Topic: Google

Number porting arrives on Google Voice

Summary: Google has made it official - number porting has arrived for Google Voice.In a blog post today, the company announced the ability to take your existing phone number - maybe from your cell phone or even your landline - and flip it into one of those keep-it-forever Google Voice numbers.

By Sam Diaz for Googling Google | January 25, 2011 -- 11:18 GMT (03:18 PST)

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Google has made it official - number porting has arrived for Google Voice.

In a blog post today, the company announced the ability to take your existing phone number - maybe from your cell phone or even your landline - and flip it into one of those keep-it-forever Google Voice numbers. The company said number porting has been one of the most requested features.

Google will charge a one-time $20 fee to port your number into Google Voice and warned that users will need to take steps to keep the service on for the account - whether landline or mobile - that had that number before.

The feature is available now to existing customers and will become available to new customers in the coming weeks. For now, it is only available in the U.S.

Previous coverage: On Google Voice, porting will be good but other features would be better

Topics: Google, Telcos

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13 comments

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RE: Number porting arrives on Google Voice

So how does this work with a landline? Can I port to GV and simply cancel my AT&T account?

rcampbellin
25 January, 2011 13:27

Reply Vote
- RE: Number porting arrives on Google Voice
  
  @rcampbellin From TFA: "users will need to take steps to keep the service on for the account - whether landline or mobile - that had that number before."
  
  So I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say no, you will still have to keep your existing account.
  
  Bucky24
  26 January, 2011 08:52
  
  Reply Vote
  - RE: Number porting arrives on Google Voice
    
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    3shao
    20 September, 2011 01:38
    
    Reply Vote
- depends...
  
  @rcampbellin <br><br>@rcampbellin <br><br>if you cancelled your AT&T LANDLINE account, how would you get your voice mails and phone calls? IF you plan to get them through your cell phone or through your computer, then YES you can cancel your AT&T account. However if you still need a landline for some reason, then NO you cannot cancel your AT&T account.
  
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  26 January, 2011 09:19
  
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    jywhy888
    7 March, 2012 19:50
    
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I look at that on my GV account the other night.

At this juncture, I still need my landline, but if I could, I would port it over lickity split.

How many of you are porting? If so, why?
What's your scenario?

Dietrich T. Schmitz, ~ Your Linux Advocate
25 January, 2011 13:38

Reply Vote
Only chumps use phones...

...I have no cell phone or land line. Life is good.

james347
25 January, 2011 18:14

Reply Vote
- RE: Number porting arrives on Google Voice
  
  @james347 you are my hero! I wish I could be like you... :(
  
  xvcottonvx
  26 January, 2011 11:22
  
  Reply Vote
- RE: Number porting arrives on Google Voice
  
  @james347
  Why did you even read this article Mr. Smug?
  
  zdnet@...
  27 January, 2011 07:23
  
  Reply Vote
argghhh

While I love the idea of porting, it means I would need to get another cell phone number to keep my cell phone active. But just don't give it out to anyone as everyone would already have my "number" (which would now be my google voice number).

However, I'm on a family plan, so I can't risk my carrier messing everything up and losing the other phone number.

ChazzMatt
26 January, 2011 09:22

Reply Vote
RE: Number porting arrives on Google Voice

Number porting has been available in the UK for about the last 15 years. And I thought our mobile system was antiquated.. :)

pianoman1962
26 January, 2011 10:09

Reply Vote
- Not "mobile"...
  
  @pianoman1962 we have had number porting for years to competitive service providers, including mobile and VoIP - I've ported POTS, POTS to SIP, mobile to mobile, etc. The US is not THAT far behind on number portability.
  
  randysmith@...
  27 January, 2011 13:37
  
  Reply Vote
RE: Number porting arrives on Google Voice

The FAQ Reads:
"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."

So IF you port your mobile number, you still will need another mobile line anyway....otherwise how would you be able to use your cellphone..

Mr. Byte
26 January, 2011 10:13

Reply Vote