How to port number to Google Voice and why should you do it?
Google Voice, which was released in 2009, is a Voice over Internet Protocol phone service that allows one to make and receive calls and even send texts. When you sign up for the service, you will get a Voice number that you can use. However, you may want to use your current mobile phone number for this service. To do this, you will have to port phone number to Google Voice. Here is an easy step-wise guide on how to port number to Google Voice and why you should do it.
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Google Voice gives you a phone number for calling, text messaging, and voicemail. It works on smartphones and computers, and syncs across your devices so you can use the app in the office, at home, or on the go.
At the moment, the telephone service only works for personal Google accounts in the U.S. and G Suite accounts in select markets. When you sign up, the service gives you a phone no. for calling, texting, and voicemails.
To get started, you first need to know if you would like to use the phone no. given by Google Voice or if you would like to use your current phone number. If the latter is what you would opt for, then you need to know how to port a number to Google Voice.
How to port number to Google Voice: A step by step guide
Before porting number to Google Voice, you need to take note of the following:
- Most mobile service providers like AT&T and Verizon will charge you $20 to transfer number to Google Voice, so ensure that you have this amount on your credit card
- Porting number to Google Voice after cancelling Google Fi is free
- Not all numbers can be ported into the telephone service. Before beginning the port number to Google Voice process, check the porting status page to find out if you can
- Before you port a number to the telephone service, ensure that you have your billing account information, that is, your account no. and PIN.
Now, let's get into the nitty-gritty of the Google Voice transfer number process.
- On your computer, open Google Voice
- If you haven't used it before on your account, set up Voice. You will then pick a new number, but don't worry, as the Google Voice port number will replace it
- On the top left, click menu and then select Legacy Google Voice
- At the top right, click Settings and then select the 'Phones' tab
- Next to your current number, click Change/Port
- Select 'I want to use my mobile number'
- Follow the onscreen instructions and then proceed to make the payment
- To get calls, set up phones to receive calls.
Information required by service providers when porting number to Google Voice
When preparing to port Google Voice number, you should gather the information that will be required by your service provider. Here is a breakdown of what different service providers ask for.
Verizon
- The Verizon no. you'd like to port
- The account holder's name
- Your Verizon account no. This is usually a ten or 14-digit no. formatted as 000000000-00000. Do not include the dash when you enter it
- The last four digits of the account holder's Social Security no.
- In some cases, you may also be asked for your account PIN. This is usually a 4-digit no.
AT&T
- The AT&T no you'd like to port
- The account holder's name
- Your AT&T account number. Valid account numbers are 8, 9, 10, 12, or 15 digits. The most common are 9 or 12 digits
- The last four digits of the account holder's Social Security no
- In some cases, you may also be asked for your account PIN
- If you have a prepaid or GoPhone account: Contact AT&T support for your account no.
T-Mobile
- The T-Mobile number you'd like to port
- The account holder's no
- A postpaid account no. is usually a nine-digit number but can be 9, 11, 12, or 15 digits
- A prepaid account no. is your 11-digit phone number (1+ area code + number.).
Sprint
- The Sprint no. you would like to port
- The account holder's name
- Your Sprint account no. (usually 9 digits)
- Your Sprint PIN/passcode (usually a 6- to 10-digits).
U.S. Cellular
- Your U.S. Cellular account no., which is either the account no. or customer I.D. on your bill
Other carriers
The information varies by carrier. In most cases, you will need to provide the following:
- The phone no. you would like to port
- Name of the account owner
- Account no. from your current carrier
- Account PIN or passcode. Some carriers require this information to verify you own the number Google uses this information for the transfer only. We won't store or use it for any other purpose
- The account holder's Social Security no.
- Billing address of the account owner.
Source: UGC
How to port landline to Google Voice
Can I port landline to Google Voice? No, but there is a way to go about this. Although the service does not allow you to port numbers from landlines or other Voice over Internet Protocol services, there is a way to port your landline to the telephone service.
To do this, you will have to first move the landline number to a mobile carrier; then you can port it to Google Voice.
However, before you do this, you need to check the eligibility of the number with a Google Voice eligibility tool. Do this to see if the home no. can be ported into Google Voice after it is ported to a mobile carrier.
Once you input the home number into the eligibility tool, you will get either one of these two responses:
- This number appears to be from a carrier we don't support - This is good, as it means that your landline no. most likely will be eligible to port to G.V. after your port it to a cell carrier
- This number is from an area we don't support - This is bad, as there is nothing you can do to make it eligible for the online telephone service.
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How to set up phones to receive calls
With a Google Voice number, you can make and receive calls using the Voice computer site or using the mobile app. The service also allows you to link to phone numbers where you would want to get calls on if you don't answer from the online telephone service. Here is how to set up these phone Nºs.
On your computer
- Visit the Voice site on your computer
- Click Settings, which is located at the top right
- Under Linked numbers, click New linked number
- Enter the phone no. you want to link
- Verify the number. If it is a mobile no., click Send Code. You will receive the code in a text message on your phone. If at all it is a landline no., click the verify by phone link, and then click Call. You will receive a call with the code
- Enter the given code and click Verify.
Please note that you can link up to six Nºs only.
On your Android phone
- Open the Voice app on your Android phone
- At the top left, tap Menu then click Settings
- Under Account, click on Devices and linked numbers
- Click on New linked number
- Enter the phone no. you wish to link
- Follow steps 6 and 7 above.
On your iPhone and iPad
- Follow the same procedure as for Android phones.
Why should I port number to Google Voice?
There are many reasons why you should use the online telephone service. Here they are:
- It is a free service to sign up for. As long as you use it to communicate with other U.S. numbers, then it is free. For overseas calls, you will need to add credits to your account to pay for service. Usually, the cost is 1 cent per minute
- You can route incoming calls to one or more other numbers
- There is the call-recording option that only works for incoming calls
- You can set up voicemail so that messages are transcribed to text messages or delivered by email
- It allows you to forward calls from one number to another
- You only need a microphone and speaker to use it, so you can actually make calls on your laptop or phone
- The service also syncs across devices
Disadvantage
- You cannot use the online telephone service for 911 calls
How long does it take to port out of Google Voice?
The process takes 48 to 96 hours.
Now you know how to quickly port number to Google Voice. The process is quite easy, right? Now you can enjoy free calls and all the other perks that come with the service.
Source: Legit.ng
