Keeping Your Number

Do you want to switch cell phone carriers but keep your current cell phone number? You're in luck. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is requiring all carriers to support Wireless Local Number Portability, which is a service that allows customers to keep their cell phone number when they switch carriers. The FCC also passed rules allowing you to transfer your current home landline phone number to a cell phone. This means that you can order a cell phone from most of the carriers offered by Amazon.com and transfer your current wireless or wireline number to your new service. Carriers now offer number portability nationwide.

Transferring your cell phone number is easy when you order from Amazon.com. You won't have to wait in line at a store while your number is transferred from your previous carrier to your new one. And, in some cases, you will be assigned a temporary phone number for your new phone so that you can use it until your transfer is completed (you can even forward your calls from your current phone to your new phone in the interim). Best of all, when you buy a cell phone from Amazon.com and transfer your number, you will still qualify for all of our great rebates and discounts.

Each of the carriers handles number portability a bit differently, so we've outlined carrier-based instructions below.

1. Make sure that you qualify for number portability. In order to transfer your current cell number to a new account, you have to qualify with your new carrier. You may want to check with your new carrier directly before purchasing a phone. Amazon.com cannot guarantee that you will qualify, even if you meet all of the requirements. Here are a few qualification requirements to keep in mind: A. Your current cell number must still be active with your current carrier. If you cancel your current service before your number is transferred, your current number may be immediately assigned to someone else. Once your number is transferred, your previous carrier will automatically deactivate your current service. Please note that until you complete the transfer process you will have two active accounts, one with your old provider and one with your new provider, and you will be responsible for all charges on both accounts. B. Your current and new service must be under the same account, including billing name, billing address, and Social Security number. C. Your current and new service must be in the same area code. You can not request to change your area code but keep only the last seven digits of your phone number. D. The first phase in the FCC's mandate requires carriers to support number portability for those living in the largest metropolitan markets in the United States. Click here to see a list of eligible markets. (The FCC requires that the remaining markets be covered by number portability starting May 24, 2004.)
2. Buy a new T-Mobile phone and service plan at Amazon.com. Remember, don't cancel your old service until you transfer your number.
3. Your phone will arrive already activated with a new number, so you'll need to call T-Mobile at 1-800-937-8997 or 611 from your T-Mobile handset free of charge and ask to switch your phone number. Note: do not contact your existing carrier to transfer your number--they will not be able to help with you with your request. Feel free to take your time transferring your number--as long as you keep your current account active, you can use your new phone with your new number until you get around to transferring your current number (or, if you change your mind, you can simply keep the new number and cancel your current account with your previous carrier). We recommend that you do not set up voice mail on your new service, though, until you've transferred your number because your voice mail box will be reset and any messages, greetings, or passwords will be erased.
4. Make sure that you have a copy of your most recent monthly bill from your existing carrier when you call T-Mobile. If you don't have a copy of your bill, be sure to bring the exact details of your account, such as your name as it appears on the bill, your billing address, account number, and current phone number.
5. Tell the T-Mobile representative that you have purchased your phone and service from Amazon.com and you would like to have them transfer your current number to your new account.
6. T-Mobile will check your eligibility, and if you qualify, they will process your request.
7. When your current handset has been deactivated, that will be your indication that your request was successfully processed. You may need to turn your new phone off and on again to activate it on your transferred number.
8. Please keep in mind the following: A. If you are still under contract with your existing carrier, you may be responsible for early-termination fees. Check with your carrier to find out when your contract ends. B. Some carriers may charge a fee for taking your number with you. Check with your existing carrier to find out if they plan to impose such fees. C. You have to work directly with your new carrier to transfer your number. Unfortunately, Amazon.com cannot assist in the process because we do not have access to the carriers' systems. We've done what we can to ensure the best possible experience for our customers when they call their new carrier.D. The process to qualify you and transfer your number is expected to take at least 2.5 hours, and could take much longer depending on your eligibility and the carriers' systems. (Fortunately, when you buy from Amazon.com, you won't have wait around in a store, and you will have a temporary T-Mobile number assigned to you so that you can use your new phone until your transfer is completed.) E. Your authorization is required to move your wireless number from your existing carrier to a new provider. The individual who purchases service and calls to transfer their number must be the same person who signed up for the original service. This protects you from having your number switched without your permission. F. You can submit multiple phone numbers from multiple carriers in one transfer request. G. If your transfer request fails or you are not satisfied with your cell phone purchase for any reason, you will have 30 days from the date that you receive your shipment to return the product to Amazon.com for a full refund. Penalties may be imposed by your carrier for early termination if you don't cancel your service within a certain number of days (the terms and conditions of your contract can be found on the detail page of each individual rate plan in the left-hand column under "contract terms"). Keep in mind that once you transfer your number, you may not be able to go back to your previous carrier and reactivate that same number.

Nextel
Here are the steps to transfer your current number to your new Nextel service.

1. Make sure that you qualify for number portability. In order to transfer your current cell number to a new account, you have to qualify with your new carrier. You may want to check with your new carrier directly before purchasing a phone. Amazon.com cannot guarantee that you will qualify, even if you meet all of the requirements. Here are a few qualification requirements to keep in mind: A. Your current cell number must still be active with your current carrier. If you cancel your current service before your number is transferred, your current number may be immediately assigned to someone else. Once your number is transferred, your previous carrier will automatically deactivate your current service. B. Your current and new service must be under the same account, including billing name, billing address, Social Security number, and password (if applicable). C. Your current and new service must be in the same area code. You can not request to change your area code but keep only the last seven digits of your phone number. D. The first phase in the FCC's mandate requires carriers to support number portability for those living in the top 102 largest metropolitan markets in the United States. Click here to see a list of eligible markets. (The FCC requires that the remaining markets be covered by number portability starting May 24, 2004.)
2. Buy a new Nextel cell phone and service plan at Amazon.com.
3. When you receive your phone, it will not yet be activated. You will receive instructions in the box to activate your phone by calling Nextel at (888) 763-9835.
4. When you call to activate, tell the Nextel representative that you purchased your phone and service from Amazon.com and you would like to have them transfer your current number to your new account. (Note: do not contact your existing carrier to transfer your number--they will not be able to help with you with your request.)
5. Make sure that you have a copy of your most recent monthly bill from your existing carrier when you call Nextel. If you don't have a copy of your bill, be sure to bring the exact details of your account, such as your name as it appears on the bill, your billing address, account number, password (if applicable) and current phone number.
6. Nextel will check your eligibility, and if you qualify, they will process your request.
7. Nextel will assign you a temporary number so that you can begin using your new phone until they are able to complete the process. (Note: we recommend that you do not set up voice mail on your temporary service until you've transferred your number because your voice-mail box will be reset and any messages, greetings, or passwords will be erased.)
8. If you need to check the status of your number-transfer request, call Nextel at (800) 639-6111.
9. When your current handset has been deactivated, that will be your indication that your request was successfully processed. You may need to turn your new phone off and on again to activate it on your transferred number.
10. Please keep in mind the following: A. If you are still under contract with your existing carrier, you may be responsible for early-termination fees. Check with your carrier to find out when your contract ends.B. Some carriers may charge a fee for taking your number with you. Check with your existing carrier to find out if they plan to impose such fees. C. You have to work directly with your new carrier to transfer your number. Unfortunately, Amazon.com cannot assist in the process because we do not have access to the carriers' systems. We've done what we can to ensure the best possible experience for our customers when they call their new carrier. D. The process to qualify you and transfer your number is expected to take at least 2.5 hours, and could take much longer depending on your eligibility and the carriers' systems. (Fortunately, when you buy from Amazon.com, you won't have wait around in a store, and you will have a temporary Nextel number assigned to you so that you can use your new phone until your transfer is completed.) E. Your authorization is required to move your wireless number from your existing carrier to a new provider. The individual who purchases a service and calls to transfer their number must be the same person who signed up for the original service. This protects you from having your number switched without your permission.F. You can submit multiple phone numbers from multiple carriers in one transfer request.G. If your transfer request fails, or you are not satisfied with your cell phone purchase for any reason, you will have 30 days from the date that you receive your shipment to return the product to Amazon.com for a full refund. Penalties may be imposed by your carrier for early termination if you don't cancel your service within a certain number of days (the terms and conditions of your contract can be found on the detail page of each individual rate plan in the left-hand column under "contract terms").

Sprint
Here are the steps to transfer your current number to your new Sprint service.

1. Make sure that you qualify for number portability. In order to transfer your current cell number to a new account, you have to qualify with your new carrier. You may want to check with your new carrier directly before purchasing a phone. Amazon.com cannot guarantee that you will qualify, even if you meet all of the requirements. Here are a few qualification requirements to keep in mind: A.Your current cell number must still be active with your current carrier. If you cancel your current service before your number is transferred, your current number may be immediately assigned to someone else. Once your number is transferred, your previous carrier will automatically deactivate your current service. B. Your current and new service must be under the same account, including billing name, billing address, Social Security number, and password (if applicable). C. Your current and new service must be in the same area code. You can not request to change your area code but keep only the last seven digits of your phone number.D. The first phase in the FCC's mandate requires carriers to support number portability for those living in the top 102 largest metropolitan markets in the United States. Click here to see a list of eligible markets. (The FCC requires that the remaining markets be covered by number portability starting May 24, 2004.)
2. Buy a new Sprint cell phone and service plan at Amazon.com.
3. When you receive your phone, it will not yet be activated. You will receive instructions in the box to activate your phone by calling Sprint at (888) 715-4588.
4. When you call to activate, let the customer service representative know that you purchased your phone and service plan at Amazon.com and that you want transfer your current number. (Note: do not contact your existing carrier to transfer your number--they will not be able to help with you with your request.)
5. Make sure that you have a copy of your most recent monthly bill from your existing carrier when you call Sprint. If you don't have a copy of your bill, be sure to bring the exact details of your account, such as your name as it appears on the bill, your billing address, account number, password (if applicable) and current phone number.
6. Tell the Sprint representative that you purchased your phone and service from Amazon.com and you would like to have them transfer your current number to your new account.
7. Sprint will check your eligibility, and if you qualify, they will process your request.
8. When your current handset has been deactivated, that will be your indication that your request was successfully processed. You may need to turn your new phone off and on again to activate it on your transferred number.
9. Please keep in mind the following: A. If you are still under contract with your existing carrier, you may be responsible for early-termination fees. Check with your carrier to find out when your contract ends. B. Some carriers may charge a fee for taking your number with you. Check with your existing carrier to find out if they plan to impose such fees. C. You have to work directly with your new carrier to transfer your number. Unfortunately, Amazon.com cannot assist in the process because we do not have access to the carriers' systems. We've done what we can to ensure the best possible experience for our customers when they call their new carrier. D. The process to qualify you and transfer your number is expected to take at least 2.5 hours, and could take much longer depending on your eligibility and the carriers' systems. E. Your authorization is required to move your wireless number from your existing carrier to a new provider. The individual who purchases service and calls to transfer their number must be the same person who signed up for the original service. This protects you from having your number switched without your permission. F. You can submit multiple phone numbers from multiple carriers in one transfer request. G. If your transfer request fails or you are not satisfied with your cell phone purchase for any reason, you will have 30 days from the date that you receive your shipment to return the product to Amazon.com for a full refund. Penalties may be imposed by your carrier for early termination if you don't cancel your service within a certain number of days (the terms and conditions of your contract can be found on the detail page of each individual rate plan in the left-hand column under "contract terms").

AT&T Wireless
AT&T Wireless and Amazon.com have not yet established a method for customers to transfer their current number to a new AT&T account. We hope to offer this option in the coming months, so please check back.

Cingular
Cingular and Amazon.com have not yet established a method for customers to transfer their current number to a new Cingular account. We hope to offer this option in the coming months, so please check back.