Phones
Porting Phone Number to VoIP System
Complete guide to porting an existing business phone number from a traditional carrier to your new VoIP provider. Keep your number while switching systems.
Setup steps
- 1Before initiating a port, verify your phone number is eligible by confirming: the number has been active with your current provider for at least 60 days, your account is in good standing (no unpaid bills), and your VoIP provider supports porting to your area code.
- 2Contact your new VoIP provider (example: Business IT Solutions' VoIP service) and request to port your existing phone number. They will provide you with a 'Letter of Authorization' (LOA) form and a checklist of required documents.
- 3Gather documentation from your current phone provider: your account number, billing address, and account PIN (if you have one). Obtain a recent phone bill (within 60 days) as proof of service—the bill must match the address on file with your current provider.
- 4Complete the Letter of Authorization (LOA) form provided by your new VoIP provider. Include your account number, phone number being ported, current provider name, billing address, and signature. Some providers accept digital signatures via email.
- 5CRITICAL: Keep your existing phone service active during the entire porting process. Canceling your current service before the port is complete will result in losing your number permanently.
- 6Submit the LOA and supporting documents to your new VoIP provider via email or their secure portal. They will forward these to your current provider to initiate the porting request.
- 7The porting timeline is typically 5-7 business days for simple ports. Your VoIP provider will notify you when the port is pending and when it's been completed. You'll receive a confirmation email when your number has been successfully ported.
- 8Once the port is complete, your phone service will automatically switch to your new VoIP provider. Test incoming and outgoing calls from your new VoIP system to confirm everything is working correctly.
- 9After confirming the port is successful and calls are working, you can cancel your old phone service with your previous provider. This eliminates the old bill and completes the transition.
Troubleshooting
Port is rejected or delayed (notification says 'Port Failed')+
Verify all information on the LOA matches your current provider's records exactly—address, account number, and billing name must match precisely. Common reasons for rejection: outdated bill, wrong account number, or address mismatch. Resubmit the LOA with corrected information and provide a current phone bill if yours is over 30 days old. Contact your current provider's billing department to confirm the correct account details.
Port appears to complete but incoming calls still go to old provider+
Allow 24 hours after port completion for the carrier network to fully update. Check with your new VoIP provider to confirm the port completion status in their system. Verify your phones are properly registered and the status shows 'Registered' or active. If still not receiving calls, contact your VoIP provider's support team to investigate routing.
You accidentally canceled old service before port was complete+
Immediately contact your old provider to request service reactivation—most carriers can restore service within 24-48 hours. Reactivation fees may apply. Once reactivated, contact your new VoIP provider to check port status. Resubmit the port request if necessary. This situation can delay the complete port by 1-2 weeks.
Account name or billing address on file doesn't match your records+
Contact your current provider's customer service to update account information. Request a current bill showing the correct address and account name. Once updated with your current provider, resubmit your port request with the updated bill. This is a common issue with business name changes or address migrations.
Port approval email received but service hasn't switched over yet+
Allow 4-24 hours for the carrier network to complete the switch. Test calls from other phones to your number to verify it has switched. Check your VoIP phone to confirm it's still registered and active. If more than 24 hours have passed and calls still don't work, contact your new VoIP provider support—there may be a provisioning issue on their end.
Pro tips
- Start the porting process at least 7-10 business days before you need the number active on your new system to account for processing time.
- Keep a copy of all submitted LOA documents and correspondence for your records—you'll need this if there are any disputes later.
- Some porting requests may require a separate confirmation call from your current provider—answer and confirm the port authorization when they call.
- Business numbers typically port faster than residential numbers. If porting multiple numbers, request them all at once to streamline the process.
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