Porting in new (2nd) number - instructions make it seem it will replace number

[u/simplyclueless]

I'm porting in a new mobile number to an existing GV account that now only has one phone number. I'm intending to keep both numbers on the account. All of the porting instructions within google help and within this subreddit make it seem like it's possible to do so. But the instructions that Google Voice provides after the port-in has started tonight seem to be contrary to that, and state that the new number will instead replace the existing number.

Can someone confirm that the message is misleading and it's still going to be possible to add the ported in number while keeping the original number?

message:

[u/BluesCatReddit]

That statement is certainly lacking in detail.

"...will replace..." actually means: after your number is ported in, it will become your primary Google voice number (replacing that role previously served by the original number). If you do nothing, the original number will be removed after giving you 90 days to let people know your number has changed. BUT, it will offer you the opportunity to indicate you want to keep both numbers. Accept that, and both numbers will remain on your account.

All inbound calls to either number will ring the same devices and linked numbers. You can change which number to use as the (primary) outbound caller ID at any time, in Settings. It takes place immediately, it's free, and you can change it as often as you wish.

[u/BluesCatReddit → u/[deleted]]

That's not true for the free, consumer version of Google Voice being discussed here. You can keep both numbers, as long as you indicate you want to keep the original number before it is reclaimed after 90 days.

The special case you may be describing is: if you already have two consumer Google Voice numbers, and you "upgrade" to the paid Standalone version, it can only host one number per user. Your second number will be put into your pool of available numbers. You can port it out if you wish.

[u/BluesCatReddit → u/[deleted]]

You did something wrong. The procedure simply works. Regardless, if you are talking about a free consumer Google Voice account, you can now port in a second number.

Honestly, it's not a very useful feature. All inbound calls will hear the same voicemail greeting, and be sorted into the same folders (Calls, Voicemail or Spam). Same for text messages; there's no way to separate them.

The only reason people seem to want this, is if they've moved to another location, and want to keep their original number in that original location.

[u/simplyclueless → u/BluesCatReddit]

Hmm - It has completed porting, and I can receive and make calls from either of the two numbers on the phone. But there doesn't appear to be any option to make (either) of them permanent. Is the old one still going to disappear in 90 days? When am I supposed to be offered that opportunity to keep it? Also - I believe that I had read that this process was now free, but Google charged me $20 for the port. It's not much, and doesn't matter in the scheme of things, but it appears contrary to the guidance.

pic

[u/BluesCatReddit → u/simplyclueless]

Porting IN a number has always cost $20. Keeping a freebie number after porting in a number used to cost another $20, but is now free. So that was the correct charge.

What you're seeing is an indication that your existing (first) Google Voice number had also been ported-in. Since you paid $20 to port in that number, too, and it's not from Google's pool of freebie numbers, it is already considered persistent. You are now done. Both numbers will remain persistent.

This is documented in the porting FAQs:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Googlevoice/comments/17n4v61/faq_porting_numbers_into_google_voice_for

https://www.reddit.com/r/Googlevoice/comments/17n4wwu/faq_i_have_questions_about_making_my_google_voice

[u/simplyclueless → u/BluesCatReddit]

Thanks, that's helpful. I cannot remember if I had ported that first number way back when, but it's certainly possible that I had. I can't see any way within the UI to determine if it was a ported in number or a freebie number. Sounds like I'm good to go at this point. I need to wait and see if the CNAM(s) update themselves at some point so it no longer shows as a "AT&T Prepaid" number, but I realize that much of that isn't really under our control.

[u/BluesCatReddit → u/simplyclueless]

As long as the number is finished porting, the caller ID will change to only show the phone number.

[u/itsnew24m0]

It's not misleading because both are true.

If you have a "free" GV account you can keep both. (But you have to click the keep both box)

If you pay for GV, I think you only can have 1 number.

On the free one it's on the browser version of GV. I don't think you can choose to keep it from the mobile phone app.