Forward my home phone to Vonage with caller id passthru?

Posts: 10 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Mar 08, 2004 Posts: 10

Vonage can't transfer my number so I'm wondering if anyone has tried forwarding their regular POTS number (with all features stripped) to their local Vonage number? (Vonage can't transfer my existing home number)

How well does this work?

Does caller id pass thru to Vonage? (And do I need to activate callerid on my regular line in order for caller id to pass thru on the call forward).

Are these service provider specific questions? (I'm with Sprint in Clinton, NJ if that means anything)

Thanks!
Malcolm

Posts: 14 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Mar 01, 2004 Posts: 14

I'm currently forwarding two Bellsouth lines to two Vonage lines. One is for voice and the other one is a stripped down line for faxing. The stripped Bellsouth faxline has only call forwading (obviously) on it. It passes the caller id to the Vonage temp number. I WOULD strip down my Bellsouth voice line while I'm waiting for the porting process, but that might DELAY the process. When people that I call begin to see my ported number instead of the Vonage temp number on their caller id screens, then that should mean that the port is complete.

Posts: 16 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Mar 06, 2004 Posts: 16

I forward my POTS to Vonage as well. Caller ID passes thru just fine. I'm trying to port my POTS number now, but I'm not sure I'll have any success (Vonage local number lookup on the website says no, but I faxed my paperwork anyway).

Posts: 110 · Vonage Forum Senior Joined: Mar 06, 2004 Posts: 110

redstick wrote:

. When people that I call begin to see my ported number instead of the Vonage temp number on their caller id screens, then that should mean that the port is complete.

I dont' think that's accurate. People see my ported number already on their caller ID screens and I haven't even sent in my paperwork!

Also, if another Vonage customer calls my POTS line from their Vonage phone, it automatically goes right to my Vonage phone and never even rings on my POTS line!

Vonage already has you setup with yout POTs line as your main number; their just waiting for the phone co to do the same.

Posts: 14 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Mar 01, 2004 Posts: 14

I forgot to metion that because I have my Bellsouth lines forwarded to Vonage, I decided to disconnect Bellsouth from my internal house wiring and route Vonage to my phone jacks. At this point, Vonage is used for outgoing calls and my family and friends can see my Vonage temp number. When my port is complete, the Bellsouth number will replace the Vonage number and family and friends will once again start seeing my ported number as they once did when it was with Bellsouth. Pylons, you said "People see my ported number already on their caller ID screens and I haven't even sent in my paperwork!". You must be still be making outgoing calls on your pots otherwise I haven't heard of anyone making an outgoing call on a Vonage temp line to a person who can see their pots number that hasn't been ported yet. Is this possible? Can Vonage program my forwarding pots number in the MOT's caller id info even though my number is not ported? or as in your case, you haven't sent in any paperwork?

Posts: 51 · Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2004 11:54 am Post subject:

Vonage masks your "virtual number" with your POTS number for all outgoing calls during the number transfer period. People will see your POTS caller id info when you make calls with your Vonage phone. It is their attempt to make the transfer process relatively seamless. This way no one "on the outside" sees any change in your service.

Posts: 10 · Vonage Forum Associate Joined: Mar 08, 2004 Posts: 10

Thanks for everyone's feedback!

Malcolm

Posts: 110 · Vonage Forum Senior Joined: Mar 06, 2004 Posts: 110

ahealey74 wrote:

Vonage masks your "virtual number" with your POTS number for all outgoing calls during the number transfer period. People will see your POTS caller id info when you make calls with your Vonage phone. It is their attempt to make the transfer process relatively seamless. This way no one "on the outside" sees any change in your service.

Precisely what is happening for me.