How long does the number porting process take?

Question

Level 1

8 points

How long does the number porting process take?

Hello Everybody! I just got my iphone (witch I LOVE it by the way) but I was wondering, how long does the number porting process take?
I ported my phone number over from SprintPCS last night at around 7pm EST and right now it's 8am EST and my Palm seems to still be working... Is this normal?
I'm still receiving incoming calls to my Palm, Text messages to my Palm, but yet I can do outgoing calls from my iphone... I'm kinda confused...

I mean I received the text on my iphone from sprint telling me: "Welcome to AT&T" as well as receiving the e-mail saying my new phone number is the same one I've had for 6 years now... Is 13 hours considered normal?

Thanx! :-D

Dell, Windows Vista

Posted on Oct 17, 2007 5:25 AM

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Answer 1

Nathan C

Level 5

6,266 points

Oct 17, 2007 7:02 AM in response to QueenYvette

QueenYvette,

Porting can take anywhere from a few minutes to a couple of days. Most of the delays are usually delays in getting the number released from the previous provider.

In your situation it sounds like it has been released to AT&T, hence AT&T sending you the welcome message, but your previous carrier is still claiming the number for routing calls.

Hope this helps,

Nathan C.

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Answer 2

Cinemagic

Level 2

165 points

Oct 17, 2007 9:03 AM in response to Nathan C

I went from Nextel to AT&T and it seemed almost instantaneous. By the time I had the phone activated and played with it a little, it was fully ported. The AT&T people did say it could take up to two days. I think that was more of a CYA statement.

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Answer 3

QueenYvette Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 17, 2007 9:20 AM in response to Nathan C

Hello again!

Thank you all for your information. As it turns out, I called and spoke to an Apple representative who affirmed it can be a process of anywhere from 5 minutes to a couple days. I also spoke to a rep from AT&T who told me to turn both phones off and back on in about 10 minutes (Witch didn't work of course) but I guess it's just a matter of waiting...
I just didn't want to terminate my account just yet with SprintPCS affraid my Long Loved phone number would stay locked in there LOL...

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Answer 4

Nathan C

Level 5

6,266 points

Oct 17, 2007 9:25 AM in response to QueenYvette

QueenYvette,

If it continues to be an issue tomorrow, I would recomend calling again, and getting in contact with AT&T's porting department. They are familiar with resolving any issues that may arise.

Powering off both phones is to make sure that the old phone is not maintaining an active connection with the old carrier that can interfere with the last steps of the porting process. If at all possible its a good idea to leave the old phone powered off, and restart the new phone about once an hour so that it will resync with the towers.

Hope this helps,

Nathan C.

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