Now (Almost) Everyone Can Port Their Number to Google Voice
Ready. Set. GO! If you've been patiently waiting to port your existing phone number over to Google Voice and flip the bird at your cellular company, start flexing your middle finger because your time has come. Following a limited preview of the service (Google initially only tagged a certain number of accounts that were allowed to port their number over), all existing users are now welcome to retain their phone number while using Google Voice.
"One of the most frequent requests we hear from people who use (or want to use) Google Voice is that they'd like to get all of Google Voice's features without having to give up their long-time phone numbers," Google said in a blog post. "Today, we're excited to announce that Number Porting is available for all existing Google Voice users. This means you can make the mobile number you've always used your Google Voice number, so it can ring any phone you want -- or even your computer."
Number porting isn't without its caveats, all of which Google makes crystal clear during the process.
Before you log into your Google Voice account and make the change, there are some things you should know. First, there's a $20 fee for porting your number. Second, it can take up to 24 hours to complete the request. And after you port your number to Google Voice, your mobile service plan is automatically cancelled, so you'll want to make sure you've fulfilled your contract obligations before doing so. Finally, you might not be able to receive text messages for up to 3 business days once the transfer is complete.
If you're not already an existing Google Voice user, well, you still have to wait, but your time will come. Google says it will open up number porting to new users within the next few weeks.
"One of the most frequent requests we hear from people who use (or want to use) Google Voice is that they'd like to get all of Google Voice's features without having to give up their long-time phone numbers," Google said in a blog post. "Today, we're excited to announce that Number Porting is available for all existing Google Voice users. This means you can make the mobile number you've always used your Google Voice number, so it can ring any phone you want -- or even your computer."
Number porting isn't without its caveats, all of which Google makes crystal clear during the process.
Before you log into your Google Voice account and make the change, there are some things you should know. First, there's a $20 fee for porting your number. Second, it can take up to 24 hours to complete the request. And after you port your number to Google Voice, your mobile service plan is automatically cancelled, so you'll want to make sure you've fulfilled your contract obligations before doing so. Finally, you might not be able to receive text messages for up to 3 business days once the transfer is complete.
If you're not already an existing Google Voice user, well, you still have to wait, but your time will come. Google says it will open up number porting to new users within the next few weeks.
