A few months ago I decided to make the switch from Verizon Wireless to AT&T. I had been a happy and loyal Verizon customer for about 9 years with the same cell number with several different phones. Most recently I had been using the Palm Centro, which made internet related tasks a nightmare, leaving a huge hole deep in the techiness of my soul. Anyway, figuring out the plan was really a pain, although implimenting it was easy, so I thought I would write about it to help anyone out there in a similar situation.
The initiating event was due to daily circumstances in hospitals and needing quick access to search and the bonuses that iPhones offer (apps!); I made the jump. All hell broke loose when I was unable to port (transfer) my Verizon cell number to the AT&T Family plan. After deliberating this for a week, I was convinced that no one actually remembers your number these days anyway, so I should just get the new iPhone and deal with the short term hassle of asking all my contacts to update to the new number.
The best solution I found, was to port (transfer) my Verizon number to a prepaid cell phone, and I chose the very cheap Tracfone. It all worked out without a hitch, I pay only $20 for 60 minutes, per 3 months, just to keep the number alive. That comes out to $80 a year, plus the $20 phone from the Dollar General store. Granted that the phone is a POS Motorolla, it gets the job done since I had no intent of carrying or using the phone.
It seems now, a few months later, there are still people who havent updated my number in their phone and I hear it in their voice whenever I call them. Oops! At least they can always reach me on the Tracfone if they need to. So far no one has called the old number, with only 2 people sending texts to it. I guess its working out, and today I paid the $20 to keep the Tracfone active another 3 months.
