Two ways to keep your number
| Forwarding | Porting | |
|---|---|---|
| Where the number lives | Stays with your current provider | Moves to the new provider |
| How fast | Minutes to set up | Simple ports: one business day under FCC rules; complex ports can take longer |
| Easy to undo | Yes, turn forwarding off | Only by porting the number again |
| Your current phone | Keeps working; can still ring first | Replaced by the new provider’s service |
| Good for | Adding an answering service or AI receptionist | Moving to a new phone system for good |
Forwarding
With forwarding, your number stays exactly where it is. You tell your provider to send some or all calls to another number — for example, only the calls nobody answers. Your team keeps answering when they can, and missed calls go somewhere useful instead of voicemail.
How you set it up depends on your phone service:
- Mobile: dial codes such as
*71on Verizon. See the carrier forwarding codes guide. - Google Voice and VoIP: settings in the app or portal. See the VoIP forwarding guide.
- Landlines: codes and options vary by provider; check with them.
Forwarded calls may use plan minutes, depending on your plan, so check how your provider bills them.
Porting
Porting moves the number itself to a new provider. According to the FCC:
- You can port between landline, VoIP and wireless providers, as long as you stay in the same geographic area. If you move to a new area, you may not be able to keep the number.
- Simple ports, which generally involve a single line, must be processed within one business day. Wireless-to-wireless ports can be done within hours; landline-to-wireless can take a few days.
- Once you request service from a new company, your old company cannot refuse to port your number.
- Companies may charge a porting fee, and you may still owe early termination fees or an outstanding balance under your contract.
Source: FCC: Keeping your phone number when you change providers.
Which one should you use?
- Adding coverage (an answering service or AI receptionist for after-hours and overflow calls): forward. It’s fast, reversible and keeps your current setup working.
- Replacing your phone system entirely: port to the new system, then set its forwarding rules there.
- Unsure: start with forwarding. You can always port later.
Voxenara customers usually keep their number with forwarding — calls to the number they already have are routed to the assistant, and we confirm the details with their phone provider during setup. See how setup works.
How to port without losing calls
- Don’t cancel your old service first. The FCC specifically advises against terminating your existing service before starting with the new company.
- Gather your details: your 10-digit number and whatever the new provider asks for, typically your account number with the current provider and the account holder’s name and address exactly as they appear on the bill.
- Start the port with the new provider, not the old one.
- Pick a quiet time for the switchover, not the start of your busy season.
- Test right after the port by calling the number from another phone, and reapply any forwarding rules on the new system.
Protecting your number
Your business number is valuable, which also makes it a target: fraudsters sometimes try to port or transfer numbers they don’t own. Ask your provider what account protections they offer, such as a PIN or a lock on number transfers, and keep account access limited to the people who need it. For other scams aimed at small businesses, see scams targeting service businesses.
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep my business phone number if I switch providers?
Usually yes. The FCC says you can keep your number when switching between landline, VoIP and wireless providers, as long as you stay in the same geographic area. The process is called porting.
How long does it take to port a phone number?
FCC rules require simple ports, which generally involve a single line, to be processed within one business day. Wireless-to-wireless ports can be done within hours; ports from a landline to wireless can take a few days, and complex multi-line ports can take longer.
Can my current provider refuse to port my number?
According to the FCC, once you request service from a new company, your old company cannot refuse to port your number. You may still owe early termination fees or an outstanding balance under your contract.
Do I have to port my number to use an AI receptionist?
No. In most setups, calls to your existing number are simply forwarded, so your number stays with your current provider. Porting is only needed if you're moving the number itself to a new phone system.
Should I cancel my old service before porting?
No. The FCC advises not to terminate service with your existing company before starting new service with the new company. Cancelling first can release the number and you could lose it.