D'oh! Finding out the hard way that Hawaii 808 codes not ported by Google

[kealolo]

Say, I wonder how many other people have been lulled by Obi's website into buying a t-mobile prepaid phone to transfer their home phone number to their Obi using Google Voice, and then found that they've wasted their time?

Obi needs to IMMEDIATELY add this notification to its page at http://obihai.com/porttutorial.html noting that this does NOT work for citizens of Hawaii. (and alaska? who knows?) This is highly misleading, for no good reason.  Add a line of text to spare people this loss of time and money, please.

A related issue is that a person trying to get this to work can easily miss the return deadline and be stuck with the device.  I made it in just under the limit, but easily might not have if another person who had been stiffed hadn't just happened to tell me.

If there is a way to do it in Hawaii, please let me know.... that means with an 808 number; nobody here wants to call a mainland number and be charged for a long distance call if they're just down the street.

If anyone has advice, it'll be appreciated.

DJ

[Stewart]

GV is unable to port some mainland numbers, too, mostly in less-populated areas.

You can probably port your number to VoIP.ms -- if your city is not one where they presently offer numbers, check with them first.  http://voip.ms/dids.php?action=statesearch&state=HI .

Also, take a look at Future-Nine. 

If you get an 808 DID from another VoIP provider, you could still use GV for free outbound calls, but you would have to tell your contacts to call you back on the 808, not the mainland GV number that they would see as your caller ID.

[jiminalaska]

Does GV have a public list of supported and/or unsupported area codes that can/cannot be ported?  If so, please post the link.  It would help forum readers who are considering porting their landlines.  Thanks.

Alternately, does anyone have personal experience in trying to port an Alaska landline (prefix 907)?

Thanks.

[jiminalaska]

Does GV have a public list of supported and/or unsupported area codes that can/cannot be ported?  If so, please post the link.  It would help forum readers who are considering porting their landlines.  Thanks.

Alternately, does anyone have personal experience in trying to port an Alaska landline (prefix 907)?

Thanks.

I found the answer to my own question:  See

https://www.google.com/voice/b/0/porting

And, no, Alaska prefixes cannot be used.  <frown>

[Stewart]

And, no, Alaska prefixes cannot be used.  <frown>

There may be one or more low-cost providers that can port your number.  What are the next three digits, after the 907?

[carl]

VOIP.ms has a pretty good choice of Hawaian numbers. So you shouldf be able to port through them. And you could even keep them as a SIP provider on your Obi next to GV.

[Voip4Hawaii]

I know this is an ancient thread, but I'm resurrecting it.  I wrote a guide specifically for people in the 808 to get better integration with voip at a reasonable price.  Even the local voip companies trying to rip the locals off.

I made a blog that contains a download link to the guide at http://voip4hawaii.blogspot.com.

To download the guide, you will need to fill out a survey (sorry, I just need to make a little cash).  It has everything you need to get you up on running, including the best voip company that offers 808 port ins.

Thanks!

[CoalMinerRetired]

I know this is an ancient thread, but I'm resurrecting it.  I wrote a guide specifically for people in the 808 to get better integration with voip at a reasonable price.  Even the local voip companies trying to rip the locals off.

I made a blog that contains a download link to the guide at http://voip4hawaii.blogspot.com.

To download the guide, you will need to fill out a survey (sorry, I just need to make a little cash).  It has everything you need to get you up on running, including the best voip company that offers 808 port ins.

Thanks!

Fill out a survey to download some document of unknown file type hidden behind a URL shortener,  ... all from someone with one post. 

Anyone who does this download is going against several several golden rules of good internet surfing practices, i.e., risky and sounds suspicious. 

[Lavarock7]

For Hawaii users, a cheap way is to get either an 808 number from Voip.Ms or port one to them for free right now. Cost would be $1 or $1.50 (depending upon island). A Toll Free number is cheaper per month but costs a bit more for each minute of per/minute calling.

The cheapest adapter I found is a modified BasicTalk HT-701 from Walmart at under $9.99. Then you would have to void the warranty and "hack" the box.

http://voip.planet-aloha.com

[Rick]

I repeat my offer.  ANY person having problems porting their Hawaii number can easily solve the problem by following these steps:

1) Send me a roundtrip plane ticket to Hawaii.
2) Book me a suite in a leading resort hotel.
3) Arrange for a 1/2 day where I will come over and fix your problems.

What could be more easy?

[Lavarock7]

I repeat my offer.  ANY person having problems porting their Hawaii number can easily solve the problem by following these steps:

1) Send me a roundtrip plane ticket to Hawaii.
2) Book me a suite in a leading resort hotel.
3) Arrange for a 1/2 day where I will come over and fix your problems.

What could be more easy?

It appears that BasicTalk does not support Hawaii, thus my reasoning that since I already had the hardware, I could hack it to work with a company that does (Voip.Ms). Vonage will for an extra fee as I understand it.

[QBZappy]

@Lavarock7,

This discussion might be of interest to you:
[Unlock] Unlocking the BasicTalk ATA
https://secure.dslreports.com/forum/r28597028-Unlock-Unlocking-the-BasicTalk-ATA

[Lavarock7]

Thanks. It will be useful for others as I have hacked mine a month ago :-)

I held off posting blogs and other items about it because the Basictalk does not state anything about your purchase being tied to a requirement of using the service (as the whole house system states on its packaging). I didn't want to be the slayer to kill said golden goose.

Someone is going to change packaging (not that THAT will stop people from hacking it) but may also change the way it is marketed and/or sold.

[Voip4Hawaii]

Line2 is allowing Hawaii numbers now.  Unlimited minutes and texting is included for $10 or $100 per year.  Service was good as long as you have wifi.

Sorry about the download to survey.  I thought I could monetize the idea, but I'll find another method.

Thanks.