Can I port to any phone?

Cellular phones and VoIP (as well as Google Voice) can be used with any number. However, landlines must be associated with an area code for the region it is in. So while you can use a Toronto 416 area code for a cellphone or VOIP carrier in Vancouver (as an example), you would need a local area code such as 604 for a landline.

Furthermore, not every phone number in your area code will work at every address in your area code. This is true of all numbers in the country. If you moved outside of your “rate center” (telecom jargon), even your current landline number would not work at your new address. It all has to do with the legacy telecom switch network. VOIP and wireless carriers are not bound by these restrictions. They use the internet and cell towers, respectively, as a transport mechanism, independent of the telecom switch network.

Please contact your landline carrier and ask them if the number you are interested in will work at the physical address you want your phone number to work at before ordering or buying your new phone number just to be sure.

More detailed information can be found at port.numbershack.com

Please read our porting guide "Porting 101", this is very helpful guide, especially if you are not familiar with porting. We explain what a port is, what you need to do to initiate the port, how it works, who to call, what information you will need to provide your carrier, timeliness for porting, how to respond to a port rejections and more.

We have created this easy and interactive guide to ensure you understand your role, so your port is properly initiated, processed without delays or rejections, and is successful.

It will take 5-10 minutes to complete and will save you 5-10 hours of phone calls trying to correct your port, so please, take the time to read "Porting 101".

Ports do not happen the same day, most take 2-14 business days to complete and there can be porting delays beyond our control. Do not order promotional material or advertise your new number until you have ownership of it.

Do not cancel or make any changes to the account you are porting your new number to until after the number has ported successfully. Premature changes or cancellation of your current account may cause the porting process to abort.