# Switching mobile phone service providers and keeping same number **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 13, 2007, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/switching-mobile-phone-service-providers-and-keeping-same-number/429814 "2007-12-13T03:49:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/switching-mobile-phone-service-providers-and-keeping-same-number/429814/1 "2007-12-13T03:49:42Z")
Does the new provider “grabbing” the old number automatically stop service from the old company, or does one also need to explicitly cancel the service from the original provider? ---
**Author:** ![brickbacon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@brickbacon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brickbacon)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/switching-mobile-phone-service-providers-and-keeping-same-number/429814/2 "2007-12-13T05:31:19Z")
[QUOTE=Revtim] Does the new provider “grabbing” the old number automatically stop service from the old company, or does one also need to explicitly cancel the service from the original provider? [/QUOTE] It \*should \*will be automatically [canceled](http://www.articlegold.com/Article/Can-I-keep-My-Cell-Phone-Number-when-I-Switch-Providers-/1513) , but you still need to contact them to make sure there are not any charges, etc. > [@](#): > > Making the switch is fairly straight forward. When you transfer your service to a new cell phone provider **your old service is automatically disconnected**. If your contract has not yet expired, check to see what the early cancellation fees are. On prepaid cell phones, there are no long term contracts or related fees. > > Transferring your land line phone number to your cell phone will disconnect the land line service. By transferring a land line to a cell phone you cannot use your cell phone as an extension of your land line service. However, in the future it might be available. To have a cell phone be an extension of a land line is to use the call forwarding feature of the land line. > > The process to transfer cell phone numbers is fairly straight forward. Each cell phone provider will have their own slight differences. Contact the new cell phone provider first and request to transfer your cell phone number and service to them. The new cell phone provider handles the cell phone number transfer. > > \*\*Don’t cancel your service with your current provider before moving your cell phone number to the new provider. Terminating your cell phone service with your old cell phone provider before successfully transferring the number to another provider will result in you loosing your cell phone number. \*\*So, follow the instructions of the new cell phone provider in transferring your cell phone service. ---
**Author:** ![IAmNotSpartacus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@IAmNotSpartacus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IAmNotSpartacus)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/switching-mobile-phone-service-providers-and-keeping-same-number/429814/3 "2007-12-13T06:38:30Z")
Normally I’d be weary of anyone who does not know the difference between “lose” and “loose” doling out advice, but in this case the above-captioned quote is pretty spot-on. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/switching-mobile-phone-service-providers-and-keeping-same-number/429814/4 "2007-12-13T13:55:43Z")
Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![t-mobileguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@t-mobileguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-mobileguy)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/switching-mobile-phone-service-providers-and-keeping-same-number/429814/5 "2007-12-13T15:17:01Z")
The link that Brick quota from is exactly spot on. I can only add a few points, If you’re brining over a landline number the transfer can take a few days. The longest I have ever had to wait for land to cell port was 4 days. (Well recently that is, when the porting process first came about it was taking 2 or 3 days for a cell to cell port and over 2 weeks for a land to cell port. :eek: ) I would also call back to your carrier a few days after the port goes through to make sure there were no problems with the cancellation. It’s rare but I have seen glitches before. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/switching-mobile-phone-service-providers-and-keeping-same-number/429814/6 "2007-12-13T15:29:56Z")
[QUOTE=t-mobileguy] The link that Brick quota from is exactly spot on. I can only add a few points, If you’re brining over a landline number the transfer can take a few days. The longest I have ever had to wait for land to cell port was 4 days. (Well recently that is, when the porting process first came about it was taking 2 or 3 days for a cell to cell port and over 2 weeks for a land to cell port. :eek: ) I would also call back to your carrier a few days after the port goes through to make sure there were no problems with the cancellation. It’s rare but I have seen glitches before. [/QUOTE] Coincidentally, if I switch it will be from T-Mobile. Are you an employee of T-Mobile, or just a big fan? ---
**Author:** ![t-mobileguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@t-mobileguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-mobileguy)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/switching-mobile-phone-service-providers-and-keeping-same-number/429814/7 "2007-12-13T15:36:15Z")
[QUOTE=Revtim] Coincidentally, if I switch it will be from T-Mobile. Are you an employee of T-Mobile, or just a big fan? [/QUOTE] Retail store manager (and a fan 😛 ) but as for credentials in the past 10 years (oh god have I really done this for 10 years :smack: ) I have worked for AT&T (then Cingular when they switched), US cellular and now T-mobile. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/switching-mobile-phone-service-providers-and-keeping-same-number/429814/8 "2007-12-13T15:39:18Z")
[QUOTE=IAmNotSpartacus] Normally I’d be weary of anyone who does not know the difference between “lose” and “loose” doling out advice, but in this case the above-captioned quote is pretty spot-on. [/QUOTE] Normally I’d be wary of pointing out the mis-use of the word “weary” in pointing out the mis-use of the word “loose” out of fear of invoking Gaudere’s Law but I’m feeling reckless today. ---
**Author:** ![t-mobileguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@t-mobileguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-mobileguy)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/switching-mobile-phone-service-providers-and-keeping-same-number/429814/9 "2007-12-13T15:45:36Z")
The bottom of my post got cut off and I missed the edit window. I was also going to add that If you need help with something I can try and help. If you would feel more comfertable please feel free to e-mail me. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/switching-mobile-phone-service-providers-and-keeping-same-number/429814/10 "2007-12-13T15:59:02Z")
[QUOTE=t-mobileguy] The bottom of my post got cut off and I missed the edit window. I was also going to add that If you need help with something I can try and help. If you would feel more comfertable please feel free to e-mail me. [/QUOTE] That’s very kind of you, thanks. I have no problem with T-Mobile, in fact have been quite happy with them. I’m only thinking of switching away because I have serious case of techno-lust for the Helio Ocean. I especially like the 3G coverage and GPS navigation, and the fact that it should work not only were I live but in Charlotte, where T-Mobile does not have coverage (and I visit at least once a year). ---
**Author:** ![t-mobileguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@t-mobileguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/t-mobileguy)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/switching-mobile-phone-service-providers-and-keeping-same-number/429814/11 "2007-12-13T16:06:26Z")
[QUOTE=Revtim] That’s very kind of you, thanks. I have no problem with T-Mobile, in fact have been quite happy with them. I’m only thinking of switching away because I have serious case of techno-lust for the Helio Ocean. I especially like the 3G coverage and GPS navigation, and the fact that it should work not only were I live but in Charlotte, where T-Mobile does not have coverage (and I visit at least once a year). [/QUOTE] I haven’t got a chance to look at the Ocean yet. If you do get it would you mind opening a thread and tell us what you think? Some times my opinions on cell phones can be biased a little and a real field report would be nice. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2007, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/switching-mobile-phone-service-providers-and-keeping-same-number/429814/12 "2007-12-13T16:31:37Z")
Will do (if I get it).