How To Switch Your Lifeline Provider

4. Keep Your Phone Number

In most cases you can keep your existing phone number when you switch. This is called porting. Ask the new provider to port your number during sign-up, and have your current account number and PIN ready, which you can get from your old provider.

Do not cancel your old service yourself before the port is finished, because canceling can release the number. The new provider handles the port, which usually takes from a few hours to a couple of days.

If you receive a new SIM card, keep your old phone active until the new one is working, so you do not miss important calls.