VOIP and BT number portability

[Interconnect IT]

BT have scored an own hole here, really.

We're moving to new offices soon where everything is fully managed, taking a lot of minor concerns away from us. We get those nice Cisco phones, new phone numbers, and everything. It'll be very cool. But one problem is over our current phone number which we really like and is reasonably memorable.

BT will forward a number for a minimum of 1yr, at something like £110 per quarter. Plus call costs. That's a lot, for a simple service. If I had BT broadband they would give us a VOIP router and phone for an additional £5 per month - which is much more attractive, but neither of us in the company has BT broadband at home.

So - what we wondered was this - could we get a suitable VOIP account with someone else and have the BT number ported to that? Are BT forced to give up phone numbers at all?

Many thanks for reading...

 

[GeorgeM]

Yes, you can port your telephone number between providers - I've ported mine across three different providers over the years.

Normally all you need to do is choose the VOIP provider and the porting should be available as part of the signup process - usually takes around 30 days max. Once ported, you could also then set up a forward to the phones at your managed office location.

Regards

 

[cjd]

So - what we wondered was this - could we get a suitable VOIP account with someone else and have the BT number ported to that? Are BT forced to give up phone numbers at all?

Yes, BT must allow you to take your number to another company if asked (but only to one that it has agreements with.)

It's a simple process - info here on how we do it:

http://www.voipfone.co.uk/PB_Porting_Numbers.php

 

[Arthur W]

We use Skype, I didn't realise that other providers also did VoiP!

 

[SneakSMS]

We use Skype, I didn't realise that other providers also did VoiP!

skype is very amateur compared to a service like Voipfone.

Make the switch!

I'm using voipfone, and have a real phone sitting next to my computer connected to it.

 

[deadgoodundies]

Or if you have no need for multiple phone lines just use a dual phone (as we do) for both skype and landline calls, works for us

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

The thing to do is port to someone like CJD, then, if your new pbx allowes it, set that line up as a (SIP) trunk - that way, yo still get full active use of the number, in and out.

Other wise, switch to CJD and forward all calls!

 

[deadgoodundies]

Just out of interest has anyone done anything with Asterix
http://www.asterisk.org/

 

[KM-Tiger]

Yes, I run Asterisk/FreePBX here.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

In what way?

My businesses, operating separately, run via one asterisk based box. I have a business that supplies asterisk based PBX's and another one that supplies telephony cards, with a third about to launch, with our own range of telephony cards!

Asterisk may be the most widely used PBX system in the world!!!!

 

[Interconnect IT]

Thanks guys - this all looks very interesting for us and the options (including PMs) look a lot better than what BT offered!

 

[leemason]

We have just ported 2 numbers from BT to Gradwell and we use a Trixbox/Asterisk IPPBX system. All worked very well. One was a fax number which we have now converted to Gradwell's fax to email service so we get all new faxes as PDF files which is great! The whole process was pretty simple really.