Putting a phone number "on ice"

Oct 27th, 2015 2:05 pm

#1

Sanchez [OP]: Deal Addict; Feb 20, 2006; 1184 posts; 47 upvotes; Vancouver

Oct 27th, 2015 2:05 pm

Let's say I'm leaving the country for a while, perhaps 2 years. During this time I want to preserve my number indefintiely in case I would like to use it on my return. Is there a cheap way to do this? E.g., porting my number to a very long expiry pre-paid plan? If it worked out to say $10 a that would be too much, but something like $1 might work.

Share:

Oct 27th, 2015 2:29 pm

#2

ColloSus: Member; Aug 21, 2005; 243 posts; 102 upvotes; Toronto

Oct 27th, 2015 2:29 pm

Port (transfer) it to a VoIP provider, $10/year. I have all my numbers with VoIP (3 in Canada, 2 in USA, 1 TF, 1 in a European country where I travel often) and I use them constantly. I don't use cell phone providers for voice or text, only for Data (mobile Internet). Here in Canada I pay $100/20GB/yr.

Oct 27th, 2015 2:34 pm

#3

Keigotw: Deal Expert; Mar 25, 2003; 16551 posts; 5027 upvotes; Markham

Oct 27th, 2015 2:34 pm

You can also port to Fongo

https://www.fongo.com/how-it-works/

"Keep your number

No need to update your contact information with friends and family

For a $25 one-time fee, you can transfer your existing home or mobile phone number to Fongo. Purchase phone number porting by logging in to your Fongo account at www.fongo.com/login and selecting Online Store."

So where ever you are going, if you got a smart phone and wifi or data you can use Fongo App. People still can call you on your old #
and you can use to call people in Canada

48TB Node 304 / i5-3570 / Server 2016 Essentials
12TB HP Mediasmart EX 495 (E8400, 3.0GHZ, 4GB Mushkin), with Server 2016 Essentials
16TB Qnap TS-459 Pro

+1

Oct 27th, 2015 2:46 pm

#4

wearysky: Deal Expert; Nov 28, 2013; 20522 posts; 9988 upvotes; Oakville

Oct 27th, 2015 2:46 pm

This is why the forums need better search functionality. This has come up several times in the last couple weeks.

Oct 27th, 2015 2:52 pm

#5

jerryhung: Deal Expert; Sep 19, 2004; 25248 posts; 6944 upvotes; where I belong

Oct 27th, 2015 2:52 pm

wearysky wrote: ↑This is why the forums need better search functionality. This has come up several times in the last couple weeks.

^ this

forgot the title, but I remembered Fongo mentioned 10+ times...

Which Credit Cards to sign up? >> Jerry's List of Credit Cards with $200+ Welcome bonus/Aeroplan & AMEX Churning FAQ
AMEX Platinum/Biz Plat 100K || Aeroplan Reserve 150K

Oct 27th, 2015 3:28 pm

#6

polizeifritz: Sr. Member; Dec 26, 2014; 686 posts; 579 upvotes; ON

Oct 27th, 2015 3:28 pm

The info you seek is on page 2 of this forum in this what-cheapest-plan-possible-keep-existi ... r-1837245/ thread.

+1

Oct 27th, 2015 4:29 pm

#7

Varian: Deal Addict; Nov 10, 2013; 1285 posts; 628 upvotes; Toronto, ON

Oct 27th, 2015 4:29 pm

Port to voip.ms, then forward that number to voicemail. As soon as you get voicemail, you get email notification (I am talking about less than 3 seconds) with vocod message, exact time, and caller ID. You can even forward that Canadian number to your foreign numbe and be always on the reach and pay pennies for the actual usage of all you want is to keep the number, it will be just $0.99/month.

Oct 27th, 2015 4:39 pm

#8

kaliman: Member; Feb 27, 2014; 331 posts; 79 upvotes

Oct 27th, 2015 4:39 pm

For variety of choices, there is SpeakOut:

http://www.speakout7eleven.ca/

+1

Dec 9th, 2015 9:46 pm

#9

Sanchez [OP]: Deal Addict; Feb 20, 2006; 1184 posts; 47 upvotes; Vancouver

Dec 9th, 2015 9:46 pm

Thanks all. Fongo worked great for me.