Cell phone account question(s) for the OC

• Apple

  

  I'm hoping the OC can help me with my cell phone dilemma. Money is kind of tight right now but I'm looking for options on having 2 cell lines in different area codes.
  
  My current contract is with Verizon for the next year and I don't want to get penalized for ending it early. I need to get a new cell phone account that has my new area code (primarily for business use). I'm thinking I basically just need a new number that has voice mail and I can call back using my old cell.
  
  Are there cell plans available (pay as you go?) that give VM and maybe limited minutes per month? Is it possible to just get a number in my new area code that will automatically transfer calls to my current number? Once my old contract runs out, would I be able to keep the same new (pay as you go) number when I set up a new Verizon (or other carrier) account?
  
  Other ideas or options anyone has would be appreciated.
  
  Thanks in advance for any help/insight.
• hasbeen

  

  I don't really have good advice for you. I am curious why you need your number to have a different area code? Your employer requires that?
• Apple

  

  I'm self employed. I'd like to have potential clients contact me with a local number.
• Glory Days

  

  Apple;1247606 wrote:I'm self employed.I'd like to have potential clients contact me with a local number.

  Drug dealer?
• THE4RINGZ

  

  Look into that Straight Talk plan available at Wal Mart. I think it is unlimited talk and text for around $40 a month. Probably the least expenisve temporary fix.
• Apple

  

  Glory Days;1247608 wrote:Drug dealer?

  No!
• THE4RINGZ

  

  hasbeen;1247603 wrote:I don't really have good advice for you. I am curious why you need your number to have a different area code? Your employer requires that?

  So it is more convenient for your customers to get in touch with you?
• hasbeen

  

  THE4RINGZ;1247612 wrote:So it is more convenient for your customers to get in touch with you?

  Advertising with any number isn't convenient enough? His answer that he wants a 'local' number makes sense even though him calling back on the other cell phone kind of ruins the point. If you are trying to come off as 'local' you should only use the local number. Otherwise, advertise the number you already have.
  
  Fuck do I know.
• OneBuckeye

  

  Apple;1247600 wrote:I'm hoping the OC can help me with my cell phone dilemma. Money is kind of tight right now but I'm looking for options on having 2 cell lines in different area codes.
  
  My current contract is with Verizon for the next year and I don't want to get penalized for ending it early. I need to get a new cell phone account that has my new area code (primarily for business use). I'm thinking I basically just need a new number that has voice mail and I can call back using my old cell.
  
  Are there cell plans available (pay as you go?) that give VM and maybe limited minutes per month? Is it possible to just get a number in my new area code that will automatically transfer calls to my current number? Once my old contract runs out, would I be able to keep the same new (pay as you go) number when I set up a new Verizon (or other carrier) account?
  
  Other ideas or options anyone has would be appreciated.
  
  Thanks in advance for any help/insight.

  1. I assume you have a smart phone. Downgrade to dumb phone and you won't get penalized and sell your smartphone.
  2. Sign up for a google voice number to get your local number (free) have them forwarded to your home or cell phone.
• Apple

  

  THE4RINGZ;1247609 wrote:Look into that Straight Talk plan available at Wal Mart. I think it is unlimited talk and text for around $40 a month. Probably the least expenisve temporary fix.

  Do you think I would be able to transfer the number to a Verizon account? Hell, I might have to just bite the bullet and either pay the fee for ending the contract with the old number or else carry 2 phones for the next year.
• thavoice

  Apple;1247600 wrote:I'm hoping the OC can help me with my cell phone dilemma. Money is kind of tight right now but I'm looking for options on having 2 cell lines in different area codes.
  
  My current contract is with Verizon for the next year and I don't want to get penalized for ending it early. I need to get a new cell phone account that has my new area code (primarily for business use). I'm thinking I basically just need a new number that has voice mail and I can call back using my old cell.
  
  Are there cell plans available (pay as you go?) that give VM and maybe limited minutes per month? Is it possible to just get a number in my new area code that will automatically transfer calls to my current number? Once my old contract runs out, would I be able to keep the same new (pay as you go) number when I set up a new Verizon (or other carrier) account?
  
  Other ideas or options anyone has would be appreciated.
  
  Thanks in advance for any help/insight.

  IF you go from one market to another you canusually transfer it within verizon for free and get the new area code.
  
  Or at the very least do a phone number change.
  
  But if you want to keep your old and get a new one...ckeck out the pre pay plans. Straigh talk is good......even ATT and other carriers are starting to do pretty good prepay
• Apple

  

  OneBuckeye;1247615 wrote:1. I assume you have a smart phone. Downgrade to dumb phone and you won't get penalized and sell your smartphone.
  2. Sign up for a google voice number to get you local number (free) have them forwarded to your home or cell phone.

  Not using a smart phone. Google voice sounds like an option.
  
  Maybe I'm just worrying about clients thinking I'm located in Dayton when I'm living in and offering my services in Stark and surrounding counties.
• thavoice

  Apple;1247616 wrote:Do you think I would be able to transfer the number to a Verizon account? Hell, I might have to just bite the bullet and either pay the fee for ending the contract with the old number or else carry 2 phones for the next year.

  You should be able to. Straight talk is a reseller from walmart and does ATT and Verizon numbers to port in. Now..having a competant person there to help you is a diff story.
  
  If ya do that tho..transfer your verizon number to the straight talk..it is stillcancelling your acct and ya get banged a cancellation fee
• Apple

  

  thavoice;1247619 wrote:IF you go from one market to another you canusually transfer it within verizon for free and get the new area code.
  
  Or at the very least do a phone number change.
  
  But if you want to keep your old and get a new one...ckeck out the pre pay plans. Straigh talk is good......even ATT and other carriers are starting to do pretty good prepay

  Sounds like I should just give Verizon a call and see what they can do. If I can keep the same plan (which is pretty good!) and just get a new area code, I guess I'd just need to tell my contacts that I have a new area code.
• Pick6

  

  To answer your questions:
  1: yes, check out straight talk.
  2: Pretty sure I've dealt with businesses who had that technology before, but I am not sure of names.
  3: A friend actually just went through this. She found out that it is actually a LAW that you have a right to keep your number. Apparently Verizon was giving her a hard time about it when she was switching to her own plan, so she switched providers and still kept her number.
• THE4RINGZ

  

  Apple;1247626 wrote:Sounds like I should just give Verizon a call and see what they can do. If I can keep the same plan (which is pretty good!) and just get a new area code, I guess I'd just need to tell my contacts that I have a new area code.

  Back about 10-12 years ago, I was in a similar situation, my carrier at the time (Air Touch, which was bought out by Cellular One then Verizon) programmed my phone with a Dual NAM, which allowed my phone (handset) to have two different incoming numbers. Not sure if that is still a possibility though. But you could ask.
• thavoice

  Apple;1247626 wrote:Sounds like I should just give Verizon a call and see what they can do. If I can keep the same plan (which is pretty good!) and just get a new area code, I guess I'd just need to tell my contacts that I have a new area code.

  MOST times they will only offer you a current plan though. If you are on an older grandfathered plan many times they wont bring it over, but if you bitch enough they may.
  
  Also..it will be more than just a diff area code. It will be all together a diff number. If the new area code is outside the market they will prolly do it for free, but could charge if its in the same market, but again that can be taken off.
• thavoice

  Pick6;1247634 wrote:To answer your questions:
  1: yes, check out straight talk.
  2: Pretty sure I've dealt with businesses who had that technology before, but I am not sure of names.
  3: A friend actually just went through this. She found out that it is actually a LAW that you have a right to keep your number. Apparently Verizon was giving her a hard time about it when she was switching to her own plan, so she switched providers and still kept her number.

  your number 3....yes...you have the right to take your number to a different carrier, but it is not 100%. Both carriers would ahve to have a presence in that area to be able to port your number to them. It was meant for competition purposes in the same market place.
  Before Centennial wirelss was gobbled up by ATT in many areas there were some places that you couldnt port your centennial number over to ATT, and vice versa.
  Same with T Mobile a few years ago..etc
  
  For instance...I would not be able to take my number I have now and make it a cincy bell number, because Cincy bell does not service our area at all. The only time you really have to deal with this nowadays is from a smaller, regional carrier that you may not be able to port your number to.
• FatHobbit

  

  Here is more info on using the google voice service
  
  http://www.ehow.com/how_6459149_run-one-verizon-cell-phone.html
  
  
• Pick6

  

  thavoice;1247653 wrote:your number 3....yes...you have the right to take your number to a different carrier, but it is not 100%. Both carriers would ahve to have a presence in that area to be able to port your number to them. It was meant for competition purposes in the same market place.
  Before Centennial wirelss was gobbled up by ATT in many areas there were some places that you couldnt port your centennial number over to ATT, and vice versa.
  Same with T Mobile a few years ago..etc
  
  For instance...I would not be able to take my number I have now and make it a cincy bell number, because Cincy bell does not service our area at all. The only time you really have to deal with this nowadays is from a smaller, regional carrier that you may not be able to port your number to.

  yeah but mostly today, all of the smaller companies have been bought out by Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T, so I dont see it really being an issue, especially in his case.
• thavoice

  True....it is getting less and less but there are still out there. Cincy Bell, Cricket, I think even Alltell (yes..they are still around, FCC woldnt allow Verizon to get all their bandwith) and there are other ones all around the country.
  
  For instance....I cannot transfer my ATT number to T Mobile at this time because TMobile isnt local at all
• mella

  Get a second phone for an extra $10 a month. It will extend your existing plan another year but it should only cost that extra $10 bucks. I've added my son, daughter, and a nephew for a minimal cost. If you don't want to stay with Verizon then i don't know what to say other than what other people have posted already.
• Apple

  

  ok... I set up a google voice number with the new area code. Will have the gf call it when she gets off work. Hopefully my current cell will ring.
  
  crossing my fingers! lol!
• karen lotz

  

  go ahead and post the number here, I'm sure plenty of people will help you test it.
• GoChiefs

  

  karen lotz;1247774 wrote:go ahead and post the number here, I'm sure plenty of people will help you test it.

  
  Can we get a vBookie thread on what the number is?