moving house - wanting to keep phone number (different exchange)

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rattewisday

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#59032 25-Mar-2010 13:13

Hi there,

I am moving house shortly and I want to keep my current phone number. Unfortunately the place I'm moving to is situated on a different exchange so apparently I cannot keep the phone number (I thought we had number portability these days?). Now someone mentioned to me that if I port the number to a VOIP provider then I will be able to keep the number so I called Xnet and asked them about this however the customer service rep had no idea. The new place I am moving to is in an area that has been cabnitised which further complicated matters apparently as my current ISP Orcon appears to offer naked DSL plans on their Orcon+ network only (is this correct?). I would prefer to stay with Orcon but I wouldn't mind using Xnet's VFX service (I was thinking about switching to VOIP shortly anyway). Just to be clear about my setup at the moment I am on Orcon's old network (although I am in an Orcon+ zone) with my line rental being paid to Telecom. Any ideas on what is/isn't possible and the procedure I will have to go through? I have spoken to people at Orcon, Telecom and Xnet and noone seems to have any real idea. Also I don't want to get locked into any long term contracts hence sticking with Orcon.

Thanks!

freitasm

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#311257 25-Mar-2010 13:16

I had the same problem when my parents-in-law moved to another place. Just ported their number to XNet VFX, ordered a new broadband line at the new address and all was ok...

The new line was required not for broadband but only because they needed a fixed line for their fax - which was handy because they didn't mind changing that number and we just ordered XNet over that line.

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sbiddle

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#311258 25-Mar-2010 13:19

Telecom don't offer the ability to move numbers between exchanges. This has nothing to do with portability (porting is moving a number to another network), it's simply a restriction with their NEAX switches.

You have two options and you have mentioned both.

First off you could move to any ISP you want and port your Telecom number to VFX and use VoIP.

You could move to Orcon+ and get a phone service from Orcon and keep your Telecom number by porting to Orcon however being on a cabinet you may encounter issues and will end up back on the Telecom Wholesale service which would probably cause issues with keeping your Telecom number.

rattewisday

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#311264 25-Mar-2010 13:29

Ah ok thanks for the explanation. :-) So at the new place if I just want VOIP but don't want to have to pay for a seperate POTS line (i.e. naked DSL) is this possible? Any ideas on what ISP's support this since I will be on a cabinet? Or is that irrelevant? Orcon's non + plans don't seem to have a naked DSL option or am I going about this all wrong? Thanks again!

grant_k

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#311269 25-Mar-2010 13:40

dannyres: Ah ok thanks for the explanation. :-) So at the new place if I just want VOIP but don't want to have to pay for a seperate POTS line (i.e. naked DSL) is this possible?

Obviously, in order to have VoIP, you need to have broadband of one sort or another. I have wireless, so I don't have a landline at all. However, you probably want a landline, but don't want to pay for the phone service that normally comes with it.

dannyres: Any ideas on what ISP's support this since I will be on a cabinet? Or is that irrelevant?

No, it's definitely relevant. If you are connected via a cabinet, you need to use an ISP who connects via Telecom Wholesale.

As you have pointed out, Orcon don't offer the naked option unless you are on their ULL (+) network.

So, I would recommend you give one of SNAP's Naked DSL plans a try:

http://www.snap.net.nz/home/naked-dsl/

We had great service from them until we sold our house in Auckland. Then you can run your choice of VoIP service over that connection. From personal experience, I would recommend Xnet's VFX service, but 2Talk is also not too bad.

rscole86

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#311277 25-Mar-2010 14:03

Similar situation with the MIL. Wanted to keep the TelstraClear number, but move to a new area. In the end we ported the TCL number to 2talk voip, as it is only used for a small business. We got snap connected with a regular landline/bb package.

The only problem we hit, was 2talk did not want to port it initially as I said it would nolonger be in the area the number was originally provisioned. So I just told them I would not be moving and would keep the, soon to be voip number, in the same locality.

n4

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#311286 25-Mar-2010 14:15

sbiddle: Telecom don't offer the ability to move numbers between exchanges. This has nothing to do with portability (porting is moving a number to another network), it's simply a restriction with their NEAX switches.

A bit OT, but I would have thought the inability to move numbers between exchanges would mean the inability to support anything except defined number ranges at each exchange, which would fatally affect thier ability to support numbers ported IN to thier network..?

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maverick

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WorldxChange

#311287 25-Mar-2010 14:18

From our side of the house, porting your number is no problem at all as the porting service is not limited in our network to exchanges.

Yes I am a employee of WxC (My Profile) ... but I do have my own opinions as well

https://www.facebook.com/wxccommunications

eXDee

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#311347 25-Mar-2010 16:42

sbiddle: Telecom don't offer the ability to move numbers between exchanges. This has nothing to do with portability (porting is moving a number to another network), it's simply a restriction with their NEAX switches.

So how about if you move it to VOIP, then wait a while, and ask to be moved back to POTS. What do they tell you then?

coffeebaron

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#311354 25-Mar-2010 16:50

Hi Dannyres,
I'm a dealer for WorldxChange, so I can help you make the move to Xnet. Flick me an email (PM), with some contact details if you like, and I can get your sorted.

What area are you moving from to?

Thanks
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timestyles

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#311359 25-Mar-2010 17:17

I ported my number to World Exchange, and call forwarded to my new physical number. I don't need to have setup a VOIP system. Cost $11.25 a month.

timestyles

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#311365 25-Mar-2010 17:27

sbiddle: Telecom don't offer the ability to move numbers between exchanges. This has nothing to do with portability (porting is moving a number to another network), it's simply a restriction with their NEAX switches.

Apparently (read as: said by a Telecom call centre worker, so it may be wrong) in Christchurch in the areas where Telstraclear have their own physical cabling, Telecom will let you "take" your Telstraclear number to the Telecom exchange, so maybe they've modified the exchanges somewhat to prevent losing customers in that area.

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#311370 25-Mar-2010 17:47

timestyles: I ported my number to World Exchange, and call forwarded to my new physical number. I don't need to have setup a VOIP system. Cost $11.25 a month.

This is probably the best option as they can stay with Orcon and keep their old number.

sbiddle

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#311382 25-Mar-2010 18:06

timestyles:
sbiddle: Telecom don't offer the ability to move numbers between exchanges. This has nothing to do with portability (porting is moving a number to another network), it's simply a restriction with their NEAX switches.

Apparently (read as: said by a Telecom call centre worker, so it may be wrong) in Christchurch in the areas where Telstraclear have their own physical cabling, Telecom will let you "take" your Telstraclear number to the Telecom exchange, so maybe they've modified the exchanges somewhat to prevent losing customers in that area.

This has always been the case. You are confused as well between "portability" and simply transferring numbers between exchanges.

You've been able to port in any number that was allocated by another provider to Telecom providing it remains within the same LICA since portability was introduced.

Moving a Telecom number from one Telecom exchange to another Telecom exchange is not "porting" as it doesn't change providers. Telecom are unable to do this due to technical limitations. If you want to do this you'll need to move the number to Customer Link and forward it.

Zeon

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#311705 26-Mar-2010 17:43

When are the NEAXs gonna be finally replaced? Such relics and I wouldn't think that replacing them would be much more expensive considering the difficulty in servicing them? Would also save Telecom from losing customer who switch just to keep their numbers like in this situation.

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sbiddle

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#311707 26-Mar-2010 17:50

Zeon: When are the NEAXs gonna be finally replaced? Such relics and I wouldn't think that replacing them would be much more expensive considering the difficulty in servicing them? Would also save Telecom from losing customer who switch just to keep their numbers like in this situation.

The last is due to be replaced by 2020.

Replacing them isn't exactly a 5 minute job..