What Is Number Porting?
Number porting (also called Local Number Portability or LNP) is the process of transferring your existing phone number from one provider to another.
When you switch to a new phone service — whether it's a VoIP provider, a new carrier, or a cloud phone system — you don't have to lose your phone number. You can port it (transfer it) to your new provider.
This is a legal right in both the United States (mandated by the FCC) and Canada (mandated by the CRTC).
Why Port Your Number?
- Brand continuity: Your customers, clients, and partners know your number
- Marketing materials: Your number is on business cards, websites, Google listings, ads
- SEO and local listings: Your number is indexed across the web
- Client trust: A sudden number change can make clients suspicious
- Legal/regulatory: Some businesses are legally required to maintain consistent contact information
In short: changing your number is disruptive and expensive. Porting is free (or cheap) and seamless.
How Number Porting Works: Step by Step
Step 1: Sign Up with Your New Provider
Create your account with your new provider (like CallOrbit). You'll get a temporary number to use while the port processes.
Step 2: Submit a Port Request
Your new provider will need:
- Your current phone number(s)
- Your current provider's name
- Your account number with the current provider
- Your billing PIN or password (if applicable)
- A Letter of Authorization (LOA) — a signed document authorizing the transfer
- Your most recent bill from the current provider (for verification)
Step 3: Verification
Your new provider submits the port request to your old provider. The old provider verifies the information.
If any information doesn't match exactly (name, address, account number, PIN), the port can be rejected. The most common reason for port rejections is mismatched information.
Step 4: Port Date Assigned
Once verified, a Firm Order Commitment (FOC) date is set — this is the date and time your number will transfer.
Step 5: Transfer Happens
On the FOC date, your number switches to your new provider. Calls to your number now route through your new system.
Step 6: Test Everything
Immediately after the port, test:
- Inbound calls (have someone call your ported number)
- Outbound calls (make sure your caller ID shows correctly)
- Auto-attendant routing
- Voicemail
- Call forwarding rules
- SMS (if applicable)
Step 7: Cancel Your Old Service
Important: Do NOT cancel your old service before the port completes. If you cancel early, you may lose your number permanently. Wait until the port is confirmed and tested, then cancel the old account.
How Long Does Number Porting Take?
| Type of Number | Typical Timeline |
|---|---|
| Landline to VoIP | 7–14 business days |
| Mobile to VoIP | 3–7 business days |
| VoIP to VoIP | 3–10 business days |
| Toll-free number | 5–10 business days |
Why does it take so long? The process involves multiple carriers coordinating the transfer. Regulatory requirements mandate verification steps that take time. The process is automated, but each carrier's system processes requests on different schedules.
With CallOrbit, our porting team manages the entire process for you and keeps you updated at every step.
Common Number Porting Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)
Mistake 1: Canceling Your Old Service Too Early
Never cancel your old service until the port is complete. If your old account is closed before the port processes, the number becomes unassigned and may be permanently lost.
Mistake 2: Information Mismatch
The name, address, and account number you provide to your new provider must exactly match what's on file with your old provider. Even a small discrepancy (abbreviating "Street" as "St.") can cause a rejection.
Fix: Get a copy of your latest bill from your current provider and match the information exactly.
Mistake 3: Not Having Your PIN/Password
Many carriers require a billing PIN or account password to authorize the port. If you don't know yours, contact your current provider before starting the process.
Mistake 4: Porting During a Critical Business Period
Don't start a port the week before your biggest sales event. While the transition is usually seamless, unexpected delays can occur. Plan your port during a relatively quiet period.
Mistake 5: Forgetting to Update Call Routing
After the port, make sure your new system's call routing, auto-attendant, and voicemail are configured correctly. Your number is now on a new system — the old system's settings don't transfer.
Can You Port Any Number?
Numbers You CAN Port:
- ✅ Landline numbers
- ✅ Mobile/cell phone numbers
- ✅ VoIP numbers
- ✅ Toll-free numbers (800, 888, 877, 866, 855, 844, 833)
- ✅ Numbers from any carrier (Bell, Rogers, AT&T, Verizon, RingCentral, Grasshopper, Vonage, etc.)
Numbers You CANNOT Port:
- ❌ Numbers from deactivated accounts (if your old service is already canceled)
- ❌ Numbers in areas where your new provider doesn't have coverage
- ❌ Numbers involved in active disputes or fraud investigations
What Happens During the Transition?
The biggest concern businesses have about porting is downtime. Here's the reality:
- In most cases, there is zero downtime. The switch happens at a specific time, and calls immediately route to your new provider.
- In rare cases, there may be 1–15 minutes of transition where calls might not connect. This is uncommon with modern porting systems.
- Your old service continues to work until the exact moment of transfer. You don't lose service while waiting for the port.
Pro tip: Set up your new system completely (auto-attendant, voicemail, routing) BEFORE the port date. That way, the moment your number transfers, everything is ready to go.
Porting to CallOrbit
CallOrbit makes number porting simple:
- Sign up for a CallOrbit account
- Submit your port request through our dashboard or with our support team
- We handle the coordination with your old provider
- Your number transfers on the scheduled date
- You're live on your new cloud phone system with all your features ready
We support porting from all major carriers and VoIP providers, including:
- Bell, Rogers, Telus (Canada)
- AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile (US)
- RingCentral, Grasshopper, Vonage, Ooma, Google Voice
- And virtually any other provider
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is number porting free?
- Most providers (including CallOrbit) don't charge for incoming ports. Your old provider may charge an early termination fee if you're under contract, but they cannot charge specifically to release your number.
- Can I use my number while the port is processing?
- Yes. Your number continues to work on your old service until the port completes.
- What if my port gets rejected?
- The most common cause is an information mismatch. Fix the discrepancy and resubmit. CallOrbit's support team will help you troubleshoot.
- Can I port multiple numbers at once?
- Yes. You can port your main number, toll-free numbers, and additional lines simultaneously.
- How do I know when the port is complete?
- CallOrbit will notify you. You can also test by calling your number — if it rings on your new system, the port is complete.
- Can I port my number back to my old provider if I change my mind?
- Yes. Number portability works in both directions. However, you'd need to go through the porting process again.
Ready to Port Your Number?
Keep your business number. Upgrade your phone system. CallOrbit handles the entire porting process so you can focus on running your business.