Notes on updated "Port your existing mobile number to Google Voice"

[montuos]

Google Voice is getting much closer to a future that is near and dear to my heart! I want GVoice - but none of the numbers I would deliberately choose has been available anytime I've checked fo them. I've had the same cellphone number for almost a decade, and given how long it takes me to learn new phone numbers, I SO do not want to change it! Bad enough that I'll have to learn new numbers when I get a new job...

Port your existing mobile number to Google VoiceOne of the most frequent requests we hear from people who use (or want to use) Google Voice is that they’d like to get all of Google Voice’s features without having to give up their long-time phone numbers.

Today, we’re excited to announce that Number Porting is available for all existing Google Voice users. This means you can make the mobile number you’ve always used your Google Voice number, so it can ring any phone you want-or even your computer.

...

Number Porting is currently available for existing users and will become available to new users within the next few weeks. At this time, Google Voice is available in the U.S. only.

Google Voice › Help articles › Google Voice Basics › Number Porting FAQS

What you need to know before you port your mobile number to Google Voice.

• There is a one time $20 fee to port your number.
• 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. You may also experience disruptions in sending and receiving text messages for up to 3 business days after the porting process is complete
• Once porting is complete, you will not be able to receive calls to your mobile phone until you complete the following steps:
1. 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.
2. 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. Learn how to add a forwarding phone
   
• If you already have a Google number on this Google Voice Account, it will be replaced by the number that you wish to port and will be completely removed from your account 90 days after porting is complete

FAQs
How can I prevent my mobile phone service from being disrupted during the porting process?

If you would like to take extra steps to try and prevent phone service disruption on your mobile phone during the porting process, try one of the following:

1. Keeping service with your existing carrier: Prior to initiating the porting process, contact your carrier and add a second mobile number to your existing mobile phone account. As soon as this second number is added to your account, go to voice.google.com, click on Settings, and under Phones add this new, second number as a forwarding phone.
2. Getting service with a new carrier: Prior to initiating porting, contact a new carrier and select a new phone plan and number. As soon as this number is setup, add it to your Google Voice account as a forwarding phone.

Crossposted from http://montuos.dreamwidth.org/686470.html ;
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