# Switching cell phone companies and keeping number **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 13, 2009, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/switching-cell-phone-companies-and-keeping-number/509905 "2009-09-13T12:56:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2009, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/switching-cell-phone-companies-and-keeping-number/509905/1 "2009-09-13T12:56:13Z")
Just broke my Verizon Wireless phone :mad:. I have decided to switch to AT&T and get an iPhone (I realize I will have to pay a fee for ending my contract). My question is, in order to keep my current phone number, is there a waiting period to joining AT&T? My plan is to go to the Verizon store, cancel my contract, then go to the AT&T store and get a new contract and phone through them. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2009, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/switching-cell-phone-companies-and-keeping-number/509905/2 "2009-09-13T13:02:40Z")
The main thing is do not cancel the current phone until after the number is switched to AT&T If you cancel at Verizon first, your number is gone and you cannot transfer it to AT&T. ---
**Author:** ![adhay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@adhay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhay)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2009, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/switching-cell-phone-companies-and-keeping-number/509905/3 "2009-09-13T13:03:45Z")
> [@sparky\_1](#): > > Just broke my Verizon Wireless phone :mad:. I have decided to switch to AT&T and get an iPhone (I realize I will have to pay a fee for ending my contract). > > My question is, in order to keep my current phone number, is there a waiting period to joining AT&T? My plan is to go to the Verizon store, cancel my contract, then go to the AT&T store and get a new contract and phone through them. Check with ATT first. My guess is once you let your number with Verizon go, it’s gone. ETA beat me ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2009, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/switching-cell-phone-companies-and-keeping-number/509905/4 "2009-09-13T13:45:38Z")
My understanding is that you go to the new company you want to join, and let THEM handle the transfer of the number. I haven’t done it myself so my intel may be flawed, but that’s the way I’ve heard it is done. Good luck!..TRM ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2009, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/switching-cell-phone-companies-and-keeping-number/509905/5 "2009-09-13T13:48:58Z")
Not only can you transfer between cellphone carriers, but you can transfer a number from landline to cell or vice versa. But you may have to push to get it, as many reps aren’t aware this is possible and get few requests. It’s easier for them to say no than find out how. ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2009, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/switching-cell-phone-companies-and-keeping-number/509905/6 "2009-09-13T13:52:24Z")
I recently gave up my iPhone in anticipation of an overseas trip, and switched carriers to a local, no-contract option and can confirm that what folks are saying here is right. Don’t cancel your existing coverage–just go to AT&T (or the Apple Store, if I recall) and tell them you want to transfer the number. Make sure that you have your account number with Verizon when you go. They’ll transfer it over, and it will cancel your old service automatically. ---
**Author:** ![Dusty\_Rose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ba8739/32.png) [@Dusty\_Rose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dusty_Rose)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2009, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/switching-cell-phone-companies-and-keeping-number/509905/7 "2009-09-13T14:01:00Z")
I’ve done this, it’s called “porting” your number. And I agree with the others as to how to do it. The only trouble I’ve found is apparently I’m not allowed to do it in my current situation. I moved from Michigan to Tennessee, and they’re telling me I have to change our numbers. (family plan) I’ve talked them out of it so far, but keep being afraid they’re going to make me. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2009, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/switching-cell-phone-companies-and-keeping-number/509905/8 "2009-09-13T14:25:18Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > My understanding is that you go to the new company you want to join, and let THEM handle the transfer of the number. > [@LawMonkey](#): > > Don’t cancel your existing coverage–just go to AT&T (or the Apple Store, if I recall) and tell them you want to transfer the number. Make sure that you have your account number with Verizon when you go. They’ll transfer it over, and it will cancel your old service automatically. I have done this from Cingular (when it was still Cingular) to Verizon and that’s how it works. ---
**Author:** ![sevenwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@sevenwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sevenwood)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2009, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/switching-cell-phone-companies-and-keeping-number/509905/9 "2009-09-13T15:30:01Z")
We switched from AT&T to Verizon about a year ago, and how it worked for us was we just stopped by the Verizon store and bought some new cellphones/contracts. The fellow took both our old (AT&T) cellphones and our new (Verizon) cellphones to a back room for a minute or two, and when he came back our new cellphones not only had our old phone numbers associated with them, they also had the contact/phonenumber lists from our old phones. When we asked him how we should cancel our old AT&T contract, he said “they know what happened as soon as they lost the phone number”. Sure 'nuff, they did. I’m confident that a Verizon-to-AT&T switch would have worked just as painlessly. (Note that we weren’t cancelling a contract early; we’d already completed our two-year obligation.) ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Ed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Just\_Ed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Ed)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2009, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/switching-cell-phone-companies-and-keeping-number/509905/10 "2009-09-13T15:36:51Z")
I’ve actually just done this recently (left Sprint for AT&T and the iPhone), and the above is correct - when your iPhone is activated at the store, your number will be ported and your prior service is automatically terminated. There’s actually an [online form](https://buyiphone.apple.com/WebObjects/IPACustomer.woa/) you fill out if you’re buying from an Apple store (which they will make you do at the store if you haven’t done so already). That preps your purchase with all the details (number to be ported, AT&T plan details). If you’re still under contract to your now-former carrier, the activation date of the iPhone will be the date you broke your contract, and you’ll get a final bill for any charges due. You won’t have to contact your carrier personally at all. Went very smoothly for me; the iPhone was working almost immediately. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2009, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/switching-cell-phone-companies-and-keeping-number/509905/11 "2009-09-13T15:45:46Z")
This is called “number portability” and [here](http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/NumberPortability/) is the FCC’s webpage on the subject. It echoes the advice given here not to cancel your current contract until this process is complete. ---
**Author:** ![SuperNelson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@SuperNelson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuperNelson)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2009, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/switching-cell-phone-companies-and-keeping-number/509905/12 "2009-09-13T16:28:52Z")
A fuller name for this is Local Number Portability. Which speaks to why Dusty Rose can’t port a Michigan number to a Tennessee carrier. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2009, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/switching-cell-phone-companies-and-keeping-number/509905/13 "2009-09-13T16:37:57Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > This is called “number portability” and [here](http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/NumberPortability/) is the FCC’s webpage on the subject. From that site, here’s something interesting: > [@](#): > > Can consumers port a wireline number to a wireless phone? > > Wireline-to-wireless porting is possible in some cases. Consumers interested in porting a number from a wireline to a wireless phone should check with the prospective new wireless carrier to see if wireline to wireless porting is an option for them. I used to have AT&T and wanted to re-use a number I’ve had for landline use for many years, but put it on my new Cellcom cellphone. But AT&T refused to port to Cellcom. I don’t know if it was a technical issue or what. But they agreed to port to Charter (Communications, cable/phone company). Checking with Charter, I found they were willing to port any number to Cellcom. So I ported my landline number from AT&T to Charter for one day. The following day I called up Cellcom and ported the same number from Charter to them. Worked perfectly, and it only cost me one day’s service billing from Charter (I had other business dealings with them, so they didn’t mind). Where there’s a will, there’s a way. ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2009, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/switching-cell-phone-companies-and-keeping-number/509905/14 "2009-09-13T18:32:51Z")
Thanks everyone. I just made the switch. Unfortunately, I did not have my Verizon account number with me. So, I got a temporary AT&T number, logged into [verizonwireless.com](http://verizonwireless.com) from my new iPhone and was able to get my account number. Then I just called a number the AT&T rep gave me, and the number was ported over within a few minutes. Very painless.