More Local Numbers In BC

Posts: 188 · Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2005 2:12 pm Post subject: More Local Numbers In BC

For those who haven't seen it on the Vonage web site, Vonage has expanded in BC. Numbers are now available in the Richmond and Abbotsford rate centres in addition to Vancouver with a 604 area code. Numbers are now also available in the 250 area code for Nanaimo, Kamloops, Kelowna, Vernon, Penticton, Prince George in addition to Victoria.

I find the choices for the 604 area code to be peculiar. The larger rate centres like New Westminster, and the Surrey rate centres (Whalley, Newton, Cloverdale etc.) were left out. The expansion in the 250 area code looks good though.

A footnote about the available "Kamloops" numbers. As some of you keeners will know, there is not a rate centre called "Kamloops". I believe that the Kamloops numbers provided by Vonage are from Bell West's "South Kamloops" rate centre. I don't think that "North Kamloops" numbers are portable to "South Kamloops" but perhaps someone can try it and let everyone know.

Posts: 105 · Vonage Forum Senior Joined: Nov 19, 2005 Posts: 105

I am in Kelowna and have been checking the Vonage website daily for the last 3 months waiting for the glorious day that I can be free of Telus. That day has come. The first day Kelowna was added to the website I went down to Staples, got my PAP2 and was up and running in minutes with number porting in progress. I don't plan to give Telus one more penny...EVER...once they port my number over.

Posts: 188 · Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2005 11:15 pm Post subject:

Mustardman wrote:

I am in Kelowna and have been checking the Vonage website daily for the last 3 months waiting for the glorious day that I can be free of Telus. That day has come. The first day Kelowna was added to the website I went down to Staples, got my PAP2 and was up and running in minutes with number porting in progress. I don't plan to give Telus one more penny...EVER...once they port my number over.

Congrats! I remember the day that I was liberated from Telus! I've been much happier ever since. Hopefully it won't take too long to port your number over now that the Telus lockout is over but they do have a backlog to clear so don't be surprised if it takes more than the standard 20 business days.

Good Luck and Enjoy! Very Happy

Posts: 3 · New Forum Member Joined: Nov 23, 2005 Posts: 3

I signed up to change my primary number from the Vancouver one I've been using (but keeping that as a Virtual #) to a local one, but I've been waiting over a week (and I've been charged for having a virtual # for this time too!)

Is this normal, or should I contact Vonage?

Posts: 188 · Posted: Fri Nov 25, 2005 2:53 pm Post subject:

Damen wrote:

I signed up to change my primary number from the Vancouver one I've been using (but keeping that as a Virtual #) to a local one, but I've been waiting over a week (and I've been charged for having a virtual # for this time too!)

Is this normal, or should I contact Vonage?

Are you porting a local landline number to Vonage? In any case, number porting takes a minimum of 20 business days but if you're in Telus country, it might take longer due to the backlog caused by the recently ended lockout.

Posts: 4 · Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2005 1:44 pm Post subject:

It was only last week when I thought I should check up on additional Vonage area codes and learned that Prince George is now covered. After reading the terms of service, however, I decided not to switch. What I was after with Vonage was to have my calls to the US included in my minutes but Vonage charges a termination fee (unless you terminate the account in less than a year). My current VOIP service provider is Webcall. With Webcall, I currently pay $15.95 for unlimited calls to Prince George, Abbotsford, Calgary, Kelowna, Edmonton, Vancouver, Kamloops, and Victoria. BUT, I do have to pay extra (4 cents/min) to call the US. I think that's not such a bad deal. Plus there's no termination fee (anytime you want to terminate the service as long as you return the ATA within 14d after terminating service), equipment or signup fees.

Posts: 51 · Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2006 8:21 pm Post subject:

Hi everyone, why did they give me a 778 area code when 604 are available then!! I live in Delta, Tsawwassen and naturally wanted the 604 area code and the 943 but couldn't get that either. I have found out recently that the 778 area code is used for cell phones in Vanouver. Now when I give my number to certain companies they say that is your cell phone number NO I try to say politely that is our Vancouver area code number to land line phone, oh that then leads into my discussions!!!!!!! Any help on this any advice, thanks Pauline

Posts: 182 · Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2006 5:39 pm Post subject:

778 is not just for cell phones, but it is primarily used for cell phones. 604 is out of numbers. Unless you get lucky and get a recycled 604 number (which may not be lucky depending on who had it and how recently they used it), you will get 778.

It's the same in Toronto. 416 is exhausted. You get 647 numbers now unless you are very lucky.

Just tell them that not all 778 numbers are cell numbers and yours assuredly is not a cell phone.

Posts: 188 · Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 1:01 pm Post subject:

Nannyof8 wrote:

Hi everyone, why did they give me a 778 area code when 604 are available then!! I live in Delta, Tsawwassen and naturally wanted the 604 area code and the 943 but couldn't get that either. I have found out recently that the 778 area code is used for cell phones in Vanouver. Now when I give my number to certain companies they say that is your cell phone number NO I try to say politely that is our Vancouver area code number to land line phone, oh that then leads into my discussions!!!!!!! Any help on this any advice, thanks Pauline

Yep, we left coasters still haven't caught on to whole area code overlay concept even though its been in place for over four years here. That's why ten digit dialling was introduced (for wireline and cell phone) in the first place. 778 still isn't widely used and that is partly because of the resistance of customer base to accept them in the first place. The other likely reason that 778 isn't widely used is because number portability within rate centres has improved during this same time period which in turn reduces the need for new numbers. When you moved from the West End of Vancouver to Kits, Telus used to make you change numbers, that practice stopped in the late nineties and was rolled out to other centres later. Of course, none of this matters with Vonage save for porting a wireline number to Vonage as the number is only eligible for porting if Vonage has numbers in the same rate centre hence your new number as Vonage doesn't have numbers in the Ladner rate centre.