How to Port a US Phone Number for Free?

How to Port a US Phone Number for Free?

Looking to switch your US phone number to a different telecommunication service provider? Number porting is the process of moving your number from one service provider to another for better deals, coverage, or pricing.

Some people don’t know they can port their US number for free and end up paying for what they don’t need to. While many providers require cost, some offer free number porting. In this blog, we’ll provide you with a step-by-step guide to port an American number for free.


Why Port Your US Phone Number?

Porting your US phone number allows you to switch between service providers smoothly while keeping your current number. If you want to upgrade to better service than now without losing an existing number, porting your number is a great option. You can maintain consistent communication with your customers and loved ones even after changing your provider.

In case you’re thinking of transitioning your current phone number from one telephony carrier to another one, you can port the existing number rather than purchase a new one. If you are switching from a traditional phone to a VoIP phone system, it allows you to make and receive calls over the internet with the current number, regardless of discarding a SIM card and traditional landline. 

Things Required for Porting Your US Number?

Before initiating the porting process, you’ll need to gather some essential information from the current service provider.

Make sure you have the following details and documents to port your number.

  • Porting PIN: Get a transfer or porting PIN through your current provider. Without this pin, your new provider isn’t authorized to port your number.
  • Recent Phone Bill: An up-to-date phone bill for the last 30 days is required to provide necessary account details and prove your ownership.
  • LOA (Letter of Authentication): A document signed by the account holder that contains their account details should be provided to the new service provider to authorize the number porting.
  • Customer Service Record (CSR): It is a record that contains service details, current provider information, and technical details of the number you want to port. It is required to verify the ownership and ensure an error-free porting process. 

How to Port US Phone Number for Free?

To port your US number to a new telecommunication service, first check if your American number can be ported or not. Then, gather all necessary documents from your current provider and send them to the new one. Finally, await the confirmation and activation of the process.

1. Ensure Your Phone Number is Active

Deactivating the current number is the common porting mistake that most people make, which leads them to lose their number and experience service disruption. Thus, keep your number active throughout the porting process. 

Moreover, an active number allows necessary communication between two providers for verification and technical adjustments.

2.Check if the Number is Eligible for Porting

Not all numbers in the US are portable. If you have a prepaid or disposal number, your carrier can restrict you from porting it. Technical limitations in some rural US areas may hinder the porting process.

 

Thus, before starting the process, check if your number can be ported. To do this, make sure you have ownership of the number and check for any due bills and contractual obligations.

3. Gather the Necessary Document

You’ll need specific information and documents from your current provider to port your number. These documents include the account holder’s name, account number, transfer pin, and recent bill, which serve as a form of verification and authorization.

4. Choose the Service Provider

There are two options to port your US number—switching the mobile carrier or moving to a VoIP phone system. T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T are popular mobile carriers offering number porting. You can also choose VoIP service providers like Google Voice, Dialpad, OpenPhone, CallHippo, Grasshopper, or TextNow and port your number for free.

However, select a reliable service provider that meets your needs. Do not forget to check their area coverage and see if they provide additional features.

5. Contact the Service Provider

Now that you’ve decided on your new provider, contact them and request the port. They’ll ask for the necessary documents; provide them with the required information. After verifying the document, you need to sign an authorization letter allowing them to port your number.

6. Wait for the Confirmation

Once the porting is completed, you’ll receive a confirmation from your new provider via email or text. It may take a couple of hours or a business day to activate your ported US number.

Upgrade Your Phone Number to Advanced Cloud Telephony with Calilio

Port Your US Number with Calilio

Calilio, a VoIP-powered business phone system, transfers your local, mobile, or toll-free number to a virtual number, allowing you to make and receive calls and messages online. You can access greater flexibility, including number sharing and multi-device syncing.

It offers an easy way to port your existing American number. Follow the following steps to port your US number with Calilio.

  1. Sign up with Calilio.
  2. Go to Settings > My Numbers > Port Existing.
  3. Contact the support team and verify if the number is eligible for porting.
  4. Submit the required documents. The porting team will handle the rest.
  5. Wait for the verification and confirmation.
  6. After receiving confirmation, request the removal of the former service provider.

Types of US Phone Number You Can Port to Calilio

When it comes to porting your US number to Calilio, the platform supports numbers from both traditional mobile carriers and VoIP providers. As long as you own the ownership of a number and it is eligible for porting, you can initiate the porting process yourself. 

Carrier You Can Port Your US Phone Number to Calilio From

Calilio facilitates number porting from popular US mobile carriers like AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. These carriers not only let you port out your US number to Calilio but also allow you to check online if your number is eligible for porting.

  • T-Mobile 

    TMobile is the largest mobile carrier in America, delivering wireless voice, messaging, and data services. While the carrier primarily focuses on providing phone numbers with US area codes, they also allow you to port your T-Mobile number to another carrier or VoIP provider.

  • AT&T 

    AT&T is an American telecommunications company that offers a wide range of communication services, including wireless, data, and broadband internet. This makes it a reliable carrier for obtaining a US phone number for personal or business use. Furthermore, if you want to port your number from AT&T to another provider, it offers a straightforward and fee-free process.

  • Verizon 

    Verizon is a leading wireless communication service provider in the US. It offers US phone numbers with a 5G network for fast and reliable internet and mobile service. Additionally, it provides an easy process and guidance to port your number from Verizon to another service.

VoIP Provider You can Port Your US Phone Number to Calilio From

Lately, people have switched phone numbers to virtual numbers for greater flexibility and access to modern communication features. With trustworthy VoIP providers like Grasshopper, Google Voice, Dialpad, and TextNow, you can efficiently port your number to Calilio.

  • Grasshopper 

    Grasshopper is a popular VoIP phone system that provides virtual phone numbers for the US and Canada, along with features like call forwarding, voicemail, and texting. Also, the toll-free and local number from Grasshopper can be ported to other providers, such as Calilio for better service and area coverage.

  • Google Voice 

    Google Voice is a telephone service provided by Google that is primarily designed for use within the US. It allows its users to make and receive calls, text, and manage voicemails using its number. However, if you want to switch your number to other services, you can port the number from Google Voice without losing the existing number.

  • Dialpad

    Dialpad is a cloud-based business phone system offering virtual numbers in more than 50 countries, including the US. The platform unifies the voice calls, texting, video conferencing, and call-handling functionalities in a single workplace. However, it may not include certain communication features or not cover a region you want to move to; in such cases, you can easily port your number from Dialpad.

  • TextNow 

    TextNow is a VoIP-based telecommunication service provider that offers free unlimited calling and texting within the US and Canada. It also provides number porting, allowing users to transfer their existing American number to TextNow or port their number to other services.

Conclusion

Porting a US phone number is an easy and straight process. You can choose any service provider that provides a free number porting service. Simply offer them the porting pin with the necessary documents and let them finalize everything else.

Calilio provides easy navigation to transform your US number into a Virtual phone number. Integrate our advanced communication features with better quality and reliable service to your existing number, and maintain consistent communication. Port your number to Calilio today!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I port my US phone number for free?

There are many service providers that offer free number porting in the US.

What Documents do I need to collect before porting my number?

Before starting the porting process, you must gather the recent phone bill, account number, transfer PIN, Letter of authorization, and customer service record.

Can I port my existing US number from a landline to a mobile phone or VoIP service?

Yes, number porting allows you to port your US number from a landline to a mobile number or VoIP number as long as you remain in the same geographical area.


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