Author Topic: porting number on airvoice wireless  (Read 12826 times)

cv

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porting number on airvoice wireless
« on: July 23, 2013, 07:33:15 PM »
finally pulling the trigger on my monthly cell phone bill and switching to airvoice $10 plan.  The section under "porting your current phone number" states my current plan must be "inactive" in order for this to work. Up to now I have a "pay up front" plan with T mobile $30 a month, and I am just letting the 30 day run out and plan to switch to airvoice on day 31. Can anyone tell me if there is anything else I need to do on T mobile end?

Thanks kindly.

oldtoyota

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Re: porting number on airvoice wireless
« Reply #1 on: July 23, 2013, 07:42:48 PM »
I am doing the same thing. Did you already have your phone unlocked?

Daley

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Re: porting number on airvoice wireless
« Reply #2 on: July 23, 2013, 08:03:38 PM »
Where is this "inactive" number thing documented? This is a new one on me, and it's nowhere to be found in Airvoice's number porting documentation. Is this what T-Mobile is telling you?

Everything I've known and been aware of with number porting requires that the account be active and in good standing when the request is made. If you let your bill lapse, it's actually possible to lose your number in the process.

cv

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Re: porting number on airvoice wireless
« Reply #3 on: July 23, 2013, 08:14:00 PM »
https://www.airvoicewireless.com/PortYourNumber.aspx

About half way down the questions column it says "air voice sims card (must be non active); I assume this would be my current sims card if I am using the same number?

also, i was told the same thing when I called the representative over the service line.


cv

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Re: porting number on airvoice wireless
« Reply #4 on: July 23, 2013, 08:15:01 PM »
I am doing the same thing. Did you already have your phone unlocked?

I was not told I need mine unlocked because it's a basic phone, not an android or Iphone. Please let me know if I am wrong.

madage

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Re: porting number on airvoice wireless
« Reply #5 on: July 23, 2013, 08:16:39 PM »
https://www.airvoicewireless.com/PortYourNumber.aspx

About half way down the questions column it says "air voice sims card (must be non active); I assume this would be my current sims card if I am using the same number?

also, i was told the same thing when I called the representative over the service line.

No, this instructs you to use an un-activated Airvoice sim card. The porting process will "attach" your phone number to your new Airvoice sim.

oldtoyota

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Re: porting number on airvoice wireless
« Reply #6 on: July 23, 2013, 08:18:18 PM »
Where is this "inactive" number thing documented? This is a new one on me, and it's nowhere to be found in Airvoice's number porting documentation. Is this what T-Mobile is telling you?

Everything I've known and been aware of with number porting requires that the account be active and in good standing when the request is made. If you let your bill lapse, it's actually possible to lose your number in the process.

What if you cancel as opposed to letting the bill lapse? IIRC, my number can stay mine if I've cancelled service with TM in order to move it elsewhere. Is this correct?

madage

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Re: porting number on airvoice wireless
« Reply #7 on: July 23, 2013, 08:19:56 PM »

What if you cancel as opposed to letting the bill lapse? IIRC, my number can stay mine if I've cancelled service with TM in order to move it elsewhere. Is this correct?

No. That's a sure-fire way to lose your phone number. Your T-Mobile account will be automatically closed during the porting process. Your T-Mobile account must be active at the time of the port.

Daley

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Re: porting number on airvoice wireless
« Reply #8 on: July 23, 2013, 08:20:00 PM »
About half way down the questions column it says "air voice sims card (must be non active); I assume this would be my current sims card if I am using the same number?

That is the Airvoice SIM card, not your current T-Mobile account! You can't port a phone number and start a new account on an already active or used Airvoice SIM card. If you stick to your plan and let your T-Mobile service lapse before you try to port your number, you WILL lose your number!

I am doing the same thing. Did you already have your phone unlocked?

I was not told I need mine unlocked because it's a basic phone, not an android or Iphone. Please let me know if I am wrong.

All cellphones that aren't explicitly purchased in full and advertised as carrier unlocked are likely to be carrier locked... so, it doesn't matter if it's a basic featurephone or a smartphone... if you bought it through T-Mobile either through their prepaid division or subsidized with a contract, it's carrier locked and it's not going to Airvoice without being unlocked first.

Daley

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Re: porting number on airvoice wireless
« Reply #9 on: July 23, 2013, 08:20:37 PM »
Where is this "inactive" number thing documented? This is a new one on me, and it's nowhere to be found in Airvoice's number porting documentation. Is this what T-Mobile is telling you?

Everything I've known and been aware of with number porting requires that the account be active and in good standing when the request is made. If you let your bill lapse, it's actually possible to lose your number in the process.

What if you cancel as opposed to letting the bill lapse? IIRC, my number can stay mine if I've cancelled service with TM in order to move it elsewhere. Is this correct?

What Madage said.

oldtoyota

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Re: porting number on airvoice wireless
« Reply #10 on: July 23, 2013, 08:21:30 PM »

What if you cancel as opposed to letting the bill lapse? IIRC, my number can stay mine if I've cancelled service with TM in order to move it elsewhere. Is this correct?

No. That's a sure-fire way to lose your phone number. Your T-Mobile account will be automatically closed during the porting process. Your T-Mobile account must be active at the time of the port.

I should clarify. I cancelled with T-mobile and have it through July 29th. If I port before July 29th, will I be able to keep my number?

Without cancelling first and paying the ETF, T-mobile would not unlock my phone.


madage

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Re: porting number on airvoice wireless
« Reply #11 on: July 23, 2013, 08:22:58 PM »

I should clarify. I cancelled with T-mobile and have it through July 29th. If I port before July 29th, will I be able to keep my number?

Without cancelling first and paying the ETF, T-mobile would not unlock my phone.

Ah. Yes, port before your current billing period ends, while your account is still active.

Daley

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Re: porting number on airvoice wireless
« Reply #12 on: July 23, 2013, 08:23:51 PM »

What if you cancel as opposed to letting the bill lapse? IIRC, my number can stay mine if I've cancelled service with TM in order to move it elsewhere. Is this correct?

No. That's a sure-fire way to lose your phone number. Your T-Mobile account will be automatically closed during the porting process. Your T-Mobile account must be active at the time of the port.

I should clarify. I cancelled with T-mobile and have it through July 29th. If I port before July 29th, will I be able to keep my number?

Without cancelling first and paying the ETF, T-mobile would not unlock my phone.

Which is why I recommended a third party unlocking service and termination through number porting in the other thread. Odds are, when you go to port your number, the account's already got a freeze on it and T-Mobile will drag their feet to "approve" past the 7 day window they're required to port under as your account will terminate before then. Bam, lost number. They may not, but the situation's already hostile. I wouldn't have chanced it. Unfortunately, the clock's already ticking and you have four business days left.
« Last Edit: July 23, 2013, 08:25:25 PM by I.P. Daley »

oldtoyota

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Re: porting number on airvoice wireless
« Reply #13 on: July 23, 2013, 08:25:40 PM »

What if you cancel as opposed to letting the bill lapse? IIRC, my number can stay mine if I've cancelled service with TM in order to move it elsewhere. Is this correct?

No. That's a sure-fire way to lose your phone number. Your T-Mobile account will be automatically closed during the porting process. Your T-Mobile account must be active at the time of the port.


Oh, well, I guess I'll lose my number.

I don't know how one gets out of using T-mobile and onto AirVoice without cancelling and/or losing a number.

If I did not cancel and pay the ETF, Tmob would not unlock my phone. If I don't unlock my phone, I can't get AirVoice. At the same time, you guys are saying I should not cancel because I'll lose my number...but then I'm back in the loop that I would not have been able unlock my phone without cancelling...

What am I missing?


madage

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Re: porting number on airvoice wireless
« Reply #14 on: July 23, 2013, 08:28:01 PM »
I do hope we haven't lost cv completely.

cv - you can read about requesting an unlock from T-Mobile here. The phone I'm currently using was originally purchased from T-Mobile for prepaid service. I got instructions via email to unlock it within a day or two of requesting the unlock.

oldtoyota

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Re: porting number on airvoice wireless
« Reply #15 on: July 23, 2013, 08:29:12 PM »

What if you cancel as opposed to letting the bill lapse? IIRC, my number can stay mine if I've cancelled service with TM in order to move it elsewhere. Is this correct?

No. That's a sure-fire way to lose your phone number. Your T-Mobile account will be automatically closed during the porting process. Your T-Mobile account must be active at the time of the port.

I should clarify. I cancelled with T-mobile and have it through July 29th. If I port before July 29th, will I be able to keep my number?

Without cancelling first and paying the ETF, T-mobile would not unlock my phone.

Which is why I recommended a third party unlocking service and termination through number porting in the other thread. Odds are, when you go to port your number, the account's already got a freeze on it and T-Mobile will drag their feet to "approve" past the 7 day window they're required to port under as your account will terminate before then. Bam, lost number. They may not, but the situation's already hostile. I wouldn't have chanced it. Unfortunately, the clock's already ticking and you have four business days left.

Well, they can drag away.

Since my phone hasn't worked in 2-3 months inside my house, my phone number has become a lot less important. Since their store rep erased all my texts and contact info and then shredded my SIM card to boot, I've had no contact info.

At this point, I think there is little left for Tmob to ruin.

And, it's not your fault obviously, but this is way more complicated than it should be. All I want to be able to do is make a phone call, and I'm having to read teeny tiny IMEI numbers to a hostile Tmob rep.




oldtoyota

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Re: porting number on airvoice wireless
« Reply #16 on: July 23, 2013, 08:33:23 PM »
I do hope we haven't lost cv completely.

cv - you can read about requesting an unlock from T-Mobile here. The phone I'm currently using was originally purchased from T-Mobile for prepaid service. I got instructions via email to unlock it within a day or two of requesting the unlock.

If it helps, Tmob is supposed to send the unlock info via email within 24 hours of your request.

I am attempting to unlock three phones (two are old). If I had my non-T-mob SIM card, I would have been able to unlock it tonight. Unfortunately, I did not know I needed another SIM card so I have to wait for AirVoice to send it my way.

So, you asked for what you might be missing:

1. Get your AirVoice SIM card
2. According to the above, don't let your acct lapse if you want to keep your number.
3. Make sure your phone is unlocked. You will most likely pay around $200 per line as an ETF if you have a contract with them. The cost depends upon how many days are left in your contract.


Daley

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Re: porting number on airvoice wireless
« Reply #17 on: July 23, 2013, 08:39:12 PM »

What if you cancel as opposed to letting the bill lapse? IIRC, my number can stay mine if I've cancelled service with TM in order to move it elsewhere. Is this correct?

No. That's a sure-fire way to lose your phone number. Your T-Mobile account will be automatically closed during the porting process. Your T-Mobile account must be active at the time of the port.


Oh, well, I guess I'll lose my number.

I don't know how one gets out of using T-mobile and onto AirVoice without cancelling and/or losing a number.

If I did not cancel and pay the ETF, Tmob would not unlock my phone. If I don't unlock my phone, I can't get AirVoice. At the same time, you guys are saying I should not cancel because I'll lose my number...but then I'm back in the loop that I would not have been able unlock my phone without cancelling...

What am I missing?

I kept trying to tell you that you could legally carrier unlock your Samsung Galaxy phones as they were obtained before January 2something-th, 2013 through third party unlock services on Ebay and elsewhere, and not just through T-Mobile. You only have to unlock your phones to use the Airvoice SIM cards. Your situation was unique as they broke contract with you on service but wouldn't legally release you. Technically, you don't need any phone, let alone an unlocked one to port your number out and onto an Airvoice SIM card. The SIM would be active, the number ported out, the ETF charged on closing of the account from porting, and you could either dump the SIM into another carrier unlocked phone or get them to unlock after paying the ETF if you wanted.

Well, they can drag away.

Since my phone hasn't worked in 2-3 months inside my house, my phone number has become a lot less important. Since their store rep erased all my texts and contact info and then shredded my SIM card to boot, I've had no contact info.

At this point, I think there is little left for Tmob to ruin.

And, it's not your fault obviously, but this is way more complicated than it should be. All I want to be able to do is make a phone call, and I'm having to read teeny tiny IMEI numbers to a hostile Tmob rep.

I'm sorry that things deteriorated and crumbled as they have. Honestly, it's not this difficult normally, and shouldn't have been even this bad with this situation. I did what I could to try and coach you through the process... I'm sorry that I wasn't able to do better.

I am attempting to unlock three phones (two are old). If I had my non-T-mob SIM card, I would have been able to unlock it tonight. Unfortunately, I did not know I needed another SIM card so I have to wait for AirVoice to send it my way.

Again, this is not necessary. There are service codes that can be entered to do this.

madage

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Re: porting number on airvoice wireless
« Reply #18 on: July 23, 2013, 08:41:45 PM »
1. Get your AirVoice SIM card but don't activate it!

Added some bold text there - that's exactly what they're talking about with the inactive sim thing. The Airvoice sim will be activated during the port.

Quote
2. According to the above, don't let your acct lapse if you want to keep your number.

Right. Don't wait too long before your current service ends due to reasons stated by I.P. Daley. I definitely don't recommend waiting until the day after your service ends.

Quote
3. Make sure your phone is unlocked. You will most likely pay around $200 per line as an ETF if you have a contract with them. The cost depends upon how many days are left in your contract.

cv said he's on a "pay up front" plan, which says prepaid to me, so there shouldn't be an ETF.

oldtoyota

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Re: porting number on airvoice wireless
« Reply #19 on: July 24, 2013, 08:07:25 AM »

What if you cancel as opposed to letting the bill lapse? IIRC, my number can stay mine if I've cancelled service with TM in order to move it elsewhere. Is this correct?

No. That's a sure-fire way to lose your phone number. Your T-Mobile account will be automatically closed during the porting process. Your T-Mobile account must be active at the time of the port.


Oh, well, I guess I'll lose my number.

I don't know how one gets out of using T-mobile and onto AirVoice without cancelling and/or losing a number.

If I did not cancel and pay the ETF, Tmob would not unlock my phone. If I don't unlock my phone, I can't get AirVoice. At the same time, you guys are saying I should not cancel because I'll lose my number...but then I'm back in the loop that I would not have been able unlock my phone without cancelling...

What am I missing?

I kept trying to tell you that you could legally carrier unlock your Samsung Galaxy phones as they were obtained before January 2something-th, 2013 through third party unlock services on Ebay and elsewhere, and not just through T-Mobile. You only have to unlock your phones to use the Airvoice SIM cards. Your situation was unique as they broke contract with you on service but wouldn't legally release you. Technically, you don't need any phone, let alone an unlocked one to port your number out and onto an Airvoice SIM card. The SIM would be active, the number ported out, the ETF charged on closing of the account from porting, and you could either dump the SIM into another carrier unlocked phone or get them to unlock after paying the ETF if you wanted.

Well, they can drag away.

Since my phone hasn't worked in 2-3 months inside my house, my phone number has become a lot less important. Since their store rep erased all my texts and contact info and then shredded my SIM card to boot, I've had no contact info.

At this point, I think there is little left for Tmob to ruin.

And, it's not your fault obviously, but this is way more complicated than it should be. All I want to be able to do is make a phone call, and I'm having to read teeny tiny IMEI numbers to a hostile Tmob rep.

I'm sorry that things deteriorated and crumbled as they have. Honestly, it's not this difficult normally, and shouldn't have been even this bad with this situation. I did what I could to try and coach you through the process... I'm sorry that I wasn't able to do better.

I am attempting to unlock three phones (two are old). If I had my non-T-mob SIM card, I would have been able to unlock it tonight. Unfortunately, I did not know I needed another SIM card so I have to wait for AirVoice to send it my way.

Again, this is not necessary. There are service codes that can be entered to do this.

I tried all the numbers last night, and they did not work to unlock the phone. Maybe I need to try from an area with better service. Will give it another go today from another location.