Your business number is part of your brand identity, and leaving that behind is no small decision—and why businesses feel stuck with their current service provider. Porting phone numbers allows you to keep your business’s number(s) when you switch to Mango Voice.

What does porting a phone number mean?

Number porting is the process of moving your phone number(s) from one provider to another. You keep your number, but change the provider you work with. 

Both consumers and businesses have the right to keep their phone numbers when they change service providers. It may not be public knowledge, or you may be thinking that it's a complex or difficult process. The truth is, it can be a rather simple process. 

Before we dive into that, however, let’s first discuss the difference between number porting and call forwarding—something that often gets mixed up and causes confusion. 

Number porting vs. call forwarding: The differences

There are similarities between these, but the difference is that call forwarding is a temporary solution that allows you to use a new device with your new service provider by simply passing calls made to one number onto a different one, while number porting is a permanent solution of switching to a new service provider.

Benefits of porting your phone number

Now that we’ve covered what number porting is, let’s discuss the benefits of switching your phone number(s) to a VoIP service provider, like Mango Voice. 

Maintaining brand identity

As previously mentioned, your business number is a part of your business’s identity. It’s what consumers use daily to contact your business, so transitioning away from that number is not something a business would be likely to be open to. Number porting allows you to maintain your brand identity, by keeping your phone number active with your business, even if you need to change phone providers. This allows you to avoid updating things like:

• Business cards

• Flyers 

• Your website

• Billboards 

While it may be easy to update your website, physical goods like business cards with your old number would become obsolete, and would require a significant amount of resources to create replacements. 

Number porting allows you to avoid these headaches and maintain your current marketing materials. 

Accessing better services or deals

Number porting gives your option to switch providers that are better suited to your needs and circumstances, all while keeping your business phone number the same. For example, you could switch to a new phone provider that’s available at a lower price point, or has more advanced phone features compared to traditional phone services (POTS or PSTN). 

Go mobile

VoIP providers such as Mango Voice allow you to take your business wherever you go. Giving you the ability to stay connected in and out of the office with a simple app you can download from your phone app store. Make calls, text, and more with a portable workstation. 

When you might choose to port your number

As you can see, there are plenty of advantages of number porting that could make a real difference to your business. Sometimes, though, it takes a practical example to understand the potential impact of a process or idea on your daily operations. 

When you need or want to upgrade your phone system

Depending on how long ago you updated your phone system, you may be using a landline-based system that can be costly to maintain, and is now (or will soon-to-be) holding you back. Even if you have a VoIP phone system, that system may no longer be meeting your needs that best suit your business. 

Number porting allows you to make necessary upgrades in a more simpler and accessible way for your phone system.

Add new capabilities to a number

A traditional phone system is likely only good for making and receiving calls, but what about SMS or faxing? That’s where number porting can come into play. 

Solutions like Mango Voice allow you to call, text and fax from your existing phone number(s) to easily extend its capabilities to suit your business needs. 

Potential number porting issues to be mindful of

While number porting can be straightforward, there can be hurdles to overcome. Many of these issues can be mitigated by choosing the right new service provider, but it is still worthwhile to be aware of them.

Unable to provide service in your area

On rare occasions, your existing phone number may not be in an area that can be serviced by your new provider. There’s not much that can be done if that is the case, so the best course of action is to confirm with your new provider that your existing numbers can be ported. 

Contractual obligations or fees

While you have a right to port your phone number, you may have an existing contract with your current service provider that has a fee for exiting a contract early. While it may be rare for a provider to charge you to port your number(s), it’s not impossible. 

Data loss

When you port your number from one provider to the next, you keep your phone number but may lose access to data such as old call logs attached to your old service. When debating on changing your phone system, think about the data you wish to keep and how to do so. 

Delays or service disruptions

The timeframe of porting phone numbers from one provider to another will vary from one to another. There are a range of factors to consider, for example, the type of number being ported—a local number or toll-free number, which could make a difference. 

Therefore, it’s important to confirm timeframes with your new provider before starting the process. The timeframes may be reduced to a minimum by keeping documentation readily available, up-to-date, and accurate. 

While it is possible to suffer a service outage or disruption while porting numbers, your new provider should work with you to keep this to a minimum. 

How does the porting process work?

It slightly differs depending on the provider and numbers involved, but the general process is quite straightforward. The porting process has 5 simple steps:

1. Check portability and research potential providers

2. Collect all the necessary information

3. Make a port request to your new provider

4. Wait for the port request to complete and then cancel your old service

5. Success! Your number is now with a new provider and ready to be used

Check portability and research potential providers

Number porting can be quite simple when you’re properly prepared. Research potential providers and ensure that your number can be ported to their service. Check with your current provider about porting out to avoid things like early termination contract fees.

Collect all the necessary information

In order to port your number, your new provider will need some information from you. In general, your new provider will likely ask for the following information: 

• All numbers you want to port are active

• Account/Company Name

• Authorized Person’s name on the account

• Service Address (No PO Boxes)

• Account Number

• PIN#/Passcode (if applicable)

Make a port request to your new provider

Once you have collected the necessary information for porting, it’s time to initiate the porting process by contacting your new provider to start. Your new provider will request that you complete a Letter of Authorization (LOA) that contains the information you gather in step 2. 

New providers are legally required to obtain a signed approval from you to allow your numbers to be ported to their system. Without these documents and information, your new provider can not submit the port request successfully. 

Wait for the port request to complete and then cancel your old service

Once the LOA is signed for and provided to your new service provider, they will initiate the port request and largely handle the process for you. If all the necessary information you provided matches your current service providers record, then the port should be accepted. Once you receive confirmation from your new service provider that the port is complete, you are safe to cancel your old provider's service. Don’t cancel before the porting process is complete, as this can cause complications to the request. 

Success! Your number is now with a new provider and ready to be used

With the port complete and active with your new provider, you should be able to use their service and new features. Make sure everything is working as needed, and if not, reach out to them for help. 

Contact our Mango Voice sales team to learn more about how we can enhance your phone system today.