Top Pros and Cons of Phone Number Porting and How Does It Work?

Generally, porting a phone number is free. Most phone service providers do not charge for porting in and out.

People don’t often realize they have the right to keep their phone numbers, whether they switch providers or not. This applies to mobile phones, virtual phone numbers, landlines, and both personal and business phone numbers.

However, some providers may charge number porting and early termination fees. You can request that your current service provider drop these fees or charges.

In this guide, we will explain how to port a telephone number, the advantages of porting a phone number, and the top pros and cons of phone number porting.

What is Phone Number Porting? 

The process of porting a phone number is where the existing phone number is transferred to another provider.

There are two types of number porting: full mobile number porting and local number porting.

Local number porting deals with number porting for fixed lines. To port your mobile number fully, you must change your provider, upgrade your existing service, or relocate it entirely.

How does Number porting work?

The Phone number porting process begins when you decide to move your service to a new provider and confirm that your number is eligible for porting, which generally involves checking that there are no outstanding contractual obligations or balances with your current provider.

Once you select a new provider and provide them with the necessary details, like your current telephone number and account information, your new provider will handle the submission of a porting request to your current provider. This request is usually managed electronically between the providers.

Regulations ensure that your current provider must cooperate in the porting process unless there are legitimate reasons, such as unpaid bills or contractual violations. Once the request is approved, the new provider will set a date to transfer your number and activate the service on their device. This transition is designed to be seamless, with little to no disruption in your phone system or service.

After the port is complete, you’ll receive confirmation from your new provider, and you can begin using your existing number with the new service. You’ll also need to ensure that your account with your old provider is properly closed to avoid any additional charges.

Benefits of Phone Number Porting: Top 5

There are several benefits and reasons to port your phone number depending on your needs:

1. Better Deals and Services:
   
   If another carrier offers more attractive rates, better coverage, or additional features that suit your needs, porting your number allows you to take advantage of these benefits without the inconvenience of changing your number.

2. Maintaining Consistency:
   
   Your phone number can be a significant part of your identity for both personal and professional use. Keeping the same number avoids the hassle of updating contacts and ensures that you remain reachable to friends, family, clients, and colleagues.

3. Moving Locations:
   
   When relocating, especially to a different area where your current provider may not offer service, porting your number to a local provider ensures you stay connected without adopting a new number.

4. Avoiding Service Disruptions:
   
   If you’re dissatisfied with your current provider due to poor service or frequent outages, switching service providers and porting your number can improve your overall communication experience without affecting your contacts.

5. Access to VoIP Services:
   
   Many businesses and individuals port their numbers to a VoIP service to retain their numbers while traveling overseas, benefiting from the flexibility and reduced costs associated with internet-based telephony.

Here are some reasons to port your phone number:

1. Making the switch to a more cost-effective phone solution without having to change ongoing phone numbers
2. Using a virtual number for overseas relocations
3. Eliminating landlines while keeping your number

As a business:

1. Change your business phone service to a better one while keeping the same number
2. Using a virtual service to consolidate two cell phones
3. Provide your team with better phone extension service for incoming calls and message responsibilities.
4. Use VoIP instead of your landline for text service

Top Pros and Cons of Phone Number Porting

Pros of porting phone numbers

1. Consistent communication

There is a good chance that you have used your business number in all your communications. It is no longer a surprise to your customers or business partners, so there is no need to inform them when you port your business number.

When you port your customer support number, your customer engagement will continue with an uninterrupted communication service.

2. Eliminate collateral

Changing your phone number requires you to notify your customers, business affiliates, office employees, and even regulatory authorities if it’s your primary number. In addition to posters, banners, leaflets, menus, social media pages, online profiles, shopfront signage, etc., you will also need to change your marketing collateral.

When you port, you save significant amounts on those needless expenses.

3. An easy procedure

The number porting process is straightforward, and the telecom service provider is responsible for porting numbers. If you’re in the UK, you can simply request a Porting Authorisation Code (PAC) from your existing provider.

As soon as you receive your PAC, forward it to your new provider, and your porting will be completed within a few days.

4. Time-saving

You will also spend considerable time informing your business partners, family, and friends of the new number and the expense of rebranding your communication. Small business owners waste time and money when they are not focusing on their core projects. Porting numbers can save you time and money since you don’t have to inform everyone.

Cons of porting phone numbers

1. Delay in porting

Although the porting process is simple, you’ll have to wait for your new number to be activated. Sometimes, it may take up to a week, including weekends and holidays.

It will create a vacuum if this is your only customer support or business phone number.

2. Needs time to get used to

While you retain your existing number, getting used to the new operating system and service provider will take time. If you use a telecom provider app or softphone to pay bills, select plans, etc., you must familiarize yourself with the new system.

3. Losing discount/offer

If you are an existing and loyal customer, you may be eligible for discounts and offers from your provider. Porting a number to a new service provider will result in you losing these old provider’s benefits.

4. Unpredictable coverage service

Depending on how strong or weak the signal is, you’re used to your current provider’s connectivity. Choosing a new network provider will mean you can experience a dynamic phone service network that you will not know how strong the signal is at home, at work, or in your neighborhood.

How to do number porting?

You can follow these steps to do number porting, but before that, you need to address why you want to port your numbers:

Consideration for phone number porting:

Step 1: Check with your service provider to see if your current service number is eligible for porting.

Step 2: If it is ineligible to port, understand why.

Step 3: Don’t cancel the old or current service yet.

Step 4: Check device compatibility with a new provider and gather some key information needed.

From step 6, you can start on the number porting part:

Step 6: Choose a new service provider. For the contact center business communication solution, you can choose Dialaxy.

Step 7: Provide the required information and set up a new account with a new provider.

Step 8: Choose and Setup the device.

Step 9: Wait to complete the number porting process.

Step 10: You can cancel your old plan and provider.

FAQs

Is porting my number free? 

In most cases, porting your number is free. However, your current carrier might charge a fee for early termination of your contract or outstanding balances.

How long does it take to port my number? 

The porting process usually takes 1-3 business days, but it can sometimes take longer. Your service might be interrupted briefly during the transfer.

What should I do if I encounter problems during porting? 

Contact your new service provider for assistance if you experience any issues during the porting process. They can help troubleshoot and communicate with your old provider.