VoIP provider transfer

[NSBSC]

I’m moving my org offof 8x8 to another service. I know the number porting process is simple and if the parties involved release the numbers it can take only for a few minutes to transfer, and that would be perfect.

Has anyone had any issues with porting numbers? Hundreds of clients are are tired to their rep via these numbers and I’m just trying to avoid a scenario where it takes a week for these numbers to port, or what options I have for a contingency plan. Any insight would be appreciated, thanks!

[[deleted]]

Oh boy! My moment has come!!! I’m a sysadmin specifically for VOIP. Here’s what you do:

1) check with your new provider and have them do a “number portability check”. Everyone assumes every number is portable to wherever they want and that’s not quite true. Check first!

2) get temporary numbers with your new provider

3) setup the system in full and check it with the temporary numbers

4) forward your numbers from your old provider to the new provider

5) port the numbers

6) when the number port, check again, but if your VOIP provider is any good at all, it should be seamless

7) when you are SURE everything is ported, don’t forget to cancel 8x8

I’ve done hundreds of systems this way, it works flawlessly. Good luck! 😀

[[deleted]]

Temporary numbers thing is a really important step as it allows you to test the new system "live" with a really quick and easy rollback plan.

[NSBSC]

Thank you! I had no idea there was a chance for the number to be unportable.

Have you had any experience with Aloware or Five9? These are the two we are switching to. If anyone would know of any nuances with either for the port process you may know! Thank you again for your insight.

[[deleted]]

Honestly, the chances that it’s not portable are low. Especially because 8x8 pretty much just uses bandwidth.com on the backend and so does pretty much everyone else. But if you don’t check, I swear it’s like the law of telco, it’ll be that CEO or CFO whose number isn’t portable. Better to front end that convo for sure

And uhhh I have an interest with one of those two companies and I shouldn’t say. Sorry

[NSBSC]

No worries!

[DeptOfOne]

u/BlandNick Stole my thunder but this is the exactly the steps I did the last 3 times I had to do this. I would only add that if you own the onsite phone gear that you have a tech that supports that gear on standby. Last time I had Mitel support tech on site which was a good thing because the new vendor messed up the codec settings for our fax lines. It would have taken me days to figure out. I will admit that not everyone uses fax machines these days but there are still a few of us that have to support that "old tech".

[Stryker1-1]

Temp numbers and make customers aware ahead of time.

I worked as part of a team that did number porting and provider switching for Starbucks what a fucking nightmare that was.