Can I Keep My Phone Number When Switching to VoIP?

Cornfield Voice, LLC

Short answer: yes. Almost certainly, yes.

This is one of the most common questions we get, and it makes sense. Your phone number is part of your identity — it’s on your business cards, your storefront, your invoices, and lodged firmly in the memories of customers who’ve been calling you for years. Nobody wants to change that.

How Number Porting Works

The process of moving your existing phone number to a new provider is called “number porting,” and it’s your legal right. The FCC requires phone companies to let you take your number with you when you switch providers. This applies to landlines, cell phones, and yes, VoIP.

Here’s what the process typically looks like:

  1. You sign up with your new VoIP provider (that’s us, if you’re so inclined).
  2. You provide your current account details — your phone number, account number, and the name on the account. We use this to submit the port request.
  3. We handle the paperwork. Your new provider submits a port request to your old provider. By law, they have to process it.
  4. The number transfers. This usually takes 1–3 weeks for landlines. During that time, your old phone keeps working normally.
  5. You’re done. Once the port completes, your number rings on your new VoIP system. Your old service gets disconnected automatically.

A Few Things to Know

Don’t cancel your old service first. This is important. If you cancel before the port completes, you could lose your number. Keep your old service active until the transfer is done.

There may be a small fee. Some providers charge a one-time porting fee, usually in the $10–25 range. It’s a small price for keeping a number your customers already know.

Some very old numbers in very small exchanges can occasionally be tricky. It’s rare, but if your number has been with the same tiny rural carrier since the rotary dial days, there can be complications. We’ll let you know upfront if we spot any issues.

Temporary Numbers

While you wait for your port to complete, we’ll set you up with a temporary number so you can get familiar with your new system. Once your real number transfers over, it replaces the temporary one seamlessly.

Don’t Let Your Number Hold You Hostage

Some folks stick with a phone provider they’re unhappy with because they’re afraid of losing their number. You don’t have to. Porting is routine, it’s protected by federal regulation, and we handle it every day.

Your number is yours. You grew it, you keep it. Let’s talk about bringing it home to Cornfield.