Author Topic: Cheapest Way To Keep My Cell #?  (Read 4691 times)

purplepants

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Cheapest Way To Keep My Cell #?
« on: July 11, 2014, 07:27:02 AM »
I'm thinking about paying the ETF on my AT&T cell phone plan and using my work phone as my personal phone for the next year (work is fine with this).

However, I've had the same cell number for 10 years and I hate the idea of losing it.  There are a lot of people who have my current cell number that I might not think to notify me.  I'd like them to at least be able to ring through and leave a voicemail.

Are there any really inexpensive pay-by-the-minute providers that I could port my number to park it for a year?  Or a service I can port it to that will forward calls to my work cell?


Hvillian

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Re: Cheapest Way To Keep My Cell #?
« Reply #1 on: July 11, 2014, 08:05:20 AM »
I use Page Plus Wireless (an MVNO on Verizon's network).  I think you can keep the line open by loading the minimum $10 card every 120 days.  And they will not delete your phone number for you at least 30 days after it expires, so you could probably stretch the $10 to almost 150 days if you didn't mind the line being inactive for a few weeks.

I think Kitty Wireless will Port your phone number to Page Plus for free (of cheap depending on their current deals), and will automatically load the money as often as you tell them.  I am not affiliated with them but currently use them for the same thing and have had no problems.

EDIT: I just noticed that you are coming from AT&T.  I don't know, but think you need either a sprint or verizon phone for page plus.  But I think there are similar AT&T MVNOs, and you can easily pick up an old verizon flip phone for very little (ebay, craigslist - just make sure that the ESN is clean) and use that to activate the account.
« Last Edit: July 11, 2014, 08:08:10 AM by Hvillian »

unpolloloco

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Re: Cheapest Way To Keep My Cell #?
« Reply #2 on: July 11, 2014, 08:07:25 AM »
I think that's pretty much what Google Voice was designed for?

Frugalicious

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Re: Cheapest Way To Keep My Cell #?
« Reply #3 on: July 11, 2014, 09:54:44 AM »
Yes, port your number to Google Voice.  My husband had his number for about 15 years when his company gave him a company cell phone.  So, he ported his line and now both numbers ring on the same phone.  It's worked great for him for over two years.

ketchup

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Re: Cheapest Way To Keep My Cell #?
« Reply #4 on: July 11, 2014, 10:33:00 AM »
Another plug for Google Voice.  I've used it for almost three years now, and it's been great.  Porting my number to it from T-mobile was simple.

Jack

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Re: Cheapest Way To Keep My Cell #?
« Reply #5 on: July 11, 2014, 10:42:04 AM »
Yep, port to Google Voice.

Otherwise, if you don't like Google, then you could port to whichever VoIP provider is cheapest (without also being to sketchy).

purplepants

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Re: Cheapest Way To Keep My Cell #?
« Reply #6 on: July 11, 2014, 11:43:37 AM »
Yes, port your number to Google Voice.  My husband had his number for about 15 years when his company gave him a company cell phone.  So, he ported his line and now both numbers ring on the same phone.  It's worked great for him for over two years.

Thank you!  This is perfect!

arebelspy

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Re: Cheapest Way To Keep My Cell #?
« Reply #7 on: August 11, 2014, 09:35:58 AM »
I am a fan of Google Voice as well, but am worried about it being a neglected stepchild of Google.  It may go the way of (Reader/iGoogle/Google Notebook/etc.) and be closed at some point, so keep in mind that it may not be a permanent solution.
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BooksAreNerdy

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Re: Cheapest Way To Keep My Cell #?
« Reply #8 on: August 11, 2014, 09:48:36 AM »
Or try practicing the ancient art of letting go. ;)