Yes you can. This process is called number porting. A phone number legally belongs to the end user. This means you can take your number with you to any telecommunications company of your choice.
For any number of good reasons but two key incentives are saving money and hassle. Number porting means: no need to change information that appears in public directories, on your stationery, website or advertising material. You won’t need to worry about notifications to any of your business suppliers or customers.
Contact either your IT Service Provider or Conversant directly who will go through an information gathering process with you to get the right set up for your new phone system. The following number porting information will be included:
1. The Conversant account you want the number ported to
2. The number you wish to port
3. Your full name as it appears on your current telecommunications account
4. The account number for your current telco provider
5. Your preferred day and time for the port. Porting will only take place during business hours.
Please do not contact your current provider and ask for the line to be cancelled. This will happen automatically once the number port is completed.
Number porting takes on average 10 business days. Quite often with a standard stand-alone analogue line, this can happen a lot quicker. However, if the number is connected in a more complex scenario, it could take longer. Please see the chart below for a guideline of other scenarios:
| Number Scenario | Description | Time |
|---|---|---|
|
Simple stand-alone line |
This is a standard analogue line that doesn’t have a direct relationship with any other lines. Porting a standard line is usually very straight forward, and only basic information is required. |
3 - 10 working days |
|
Pilot number with and stepper lines or numbers |
A pilot number is a phone line that has at least one “stepping” line associated with it or with more than one stepping line, the group of lines is referred to as the “stepping group”. Generally speaking, a business will usually want to port the number on the pilot line (this is usually their published number). IMPORTANT: When porting the number from a pilot line, the stepping lines will either have their numbers ported as well, or the stepping lines will be disconnected without the numbers being ported. When submitting a port for a pilot number, you need to specify the pilot number as well as the numbers for all the stepping lines associated with that pilot, and whether those stepper numbers are to be ported or just disconnected. IMPORTANT: If you do not wish to have the stepping lines disconnected when porting the pilot number, you must arrange for the desired stepping lines to be removed from the stepping group. IMPORTANT: Be very careful to check what line your ADSL is on (if applicable). If it is on a stepping line and the line gets disconnected as part of the porting process, the ADSL will be disconnected also. |
5 - 14 working days |
|
Link numbers |
Link numbers are numbers that are not directly on a line, but are held in the exchange and forwarded to another number. This method is used by Telecom (and Telecom wholesale) when a permanent diversion is required from one number to another. The service is called “Customer Link” with Telecom, but may be called something else with other providers. Porting a link number is straight forward. |
3 - 10 working days |
|
Re-address numbers |
These are where number transfers were done in a private agreement between telcos. An end user’s number is re-directed from the old telco to the new telco rather than be disconnected. The new telco will actually assign the end user with a new number or line that the old number will re-direct to. You can tell if this applies to you by what number you are billed on your invoice. We will need information on your main number and provider as well as re-address numbers in this instance. |
10 - 30 working days |
|
VoIP number from other providers |
This process depends on the supplier currently involved but generally it is not complicated. Please contact us for more info if porting an existing VoIP number. |
5 -10 working days |
|
Reseller Ports |
Examples are Digital Island and Orcon, who re-sell another telco’s services. Number porting from these companies can take a while, up to six weeks. Please set your expectations accordingly. |
10 – 45 working days |
Conversant will do all possible to ensure that the porting request is completed smoothly and with minimal disruption to your business.
The one off setup fee for number porting is $20 + GST per number ported.
Conversant support all regions throughout New Zealand, and some international destinations. Please contact Conversant directly to discuss in further detail.
In most circumstances 0800 and other toll free numbers can be ported. We cannot port cellphone numbers.
Conversant will work closely with the end user or IT Service provider to ensure that we have the right information to port across the numbers required at the mutually agreed date and time, that will be scheduled in advance. Porting can be scheduled for a morning or afternoon time slot but cannot be scheduled for a specific time.
For an established business, Conversant would have allocated a temporary number so that the IT Service Provider can set up new IP phones to work in parallel to the existing system. This enables the reseller & customer to test if the network is adequate and gives the customer time to familiarise themselves with the phone system, while continuing to use their current phone system for inbound calls.
Once the customer is satisfied that the phone system operates adequately, the IT Service Provider will advise Conversant. Conversant will port the customer's existing numbers to replace the temporary number.
If the customer wants inbound calls to go through Conversant immediately, they can ask their provider to divert calls to the Conversant temporary number before putting in the number port request.
When the porting process commences the phone line will stop working. You will not be able to make or receive calls on the phone line that is being ported. Usually this lasts for 1 - 2 hours. This means that customers will not be able to contact you on your phone number for this time period. Once the port is completed we will notify you and all calls will be routed to Conversant.
Note that porting a number will cancel any active services on that number, including broadband.
Is there anything else you need to consider?
- ADSL
- EFTPOS terminals
- Monitored alarm units.
If any of these are on a line that you intend to port over to Conversant, you will need to get them moved to another line first to maintain their functionality.