Call forwarding with no phone line

jbc.usenet@caruth.com

Hi all,

I'm about to move home and currently have an ex-NTL/Virgin (020 7)
number ported to TalkTalk (with TalkTalk - not BT - line rental and
call plan). I was planning to contract with BT at my new address and
port my number to them but will not be moving in immediately.

To preserve my number and provide interim call continuity I was hoping
to port it to a VOIP provider like Voipfone. That would allow me to
capture calls (either via voip, voicemail or call forwarding) until I
move into my new property and I can then port the number to BT. But
voipfone say they can't accept NTL/Virgin numbers because they
(Virgin) aren't members of the ITSPA.

Anybody got any suggestions as to how I can forward numbers from my
current phone number to another number until I move permanently?
Installing a line at my temporary address or continuing service at my
current address is not possible - I'm just looking for a voicemail or
call forwarding to mobile service - nothing else.

Alternatively, if I can't do anything with my calls, can anybody
confirm how long my old number will be available for porting after I
cancel service with TalkTalk at my current location?

Thanks.

Jono

wrote on 06/12/2007 :
> Hi all,
>
> I'm about to move home and currently have an ex-NTL/Virgin (020 7)
> number ported to TalkTalk (with TalkTalk - not BT - line rental and
> call plan). I was planning to contract with BT at my new address and
> port my number to them but will not be moving in immediately.
>
> To preserve my number and provide interim call continuity I was hoping
> to port it to a VOIP provider like Voipfone. That would allow me to
> capture calls (either via voip, voicemail or call forwarding) until I
> move into my new property and I can then port the number to BT. But
> voipfone say they can't accept NTL/Virgin numbers because they
> (Virgin) aren't members of the ITSPA.
>
> Anybody got any suggestions as to how I can forward numbers from my
> current phone number to another number until I move permanently?
> Installing a line at my temporary address or continuing service at my
> current address is not possible - I'm just looking for a voicemail or
> call forwarding to mobile service - nothing else.
>
> Alternatively, if I can't do anything with my calls, can anybody
> confirm how long my old number will be available for porting after I
> cancel service with TalkTalk at my current location?
>
> Thanks.

You might struggle to port an xNTL number to a VoIP provider. The only
one I'm aware of that has a porting agreement with VirginMedia is
Vonage. (I would love to be corrected on this)

Regardless of the fact that the number is currently with TalkTalk, as
it's an xNTL number, wherever you take the number has to have a porting
agreement in place with the original operator.

If you cancel your service with TalkTalk, it will be available for port
afterwards for around 0 days.

Could you not ask TalkTalk to provide you with their version of "Ceased
Number Interception" which will announce the new number? You may need
to go back to xNTL for this....I dunno. Or ask them for "Remote Call
Forwarding" which will cease the line whilst forwarding calls (at your
cost) to a new destination.

With regards to ultimately porting an xNTL number to BT, this can only
happen if VirginMedia have the ability to provide you with phone
service at your new address. If you're moving to a non-cabled area, you
cannot port an xNTL number to BT.

BarCarUsenet

Thanks Jono. I think I might need to give up on this.

I can't find a VOIP provider who will accept the number (I don't want
to contract with Vonage for services - I just want somewhere to park
the number for voicemail/diversion).

TalkTalk are worse than useless - they can offer call divert but only
if I continue paying line rental and call plan costs.

I guess I'll resign myself to a changed number. Getting a BT number is
probably easier going forward - an ex-NTL number has always been a bit
of a curse when I've tried to do anything with it.

Cheers for the info.