I'm thinking about porting my Verizon landline to
Google Voice.
I found this solution in the Google Voice help forum by love_my_n1,
Can I port my land line number to google voice:
Verizon Landline ported in two steps. Total cost $ 26.99
My objective : Two numbers ONE cellphone service
I wanted to loose Verizon landline service but keep the number which i had for 20 years,
and I wanted to keep my current Cellphone number and service which i have for five years.
Step One: Port Verizon landline to Prepaid T-Mobile
Step Two : Port from T-Mobile to Google Voice.
First, I bought " T-Mobile® Prepaid SIM Card Activation Kit " (online for $6.99 free shipping)
- I got it in 3 days, activate and call customer service to request port.
- It took a week to port.
Number ported and working on T-Mobile. The next day I went on Google Voice and ordered the port
for $20.
30 hours later I received email:
"Google Voice Number Porting is Complete! "
Really?
Why do I need to go through a two step process?
More:
Port your existing mobile number to Google Voice
Number Porting: Number Porting FAQS
Update: 4/29/11
I started the process of porting my Verizon Landline Phone # to Google Voice via T-Mobile.
How to: Port a Verizon Landline Phone # to T-Mobile
Step 1: Buy a T-Mobile Prepaid Card
Image: T-Mobile Prepaid SIM Card
I bought the T-Mobile prepaid card at a T-Mobile Store. It cost $10.63. $10 for the activation kit and .63 Mass Tax.
The card comes loaded with $3.34 which works out to 10 minutes.
Step 2: Call T-Mobile to Port my Verizon Landline to T-Mobile
I called the T-Mobile Customer Service # and was transferred to an "Activations" #.
Update:
1-877-789-3106 is the number to call to port a phone # or to check on an existing port request.
They needed the following:
- T-Mobile #
- Home Phone #
- Home Phone # Account #
They said the Port from my Verizon Landline to T-Mobile will take up to 24 hours and they will text message the phone when it's done, or I can call in for a status at 1-877-789-3106.
Using the SIM Card
I wasn't planning on using the SIM card at all, but decided to pop it into my Motorola ATRIX 4G to receive the text message.
T-Mobile SIM in Motorola ATRIX 4G
That didn't work. I got a message on the phone asking for "SIM Network Unlock PIN"
SIM network unlock PIN required
I tried the PIN I got at the T-MOBILE store. That didn't work.
Then I called T-Mobile Customer Service and at the end of the call they told me that I needed a T-Mobile phone.
Works on a Nokia N95
I think this has something to do with getting an 'unlocked' phone, so I pulled out an old Nokia N95 and popped the SIM in there. It worked with no problem.
T-Mobile on Nokia N95
I'll be back in 24 hours to start the next step of porting the T-Mobile # to Google Voice.
Stay tuned...
Update 5/1 9:34 AM:
Last night at 12:30 AM I got a call on my T-Mobile #. Wrong #. Hmm.
My Verizon land line number hasn't been ported yet. It was supposed to be done already.
So I called the T-Mobile
1-877-789-3106 to check on the status.
They are really friendly.
I had to supply the number I am porting and my T-Mobile number. Then I was asked for my birthday. Didn't match. I explained that when I went into the store they asked for my birthday and I wanted to know why they wanted it. They told me they didn't need it.
Guess what.
They kinda did. Some random birthday was entered to my accountably default.
So we moved on to the PIN # that I chose in the store and that matched.
After a while
the T-Mobile rep told me that the number would be ported over on Tuesday 5/3.
No explanation as to why it wasn't already ported.
On Tuesday I'll be getting a text message that says, "New # is (NNN) NNN-NNNN."
I'll be back with an update when that happens.
Update 5/3 7:54 PM:
Just got the text message from T-Mobile. The port of my Verizon landline was successfully completed.
Now when I dial what used to be my home phone #, it rings on my cellphone.
Cool.
How to: Port a T-Mobile cellphone # to Google Voice
Setting up
Google Voice and porting the number there.
Success...
Port your mobile number to Google Voice
Porting means that you move your number from your carrier to Google Voice. You can then use the full set of Google Voice features without having to change your number.
Port your number
Things to understand before porting your number to Google Voice:
The cost of porting is $20.00 (payable through Google Checkout).
Your mobile phone service plan will be terminated when you port your number to Google Voice and your carrier may charge you an early termination fee.
Once porting is complete, you will not be able to receive calls to your mobile phone until you complete the following steps:
Google Voice is not a mobile phone service provider, so you must setup a new mobile phone service plan (with your existing carrier or a new carrier) and request a new number.
Once you've secured a new mobile service plan and a new number, you will need to add this new number to your Google Voice account as a forwarding phone.
You may be unable to receive text messages for up to 3 business days after the porting process is complete.
Your Google Voice number will be replaced by the number you are porting. It will remain on your account for 90 days.
I understand the risks associated with porting my number to Google Voice and want to continue with the porting process.
Next you need to verify that you are the owner of the phone by calling it from an on screen prompt and entering the supplied number.
Verify -
This step requires a cell phone.
When I did this the first time, my phone didn't produce touch tones. So I tried again and it worked.
Account Information
Next you need to supply your T-Mobile information to complete the process including entering your
T-Mobile Account # and your
PIN #.
At this point I had to call T-Mobile to get my account #. I made a mistake though, when prompted for my cellphone # I entered the Pre-Paid T-Mobile # instead of my newly ported home #. D'oh!
On hold...
Success!
NOTE: Your T-Mobile Account number is your newly ported cellphone #.
Confirm Transaction
Checkout
My porting request is in process.
I got this email from Google Voice:
Hello,
We have begun the process of moving your phone number (porting), 617-NNN-NNNN, to Google Voice.
To ensure that the porting process is as smooth as possible, please read through the following notes:
- Your number should be ported within 24 hours. You may not receive text messages for up to 3 business days after porting is complete.
- You will receive an email confirmation when your number has been successfully ported.
- Your mobile phone service plan will be terminated and your carrier may charge you an early termination fee if you are still under contract.
- Google Voice is not a mobile phone service provider, so you must set up a new mobile phone service plan (with your existing carrier or a new carrier) and request a new number.
- You will need to add this new number to your Google Voice account as a forwarding phone in order to receive calls on your mobile phone.
Questions? Visit the Help Center to learn more.
- The Google Voice team
Update 5/4 8:33 PM:
The porting is complete!
It worked. When I now call what used to be my home phone #, Google Voice picks up for the caller to leave a voice message.
I got a confirmation email too:
Hello,
We’re writing to let you know that your phone number: 617-NNN-NNNN has been successfully ported to Google Voice!
Now that your number is ported, there are a couple of steps that you’ll have to take in order to continue receiving calls on your mobile phone.
Make sure you have a NEW number for your phone
Google Voice is not a mobile phone service provider, so you must setup a new mobile phone service plan (with your existing carrier or a new carrier) and request a new number. You’ll need this new number in order to continue receiving calls on your mobile phone.
Add your new number as a forwarding phone in your Google Voice account
Once you have secured a new number directly from your carrier, update your Google Voice settings and add this new number as a forwarding phone. You will then be able to receive calls to your mobile phone. Learn more about how to add a forwarding phone.
Please note that text messages may not be delivered for up to 3 business days after porting is complete.
Questions? Visit the Help Center to learn more.
- The Google Voice team
I just got my first voice mail, transcribed to text, as an email message:
Voicemail from: (617) NNN-NNNN at 5:32 PM
Hi. This is Carol and just checking in about our plans for tomorrow night. I think we need a date night okay call me bye.
Awesome!
, was a lot of fun and I'm enjoying all the positive feedback that I'm getting from it.
