Porting problem from 906 area code to Google Voice
Drewby:
I bought an Obi110, and I've been holding off porting my landline to a mobile and then to GV until I knew Google Voice was providing support. Now that there's the green light on support, I've discovered a new problem. I live in the 906 area code, and it appears (based on this page: https://www.google.com/voice/porting?pli=1) that Google Voice doesn't support my area code. Is anyone aware of a workaround? Thanks.
SteveInWA:
Hi Drewby:
Google Voice does not port in landlines, period. If you want to try a workaround, you can first port your landline out to a prepaid mobile carrier (e.g. GoPhone or T-Mobile, not one of the rinky-dink carriers). Wait at least a few days, or better yet, a week, for the carrier databases to get updated, and then read and follow the instructions and FAQs on the page I linked below. Disclaimer: there is no guarantee that your number will be portable, even after it becomes a mobile number. Portability is based on the local exchange in which your number is hosted, and you can't determine portability until it is a mobile number, and you enter it into Google's number porting page.
https://support.google.com/voice/answer/1065667
Note that the number one reason that eligible ports fail, is incorrect account identification submitted by users. If you use GoPhone, for example, your account number isn't displayed anywhere to you, their customer. You need to contact them, and specifically ask for the account number and PIN needed to authenticate your account for porting out their number.
Drewby:
Hi, Steve. Yes, I'm aware that Google Voice doesn't port landlines, but here's the deal. If Google doesn't like my area code, will it make any difference? I could port my landline to a mobile, sure, but if I can already tell GV doesn't like "906," will porting the number to a mobile phone make any difference? That's what I'm not sure I understand. If GV says Google doesn't support that number, then porting my landline to a cell phone won't make any difference, will it? I'm just waking sure I understand. I appreciate your insight.
SteveInWA:
I think you are misinterpreting the error message from GV's porting page. It's going to error out because you have entered a land line number, regardless of area code. Google does support every area code in the 48 contiguous US states, just not land lines. The potential issue will be whether or not GV's carrier partners can port in a mobile number in your specific local calling exchange, as determined by the first 7 digits: NPA-NXX-Y, where Y is the first digit of the last four. You won't know that until you convert your land line into a mobile number, and wait long enough for the carrier database to be updated to recognize it as such. So, in other words, portability is determined at the number block level (Y), not at the area code level.
It's up to you if you would like to take that gamble or not.
Drewby:
Oh! Thank you, Steve. So it is "possible" that GV will support my number when "906" is on a mobile phone? I wish I knew someone who already had that area code on a mobile phone. Any way I can be more assured that the headache might work? I noticed that GV doesn't support "907" in Alaska, for example. Is there any way I can double check that "906" may work if coming from a cell phone?
Yep, I guess I misunderstood that porting page. Thank you for your help. I really want to take the leap. I even have the Obi 110, but now I'm feeling a bit gunshy that this process isn't going to work for me. I wish there was a way to know ahead of time whether the gamble will work. Any ideas to give me more assurance? For example, I read an article about porting a number using the GoPhone. The author said that a landline number would probably work if AT&T gives the green light here: http://www.att.com/shop/wireless/transferyournumber.html?_requestid=2134659.
I get the green light with my landline number. By the way, my number is current being servied by AT&T Uverse, but I would really like to cut the cord. Thanks.
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