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2005 8:31 am Post subject:

I don't see any reason why you couldn't. If you can receive incoming calls from another phone there is no reason why you cannot setup to have your current number forwarded. You can usually do this by simply typing #72 or something like that (with Verizon anyway).

Posts: 8 · Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2005 8:37 am Post subject:

rlstjohn wrote:

I don't see any reason why you couldn't. If you can receive incoming calls from another phone there is no reason why you cannot setup to have your current number forwarded. You can usually do this by simply typing #72 or something like that (with Verizon anyway).

Quote:

Current provider doesn't not have call forwarding as an included feature...it's an additional charge to have it.

Posts: 8 · Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2005 9:00 am Post subject:

Ok, so I called customer service. (Called at 9:40am EST and had someone on the phone by 9:48am EST)

Per customer service, you can not set up any features on the features page for the virtual number. They do not allow access to do so as it is only a temporary number for "roughly 30days".

Thanks for your help and Kudos to Vonage's fast response in customer service!!

Posts: 50 · Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2005 1:21 pm Post subject:

In an interesting related note, I have a friend who is also in the process of waiting for his number to be transferred. However, when I call him on his POTS number, using my Vonage phone, his one Vonage phone rings. Any non-Vonage caller, however, still rings to his old phones.