Cell phone numbers

**AnotherNormal** · 09-18-2009, 01:14 PM

I want to cancel my cell phone service but retain the phone number for use at a future time, is there a way to do that ?

Sort of put it in suspended animation.

**lurk** · 09-18-2009, 01:53 PM

you might be able to transfer it to a prepaid.

**Warrior** · 09-18-2009, 02:56 PM

I don't think there is a away to just hang on to it without transferring it to another device. If you are signing up with another provider, you can port your number over, but I do not beleive you can just have it put on hold somewhere.

**AnotherNormal** · 09-18-2009, 03:38 PM

Looks like prepaid, if they do that. Thanks guys.

Any other input ?

**Grimstad** · 09-18-2009, 05:26 PM

Magic Jack is the absolutely cheapest phone service I've ever heard of. Might be a cheap way of holding on to the number. $40 for the device (USB) and then $20 a year for the service.

**RoboBob** · 09-18-2009, 07:36 PM

	Originally Posted by Grimstad To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	Magic Jack is the absolutely cheapest phone service I've ever heard of. Might be a cheap way of holding on to the number. $40 for the device (USB) and then $20 a year for the service.

Hadn't heard of that one, thanks.

**Grimstad** · 09-18-2009, 08:42 PM

Crap. I just checked and they do not yet support porting of numbers. Its supposed to happen sometome this year.

**knght990** · 09-18-2009, 08:53 PM

the telephone companies have a wait time before putting the number back into circulation in case you reactivate and also if people try to call you they will get a deactivated message. I believe its 6 months. (US companies)

**Grimstad** · 09-18-2009, 09:21 PM

	Originally Posted by knght990 To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	the telephone companies have a wait time before putting the number back into circulation in case you reactivate and also if people try to call you they will get a deactivated message. I believe its 6 months. (US companies)

Actually it can be done in a few weeks. But that is mainly time to authorize permissions. The physical process is less than a day. I'm a phone system tech and have to set up new phone systems all the time. A Qwest port happens in 7-10 days but Verizon tends to take an extra week. I have never worked with porting cell numbers but the process should be the same. The most time consuming aspect is working with the beaurocracy of the various telcos.

**knght990** · 09-21-2009, 06:00 PM

I was referring to pure cancellation. So, if he cancels his cell phone for two months, then gets a new one, he can get his number back.

**GrnEyz** · 09-21-2009, 07:20 PM

	Originally Posted by knght990 To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	I was referring to pure cancellation. So, if he cancels his cell phone for two months, then gets a new one, he can get his number back.

When you cancel your cell service the number is routed to a disconnect recording in the switch of the carrier. That carrier still has control of the number. If the carrier desires, they can reassign that number to someone else. So if you wait two months you're rolling the dice that it hasn't been reassigned. If you go to another carrier, the number will have to be ported to that carrier's switch if it's still available. If you haven't paid your bill with the previous carrier, the port request could be rejected for non-payment.

**AnotherNormal** · 03-20-2010, 05:27 PM

I ended up going with a prepaid through Virgin Mobile, $20 a month plan. Unused minutes accumulate up to 5000.

Yes, the number transfered.

**gestalt** · 03-23-2010, 09:21 AM

An easier way to do this is use Google Voice to forward calls to whatever real phone you have. In the future you might not be able to xfer your number between carriers. If you start using your GVoice number as your primary you have "top control" so to speak, and you can always change what real number it forwards too.

Understood that you want to keep this specific number right now, but it is an option (and a better system).

**AnotherNormal** · 03-23-2010, 10:21 PM

Originally Posted by gestalt
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

An easier way to do this is use Google Voice to forward calls to whatever real phone you have. In the future you might not be able to xfer your number between carriers. If you start using your GVoice number as your primary you have "top control" so to speak, and you can always change what real number it forwards too.

Understood that you want to keep this specific number right now, but it is an option (and a better system).

Interesting, I will have to look into it.

Thanks for the info.

09-18-2009, 01:14 PM	#1
AnotherNormal Member [20%] MBTI: xxxx Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 803	I want to cancel my cell phone service but retain the phone number for use at a future time, is there a way to do that ? Sort of put it in suspended animation.
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09-18-2009, 01:53 PM	#2
lurk Member [13%] MBTI: InTP Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 556	you might be able to transfer it to a prepaid.
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09-18-2009, 02:56 PM	#3
Warrior Core Member [227%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 9,083	I don't think there is a away to just hang on to it without transferring it to another device. If you are signing up with another provider, you can port your number over, but I do not beleive you can just have it put on hold somewhere.
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09-18-2009, 03:38 PM	#4
AnotherNormal Member [20%] MBTI: xxxx Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 803	Looks like prepaid, if they do that. Thanks guys. Any other input ?
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09-18-2009, 05:26 PM	#5
Grimstad Member [08%] MBTI: ESTP Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 329	Magic Jack is the absolutely cheapest phone service I've ever heard of. Might be a cheap way of holding on to the number. $40 for the device (USB) and then $20 a year for the service.
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09-18-2009, 08:42 PM	#7
Grimstad Member [08%] MBTI: ESTP Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 329	Crap. I just checked and they do not yet support porting of numbers. Its supposed to happen sometome this year.
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09-18-2009, 08:53 PM	#8
knght990 New Member [01%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 56	the telephone companies have a wait time before putting the number back into circulation in case you reactivate and also if people try to call you they will get a deactivated message. I believe its 6 months. (US companies)
knght990 is offline post a comment

09-21-2009, 06:00 PM	#10
knght990 New Member [01%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 56	I was referring to pure cancellation. So, if he cancels his cell phone for two months, then gets a new one, he can get his number back.
knght990 is offline post a comment

03-20-2010, 05:27 PM	#12
AnotherNormal Member [20%] MBTI: xxxx Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 803	I ended up going with a prepaid through Virgin Mobile, $20 a month plan. Unused minutes accumulate up to 5000. Yes, the number transfered.
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03-23-2010, 09:21 AM	#13
gestalt Veteran Member [84%] MBTI: INTJ Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 3,374	An easier way to do this is use Google Voice to forward calls to whatever real phone you have. In the future you might not be able to xfer your number between carriers. If you start using your GVoice number as your primary you have "top control" so to speak, and you can always change what real number it forwards too. Understood that you want to keep this specific number right now, but it is an option (and a better system).
gestalt is offline post a comment