Will someone from Verizon please address and detail porting numbers and Google Voice.

[nexus8pt3]

I have had Google Voice(GV) for some time now and have very reluctant to just give it out and give up on my cell number.   I haveno intention of canceling my cell number, I know I need it.   But I would really like all my calls to go through GV before they forward to my cell and house.  Googel will allow me to port my cell number(for a fee) and in the process ask me if I will be canceling my cell number.  I can do this, but it makes me wonder what Verizon will think, and I have heard that mobile carriers get confused and charge termination fees when they have this happen.

Whats the deal?  I would like to not be confused.  Also, the GV service leads me to think that my phone plan, separate from my data plan, is useless if there isn't any problem porting my cell number to GV(in other words, if I can make phone calls over an internet or data connection, why do I have a phone plan?  GV is to a phone plan what Skype is to a landline).  How does Verizon plan to address this issue?

Thanks for the response

Corey

[AZSALUKI]

don't know the specifics, but i don't think you can have a data plan on a phone without the calling plan first. not positive, but pretty sure. so you would be stuck keeping the calling plan. i could be wrong since i believe you can have just a data plan for tablets???? but if you can drop the phone plan and keep the data plan, and you are under contract, then yes, there would be an early termination fee for cancelling your phone plan before your contract is up.

[nexus8pt3]

I think it would be silly to charge a termination fee for canceling a phone plan but not the data plan.  Maybe a half termination fee if you're keeping half the plan...?

[AZSALUKI]

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nexus8pt3 wrote:

I think it would be silly to charge a termination fee for canceling a phone plan but not the data plan.  Maybe a half termination fee if you're keeping half the plan...?

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Actually, the contract is the phone plan. The data part is more of an add on to the contract. You can lower your data plan or activate a dumbphone and drop the data all together because its not part of the contract. The calling plan is what's in the contract.

[crb79]

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AZSALUKI wrote:

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nexus8pt3 wrote:

I think it would be silly to charge a termination fee for canceling a phone plan but not the data plan.  Maybe a half termination fee if you're keeping half the plan...?

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Actually, the contract is the phone plan. The data part is more of an add on to the contract. You can lower your data plan or activate a dumbphone and drop the data all together because its not part of the contract. The calling plan is what's in the contract.

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Well said.  The idea that VZW would allow you to purchase a phone on contract and give you the discounted price, then allow you to cancel your service is ABSURD!  Of course they are going to charge you a termination fee, and they will ban your MSID/pESN which will prevent your phone from being used again for calls or data.  

The Contract is for Voice Service for the alloted months.  Data and other features are merely add-ons.

[Wildman]

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crb79 wrote:

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AZSALUKI wrote:

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nexus8pt3 wrote:

I think it would be silly to charge a termination fee for canceling a phone plan but not the data plan.  Maybe a half termination fee if you're keeping half the plan...?

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Actually, the contract is the phone plan. The data part is more of an add on to the contract. You can lower your data plan or activate a dumbphone and drop the data all together because its not part of the contract. The calling plan is what's in the contract.

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Well said.  The idea that VZW would allow you to purchase a phone on contract and give you the discounted price, then allow you to cancel your service is ABSURD!  Of course they are going to charge you a termination fee, and they will ban your MSID/pESN which will prevent your phone from being used again for calls or data.  

The Contract is for Voice Service for the alloted months.  Data and other features are merely add-ons.

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Well said....

[Wildman]

I see this porting ideal causing a number of issues because you have to still deal with 2 numbers and a early cancellation fee because once you port number over to google Verizon will have to cancel your service and then start new service on a new number because you are not just changing numbers you are forcing Verizon to give up one of their numbers to Google, once you port it the number is no longer Verizon's property, I really do not see the reasoning of this, I see more issues than anything.

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nexus8pt3 wrote:

I think it would be silly to charge a termination fee for canceling a phone plan but not the data plan.  Maybe a half termination fee if you're keeping half the plan...?

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Data plans are useless if you do not have phone service to transmit it..

[Ms_Shonta]

Provided is a link on information for Google Voice.

http://www.google.com/support/voice/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=1065667

[Wildman]

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Ms_Shonta wrote:

Provided is a link on information for Google Voice.

http://www.google.com/support/voice/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=1065667

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That cant be any clearer...

[adambomb]

I'm under contract at Verizon, and I successfully ported my number over from Verizon with no significant interruption of service. (less than a day)  I'm still under contract with Verizon, with the same phone, I just have a new number associated with my line.  It was a lot more seamless than I was expecting. Here's what I did:

Monday morning, I called Verizon and asked to change the phone number associated with my line so that I could port my previous number to a new carrier.  I explained that I fully intended to see out my contract, but that I wanted to change the phone number that is associated with my existing line.  When you do that, apparently, you still have rights to your old number for some period of time, which apparently is good enough for everything to work just fine when you port the number over through Google.

So after that, I completed the process through Google.  By Tuesday morning, I could receive calls at my new Google Voice number (my previous mobile number.)

It's Wednesday afternoon now, and everything seems fine.  I still can't receive SMS messages through Google Voice, but they warn you about that ahead of time.  Apparently, it can be up to 3 days before SMS functions properly through Google Voice.  So I'm not too worried yet.  But everything else works like a charm.

[Zrock02]

I think I see what you're doing. What is exatly the reason for Google voice? I still don't understand it entirely even after reviewing it many times lol

[ChaunceyM_VZW]

Unfortunately Google Voice Numbers can not be ported. I apologize for the inconvenience. 

ChaunceyM_VZWSupport

Follow us on twitter @VZWSupport

[Jax_Omen]

You can most definitely port your number to Google Voice, but GV charges $20 for it and you'll get an ETF with your carrier if you do it.

I wish every carrier had the same thing as Sprint's just-launched integration. I just set that up yesterday, it took like 5 minutes and my GV number is now my phone number, super easy to do, no charges, and the integration works great.

[Jax_Omen]

Just realized I worded that badly, my phone number became my GV number, I still have the same phone number I've had for forever.

[KellyW_VZW · Accepted solution]

Hello,

Although Verizon Wireless doesn't support Google Voice, you can check whether or not your number can be ported to Verizon Wireless by entering the phone number at the link below:

Check if you're eligible to port or the status of a port request:

Thank you.

KellyW@VZWSupport

[CrimsonGuard]

I hate to open a "closed" case but I think this could use some more clarification. 

Google voice is a great product that might give the OP the features desired even with a new number. Because it is free to start a new number with GV, I would recommend doing that first and setting it up to run on your Android (or other supported) devices as desired. I've had GV running on 3 different devices, even 2 at a time, without changing my current mobile numbers with VZW. Doing so still allowed multiple phones to ring at the same time and allowed for a universal catch-all for voicemails (IE, they could call any of my numbers and I would be notified through the app, with VM transcripts, on whatever handset I had with me). I can understand the advantage of porting YOUR cell phone number to the service but considering the pending ETF I don't think it would be worth it at this time. Once it's out of contract it might make more sense, but I would put some time in with a free GV number first to make sure the service does what you expect. 

adambomb might be on to something in his post, but it's too risky for me to recommend...

The contract is on your mobile number. You can change your plan any time, including your data plan by activating a "dumb phone". You can change your number as suggested, but then you run the risk of it being lost in a holding pattern. And it still won't remove the contract on that number. adambomb's solution can work in theory, but I would have to say you would need extreme luck for everything to go your way. If your number is important enough to you to want to port it to GV, then I wouldn't gamble with it. 

Most importantly, you still need a cell number in addition to a GV number. Google is not a phone provider. Yet. 

My 2¢

[Wildman]

I really dont get the infactuation with GV because if you are in a area without data it is useless and not to forget that unlimited plans are starting to become a plan of the past and without them you will experiance a higher bill for data use.

[KentW]

You can make calls and texts from your laptop or any other phone you may own.  That and when you are overseas, you can make free calls back to the US via your laptop on wifi.  It has saved me thousands of dollars.  It is a brilliant system that Verizon is clueless about.

[CrimsonGuard]

Google voice is not a replacement for phone service. It is a tool to manage your calls and voicemails in a way that is less device or even carrier dependent. People that are trying to game the system for unlimited calling are not going to get as much out of it than people who want to better organize their communication. That being said I think the best application would be for small businesses or extremely busy entrepreneurs. I feel like it is wasted on my needs but I still use it because it fascinates me.

[Wildman]

That is a sound explanation but most of the ones I have seen has been tring to get around the minutes restrictions and to minimize others from tracking their call history....   But each to its own but I just cant get it, the features are inventive but porting numbers and dealing with early cancellation issues just seem a bit to much for me.

Thanks for explaining the users level of thought...

[KentW]

Why doesnt Verizon support Google Voice.  You sell Androids.  You are missing out on a extremely useful tool.  Any plans moving forward??

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