Your main number is on your website, invoices, and in your customers' memory. You don't want to lose that number when switching to Microsoft Teams. Good news: you don't have to.
With number porting, you carry over your existing numbers. Your customers won't notice a thing. Except that you'll be more accessible afterward.
What is number porting?
Porting involves moving a phone number from your current provider to a new one. The number stays the same, only the provider and the technology behind it change.
What do you need?
Before requesting a port, prepare the following information:
- An overview of all numbers and number ranges you want to keep.
- The name of your current provider and your customer number.
- Your company details as known by that provider.
- A signed authorization or transfer form.
- A desired transfer date and time.
If the information doesn't match exactly with what the old provider knows, the request will be rejected. This is the most common cause of delays.
How long does it take?
It depends on the provider and type of number. Expect a few working days to a few weeks. So don't plan right before your old contract ends.
The switch day
On the agreed day, the number is transferred. This usually takes a short time. Make sure everything in Teams is ready:
- Users have a Teams Phone license and are set up.
- Auto attendants and call queues are built and tested.
- Employees know what's changing and how to make calls in Teams.
- Someone is available to test immediately after the switch.
Don't forget these numbers
There are always numbers that appear during a switch that no one thought of:
- Fax numbers still on an old form.
- Alarm lines and elevator numbers.
- Old action numbers still on a brochure.
- Numbers from a location that has long been closed.
Determine for each number: keep, cancel, or forward.
Number porting is more than technology
The technology is usually the easy part. The tricky part is having an overview: which numbers exist, who uses them, and what should happen when someone calls? With 365 Phone Connect, we include that overview in the switch. This way, you start with a clean structure in Teams, not with the mess of your old system.
Want to switch without losing your numbers? Schedule a conversation and we'll create a transition plan together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I port all my numbers?
In most cases, yes. Special numbers, such as toll numbers or numbers from a different area code, sometimes require extra attention.
Will I be unreachable during porting?
Usually not, or only for a very short time. With good planning, you choose a quiet moment.
Can I port numbers gradually?
Yes. Many organizations port by location or department. That limits the risk.
