If your business is in Costa Rica and you plan to move to IP Telephony, the question always comes up: can I take my landline number with me? The short answer is no. Here we explain why, which alternatives work well, and when a number can be ported.
This article covers the Costa Rica case. To first understand what porting is and how it works where it is available, read Number porting for business.
What number porting is
It is the process that moves a number from one provider to another without changing it: the number stays the same and what changes is who carries the calls. In many countries it is the normal way to move to a SIP Trunk or a Cloud Phone System.
How TelHarbor solves it
A new local number, with the old one forwarded
$2 a month per Costa Rica number
Costa Rica landlines cannot be ported to IP telephony, so you get a local number (4300-xxxx range) for $2 a month and forward the old one while you tell your market. US numbers can be ported.
See IP telephonyWhy landline numbers cannot be ported in Costa Rica
In Costa Rica, the porting available today is for mobile lines between mobile carriers. Landline numbers cannot be ported to an IP Telephony service such as TelHarbor. That is why, when you migrate, your business gets new numbers in Costa Rica (4300-xxxx range) and the previous number stays with your current carrier.
It is worth knowing before you sign: any proposal that promises to "keep your landline number" in Costa Rica deserves a follow-up question.
How to change numbers without losing calls
The migration is planned so your customers keep finding you. The sequence we recommend:
- Activate the new service first with your new numbers and test it with real traffic: inbound, outbound, menus, queues and recording.
- Keep the previous line with your carrier during the transition. Ask them whether they can forward calls from that number to the new one, and what it costs.
- Announce the new number on the old line's greeting, your website, your Google listing, email signatures and invoices.
- Retire the previous line once it receives few calls, usually after a few months.
Use the change to tidy up your numbering
A number change is a good time to decide which lines you really need. It is common to find numbers nobody uses any more —a fax, a closed branch— still billed every month. With TelHarbor you can add what is missing:
- Local Costa Rica numbers for each site or department.
- United States numbers so customers in that market call you locally.
- Toll-free numbers that are free for callers in the United States and Canada.
When porting is possible: United States numbers
If your business already has United States numbers, local or toll-free, those can be ported to TelHarbor. The process requires a recent invoice from the current provider, an authorization letter signed by the account holder and the exact list of numbers. The one-time charge per number is on plans and pricing.
Two rules avoid trouble: the account-holder data must match the current provider's records exactly, and you should never cancel the previous service before the port is complete.
How to get started
TelHarbor reviews your current lines, proposes the new numbering and coordinates the migration so there are no outages. Learn about the service in IP Telephony, see the plans or request a quote.
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep my Costa Rica landline number when moving to TelHarbor?
No. In Costa Rica landline numbers cannot be ported to an IP Telephony service; new numbers in the 4300-xxxx range are assigned.
What about my mobile number?
Mobile number porting in Costa Rica works between mobile carriers; it does not turn that number into an IP Telephony extension.
How do I avoid losing calls when changing numbers?
Keep the previous line during the transition, ask your carrier whether it can be forwarded to the new number, and announce the change everywhere your number appears.
Which numbers can be ported?
United States numbers, local and toll-free. They carry a one-time charge per number.
How much does a new Costa Rica number cost?
The monthly price of each number is published on plans and pricing, alongside United States and toll-free numbers.
Should I cancel my current service before migrating?
No. Keep it active until the new service is tested and your customers know the new number.
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