Do I need an active phone service to buy a number today?
Yes, however....
- Most cell phone providers will issue you a SIM with a temporary phone number,
- Most landline providers will issue a temporary phone number.
Once you have that, you can port your new phone number to replace the temporary number,
- Most VOIP phone providers will port your new number to them to activate the service,
You should verify this with your phone carrier of choice.