question

tlapa8607 avatar image
tlapa8607 asked tlapa8607 commented

Cutover for Porting 800 Number

While the porting process is well documented, I have yet to find any information on the steps and timing of the final cutover process.  In other words, once our primary 800 number is ported over to RingCentral - how do we control the timing of the 'go live' (the point at which phone traffic is routed to RC)?  I would like to have the business prepared for the golive day/time well in advance.
topic-default
1 |1000

Up to 8 attachments (including images) can be used with a maximum of 1.0 MiB each and 10.0 MiB total.

bjsvec avatar image
bjsvec answered
Toll Free does not follow the same timeline as local number porting, and technically is called a "RespOrg change" but the concept remains the same.  For most installations I just forward the TF# in advance to a temporary RC number and then when the TF# cuts to RC it is transparent and no interruption of service.

The only downside to this that is well know with RingCentral is that during the time you are waiting for the numbers to port you cannot send outbound caller ID with those numbers.  This often forces me to go live the morning/day of the number transfer.  If you can live with the outbound caller ID being a temporary number for a few days while you wait then you can get started using the RingCentral service and the number transfer becomes kind of irrelevant and won't interrupt service.

Does that help?
1 |1000

Up to 8 attachments (including images) can be used with a maximum of 1.0 MiB each and 10.0 MiB total.

tlapa8607 avatar image
tlapa8607 answered
Thanks Brandon for the help.  Yes, we can live without the outbound caller ID as 90% of our calls are inbound on that TF#. A great suggestion!  
1 |1000

Up to 8 attachments (including images) can be used with a maximum of 1.0 MiB each and 10.0 MiB total.

tlapa8607 avatar image
tlapa8607 answered bjsvec commented
Brandon - do you have a strategy for porting over the block of DIDs (direct inward dial) numbers? While pointing our TF# to our RC number works for the 800, I don't think we can do this with all our existing direct dial numbers.  Or can we?
1 comment
1 |1000

Up to 8 attachments (including images) can be used with a maximum of 1.0 MiB each and 10.0 MiB total.

bjsvec avatar image bjsvec commented ·
It depends on the capabilities of the system or service you are porting from.  You could potentially call forward each of dozens, hundreds (or even thousands) of numbers to the corresponding temporary RingCentral numbers and then let the port happen without interruption, but you still have the issue of incorrect outbound caller ID while you wait for the port.  This becomes a bigger problem with the more phones you have.  Say you have 500 users and can't/don't want to show the wrong outbound caller ID for even a few days.  Then you are stuck waiting for the port to happen on the scheduled day (and hope there are no last moment issues) and then plug in 500 phones as fast as you can..

There is an open feature request here somewhere about having the ability to "spoof" outbound caller ID for this purpose.
0 Likes 0 ·
Chuck Fuscone avatar image
Chuck Fuscone answered
This could be done for 800 numbers and DID's if you have call forwarding available on your existing carrier.

this is how testing of call flow ETC could be worked out prior to porting the numbers.

How many numbers are you talking about?  are all in your block assigned?

You could port numbers over to RC that are not assigned to a digital line but you will pay a monthly fee for each one.  about 5.00 per month per number.

I have had to do this for customers that wanted the number block for expansion so they had consistency

Chuck
Certified RC Consultant
Chuck@yoritguy.com
1 |1000

Up to 8 attachments (including images) can be used with a maximum of 1.0 MiB each and 10.0 MiB total.

chris-duquette4018 avatar image
chris-duquette4018 answered
if the DIDs are ringing users on the RC platform could you not just replace those private numbers? otherwise purchase temp numbers and direct them how youd like and then when porting specify which true DID would replace each temp number.
1 |1000

Up to 8 attachments (including images) can be used with a maximum of 1.0 MiB each and 10.0 MiB total.

tlapa8607 avatar image
tlapa8607 answered bjsvec commented
Yes, I believe we do have call forwarding (from within the legacy PBX we have now).  We have a block of 40 numbers - of which only 10 are assigned to our staff.  The rest are unused.  So it would make sense to only port the ones we really need, right?  We don't need the block for expansion consistency. 
1 comment
1 |1000

Up to 8 attachments (including images) can be used with a maximum of 1.0 MiB each and 10.0 MiB total.

bjsvec avatar image bjsvec commented ·
It does usually make sense to only port what you need because you pay $5/mo for each number you port and don't use.  Just make sure the boss isn't OCD about keeping the sequential block because once you lose them you won't get them back.
1 Like 1 ·
chris-duquette4018 avatar image
chris-duquette4018 answered
yeah if you are not using the numbers and dont intend on using them for anything there would be no need to port them, unless you wanted to keep them if they were in sequence or something. i dont want to speak out of turn but, i dont know if RC would charge you to bring these numbers, so if porting them wouldnt cost you anything it may be worth it to bring them. I AM NOT SURE OF IT BEING AT NO CHARGE. always check with your account admin or account manager before making that call.
1 |1000

Up to 8 attachments (including images) can be used with a maximum of 1.0 MiB each and 10.0 MiB total.

tlapa8607 avatar image
tlapa8607 answered tlapa8607 commented
Chris - I'm not sure I follow.  Our DID currently ring our users on our legacy PBX.  Can I purchase temp numbers (until the porting is completed) and then just terminate them immediately?
4 comments
1 |1000

Up to 8 attachments (including images) can be used with a maximum of 1.0 MiB each and 10.0 MiB total.

bjsvec avatar image bjsvec commented ·
I know you addressed this to Chris, but :)

When you establish service with RingCentral you will get new (temporary) numbers for every line at activation.  Well, temporary if you plan to replace them with ported numbers.  You can consider them permanent if they will be used going forward.  Does that make sense?


1 Like 1 ·
tlapa8607 avatar image tlapa8607 commented ·
Yes - I do follow and understand what you are saying.  Thanks for all the help.  I'll check with my account rep on the porting charges for unused numbers and update this thread for future questions.
1 Like 1 ·
chris-duquette4018 avatar image chris-duquette4018 commented ·
no, i was saying if you have phones already working on RC with their own personal line, id assume you could port the DID thats pointed to them now, on the legacy PBX, to replace the direct number that you get when you set up a new extension / user on RC. this may all be for not...if the DIDs dont ring specific people. 
0 Likes 0 ·
chris-duquette4018 avatar image chris-duquette4018 commented ·
i think brandon and i are saying the same thing....the direct number that you get when you set up a new full user with RC can be ported / replaced by whatever DID they have now on the PBX......right brandon?
0 Likes 0 ·

Write an Answer

Hint: Notify or tag a user in this post by typing @username.

Up to 10 attachments (including images) can be used with a maximum of 1.0 MiB each and 10.0 MiB total.