Transferring Existing Toll-Free 800 numbers

Posts: 6

Can I transfer my existing 800 number or toll-free number to Vonage?

If not, will this be an option in the near future?

In not, what are some solutions that can allow me to use my existing 800 or toll-free numbers while also using Vonage?

Posts: 19

Compuweb wrote:

Can I transfer my existing 800 number or toll-free number to Vonage?

If not, will this be an option in the near future?

In not, what are some solutions that can allow me to use my existing 800 or toll-free numbers while also using Vonage?

The answer to the first question is no, at this time you cannot port over toll-free numbers or fax lines.

The answer to the other two are I have no heard anything about this being an option down the line and I wish I could help, but really don't have any suggestions as to how you can utilize your existing toll-free number with Vonage.

JHall

Posts: 2251 · Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2005 2:33 pm Post subject:

But he/she could certainly point their current 800 number to their Vonage number and it will work.

Posts: 56 · Full Forum Member Joined: Apr 15, 2005 Posts: 56

dconnor wrote:

But he/she could certainly point their current 800 number to their Vonage number and it will work.

Right - but then he'd still pay for inbound calls from whoever hosts his 800 number.

I have two 800 numbers hosted by MCI (Worldcom) and would still have to pay my "X" cents per minute on inbound calls.

It would be nice to port the 800 numbers over to Vonage and add Vonage business lines to piggyback the 800 numbers and pay either no inbound or a lesser inbound that my current plan.

Posts: 6 · Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2005 3:31 pm Post subject:

Right, I would still have to pay the "x" cents / minute for all inbound calls. It seems like this would prevent many businesses from switching. I have a toll-free vanity number that has been in service for many years. There's no way that I can give up the number.

Is this an FCC regulation? Who controls the toll-free numbers? It appears that phone companies control the rights to a bank of numbers and they will not give them up if it involves losing business.

Something needs to be done in this area as Voip escalates in popularity.

It's time to call our congress representatives.

Posts: 9 · Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2005 6:56 pm Post subject:

Compuweb wrote:

I have a toll-free vanity number that has been in service for many years. There's no way that I can give up the number.

Unfortunately I had a similar situation a few months ago. I had an 800# for over 11 years and finally decided it was time to switch it to Vonage only to be told by my hosting company that I could not use that number because they owned it. What I found out through exhaustive research is that the company that hosted the 800# had purchased that number, not me, the individual. I even went as far as to contact the FCC and they told me there was nothing they could do about it, the phone company owned that number. Luckily, I am a one-person company, so the economic impact was minor, but it did cost be a few hundred dollars in office material (letterheads, business cards, etc.) and some business.

I wish I could offer better news. Cry

Posts: 1389 · Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2005 9:28 pm Post subject:

Actually, I have an 877 number forwarded to my home office number, and technically I pay more for the actual forwarding cost ($50-60?) than I do for the minutes...

I have my offices call my 772 number (let them pay for the cost) and usually can take my clients calls, or tell the clients I am with someone else and will call them right back...makes me sound even busier than I actually am... Very Happy

Just an idea...