Can I Keep My Phone Number When Switching to VoIP?

Retaining your existing phone number when switching to a VoIP system is a common concern for many businesses. Number porting allows you to transfer your landline or business phone number to a new provider, ensuring continuity without disruption to your operations or customer communication.

Switching to a VoIP phone system offers numerous benefits, from cost savings to greater flexibility, but many businesses worry about losing their established phone number in the process. Fortunately, number porting enables businesses to transfer their existing numbers to a VoIP service with minimal hassle. This ensures a smooth transition without the need to update customers, suppliers, or marketing materials with a new number.

What is Number Porting?

Number porting is the process of transferring an existing phone number from one service provider to another, for example to a VoIP phone system provider. This allows businesses to continue using their current number. The process is regulated by OFCOM, ensuring you can move your phone number without barriers and with minimal disruption.

Why Keeping Your Phone Number Matters

Keeping the same phone number is important to maintain business communications. Customers, suppliers, and partners expect to reach a business at the number they have always used. Changing numbers can create confusion, leading to lost opportunities and reduced trust. Additionally, updating marketing materials, websites, and business cards with a new number can be time-consuming and costly. Number porting eliminates these issues by ensuring uninterrupted communications.

How the Number Porting Process Works

To port a number, businesses will need to provide the new provider with specific details, including their current provider’s name, the number(s) to be ported, and the associated billing address. The new provider will handle the transfer process, often requiring a Letter of Authority (LOA) from the business to request the port. The process is usually seamless, with minimal downtime, and businesses are typically informed of the expected completion time.

Considerations When Porting a Number

While number porting is generally straightforward, businesses should check for any contractual obligations or early termination fees with their current provider. Some numbers, particularly those tied to specific regional or legacy services, may not always be eligible for porting. Verifying eligibility with both the current and new provider can prevent unexpected complications.

Carrera simplify the number porting process, ensuring a hassle-free transition to VoIP. With expert support, businesses can move their phone services without disruption, maintaining their existing contact details. Contact us to learn more about seamless VoIP migration. Find out more about VoIP business phones here.

Carrera UK provide IT support, IT services, and telecoms to small businesses in Portsmouth & Southampton in Hampshire, and across the South of England.

We offer a complete suite of IT and telecoms service solutions for small and medium-sized businesses, including IT support, cyber security, email and Microsoft 365 services, VoIP business phones, and lease IT equipment.

We know how important IT is to your business and we will work hard as your trusted IT and telecom service provider to find the best solutions for you. Our IT support and solutions give you the assurance that your business technology will be robust, reliable, and cost-effective.