Clients have it saved to their contacts for quick access, it’s printed on marketing material or signage, and it’s on all those business cards you gave away at the conference last year.
It’s out there, it’s saved, and it’s important.
Businesses like yours periodically update their phone systems and services, capitalizing on new technology that makes communication easier and more efficient. Especially in today’s work environments, there’s a huge emphasis on remote capabilities and more advanced phone features. This has quickly dated older systems that held their own in a physical office space, but can’t keep pace with more robust performance requirements.
As you make these changes, it’s critical that you can seamlessly transfer your business phone number. Similar to when you switch cell phone carriers for your personal phone, you don’t want to send out a new number to all your contacts. Keeping it the same is much easier.
How do you switch business phone service provider?
With the demand for remote accessibility and features that we touched on above, many businesses are switching to VoIP phone systems instead (Voice over Internet Protocol). In brief terms, VoIP phone systems use the internet for communication rather than physical phone lines. This widens your options for easier access and communication, plus opens the door to increased capabilities since you aren’t relying on a traditional phone carrier for network management.
As an example, Teltek offers Nebulosity: a cloud-based VoIP phone system. It’s designed to offer access to all the phone features you need, but with the agility of being fully online.
This kind of system might be a beneficial option, especially if you are at a crossroads and ready to make a change in business phone systems or carriers.
Here’s a closer look at how switching carriers works:
- Double-check to confirm that your current phone number is eligible for porting (able to be transferred). Typically it is, but there may be contractual details and associated penalties that you need to be aware of. Also, if you’re switching geographic regions at the same time (maybe making a substantial move to a different office location) it might not be possible to retain the same number.
- Make sure you keep your phone active right through the process. Cancelling your current plan before completely switching the number might cause you to lose the number altogether.
- Next, a letter of authorization will be sent to the new carrier as part of your transfer request.
- You’ll then wait for confirmation, and hope for a “firm order commitment (FOC)” outcome. This means that the request went through and your number is ready to port, or transfer, to the new carrier. If you receive notice of a “jeopardy” or “canceled” status, that means that either insufficient information was provided to your existing carrier about the transfer, or that it was rejected altogether.
How to port a phone number
Porting is always carried out between two carriers, with the new managing the process directly with the old. In most cases, since they’re winning your business, the new provider is more than happy to help you every step of the way. It’s important to note that you can’t do this yourself: you must have a specific FCC license.
Also, as we mentioned early on, it’s important to check your existing contract carefully. The “losing,” previous carrier will sometimes charge a porting fee – you need to be aware of your rights and obligations. You may be able to avoid, or at least negotiate, any termination fees.
Can you keep your business phone number?
If you have more questions about your business phone system options, VoIP, or porting, contact us at Teltek! It would be our pleasure to help.