Not sure where to post this. Paul T. advised me to post it somewhere and let the admins move it…
Problem: switching from FiOS to Xfinity because I’m moving to a non-FiOS location. I want to keep the landline (used loosely — it’s using FiOS fiber) number that I have had for 36 years. But, I just want gig Internet service from Xfinity.
My solution:
- Bought a factory refurbished Tracfone flip with SIM installed from Amazon for $10. [Use your own phone if you have an extra with a SIM that will work w/ your carrier and save the $10.]
- Bought $10 worth of airtime from Tracfone.
- Initiated Tracfone’s number porting service to grab my # from FiOS. I made up a transfer pin of 1234. Worked fine — not sure if that’s b/c transferring from FiOS to Tracfone is the same as transferring from Verizon to Verizon.
- The transfer took about 48 hours — and I recv’d a phone call from Tracfone to let me know when it would happen.
- Once that was done, I went to Google Voice and ported from Tracfone. [Note: came up in GV as Verizon, not Tracfone.] To get the Tracfone transfer pin, I texted “ntp” (no quotes) to 611611. Total cost charged by Google: $20.
- Google estimated 24 hours. It was under 25.
- Took the battery out of my Tracfone and packed it away as an emergency cell phone.
I’m guessing the instructions above are pretty close for porting any # to any provider (cable or VOIP or DSL or true copper landline), but I don’t know.
