Porting VOIP number from Primus

[wonderdollar]

Hi,

I have been using Primus VOIP for more than 5 years and though happy with the service, I would like to port the number to FPL in order to save money. However, I have some questions and looking for the answers from the forum members.

1. With Primus I have lots of features such as Call Waiting, Caller ID, Call display, Call blocking, Follow Me, 5 Way calling, Enhanced Voice Mail etc. What features from these would be available with FPL service.

2. With PRIMUS, I have only one ATA but I have 2 numbers. The first one is my main number with 416 area code and then I have a virtual number with a 519 area code. The 519 number is sort of permanently forwarded on my main 416 number. So, the questions is can I keep the same type of setting from FPL as well by porting both numbers from Primus to FPL.

Thanks for your help.

[bridonca]

1. With Primus I have lots of features such as Call Waiting, Caller ID, Call display, Call blocking, Follow Me, 5 Way calling, Enhanced Voice Mail etc. What features from these would be available with FPL service.

Not sure what 5 way calling is, but freephoneline has all the other features, I think the softphone has call blocking. I do not know how enhanced the voice mail is though, works for me.

2. With PRIMUS, I have only one ATA but I have 2 numbers. The first one is my main number with 416 area code and then I have a virtual number with a 519 area code. The 519 number is sort of permanently forwarded on my main 416 number. So, the questions is can I keep the same type of setting from FPL as well by porting both numbers from Primus to FPL.

I see a few problems. Unless changed, freephoneline does not allow forwarding a freephoneline number to another freephoneline number. The other issue is the cost, which is $150 for two $50 configuration files, and two $25 porting fees. The Primus ATA cannot be used, I would recommend a 2 line ATA like the $50 PAP2, which would allow you to have both accounts. You would need 2 separate phones, but that is not a real issue. So you are looking at $200 and some change. Still, that is better than a year of Primus service.

[wonderdollar]

Thanks for the quick reply Bridonca,

So, I would get call forwarding, call waiting, call display, 3 way calling (conference call. though with Primus I can call 5 numbers simulatneously) is also fine along with voice mail. In fact yesterday I had called FPL and the CSR there said that they do not offer these features and also I could not see these on the website (may be I missed) but if these features are available, I would order the phone and forget about the 519 number.

Thanks once again.

[Jake]

I don't know who you talked to, but FPL certainly offers all of those features. Strange the CSR would tell you otherwise.

[bridonca]

You are not obligated to spend a penny, get a free account, play with the softphone, and if it works to your satisfaction, buy the SIP settings.

[FONGO_steve]

Thankd for the quick reply Bridonca,

So, I would get call forwarding, call waiting, call display, 3 way calling (conference call. though with Primus I can call 5 numbers simulatneously) is also fine along with voice mail. In fact yesterday I had called FPL and the CSR there said that they do not offer these features and also I could not see these on the website (may be I missed) but if these features are available, I would order the phone and forget about the 519 number.

Thanks once again.

I'm a little concerned that someone told you we don't offer those. Are you able to send me a private message here with the phone number you called us from and the approximate time of day you called? I'd like to see who you spoke to and ensure appropriate action is taken.

[wonderdollar]

Thankd for the quick reply Bridonca,

So, I would get call forwarding, call waiting, call display, 3 way calling (conference call. though with Primus I can call 5 numbers simulatneously) is also fine along with voice mail. In fact yesterday I had called FPL and the CSR there said that they do not offer these features and also I could not see these on the website (may be I missed) but if these features are available, I would order the phone and forget about the 519 number.

Thanks once again.

I'm a little concerned that someone told you we don't offer those. Are you able to send me a private message here with the phone number you called us from and the approximate time of day you called? I'd like to see who you spoke to and ensure appropriate action is taken.

Hi Steve,

I do have a freephone line number which I have been using as a call forwarding service for over couple of years. A couple of weeks ago, I was not able to log in to my account so I called some one around 2 weeks ago and the person was knowleldgeable and he helped me to get access to freephone line account by getting some settings on my browsers (both chrome and internet explore) changed and I could log in to my account. I asked him about porting my existing PRIMUS VOIP number and he told me that it can be done and he did say that FPL does offer similar features as I already have with PRIMUS. I asked him about porting my virutual number (519 number) as well and he said he was not sure about the same and noted my name and number and promised to call me next day after confirming if FPL could port a virutal primus number as well and have it permanently forwarded to my 416 number which I would be bringing to FPL from PRIMUS. However, I did not get a call back so I called FPL again a couple of days ago and asked about the same thing from the CSR and he said that no FPL number can be forwarded on to another FPL number and as such FPL is a bare bone service and does not offer the features I was looking for. So, I got confused as I got different responses from 2 different persons and moreover I could not find about the features on the website as well and hence I joined the forum and posted this question here and am glad to get answers from veteran users as well as from some one like you who is with the company and knows stuff inside out.

So, my question to you Steve, what do you think? Can my set up with PRIMUS be duplicated exactly by FPL or would I have to lose my virtual number. Here I would add that porting the main number (416 number) is most important to me and it would be nice if the virtual (519) is also ported and directed or permanently call forwarded on to my 416 number. Moreover, where on your website (www.freephoneline.ca) I can see that you offer call conference and call waiting.

Thanks for taking the time to read my lengthy post and even though I know the name of the CSR I talked to but I would like to give him the benefit of doubt as he may have not understood my question properly and may be thinking that I wanted to do all this with softphone AND not home phone like I have with PRIMUS and hence gave me the information he did.

I look forward to your reply. Thanks.

[Jake]

FPL won't allow you to forward to another FPL number using their website. Reading your text I think this is the features that the CSR told you they do not provide.

I have not tried this, but would this work to get the 'virtual' number forwarding?

If you ported in both numbers and bought both config files along with a 2 line ATA. On the first line set it up as normal and plug your phone into that. On the second line (the virtual number) set it up to always forward to the other number. The only reason we can't forward numbers normally is because the website won't allow us to enter the number, but I can't see why this won't work. As we know from trying to get cheap calls to cell phones the caller ID is passed to the forwarded number so it should all work seamlessly. Has (could) anyone try this to see if it works.

[Ice]

This question has been answered well but thoguht I'd go into some detail that may (or not) help...

I have been using Primus VOIP for more than 5 years and though happy with the service, I would like to port the number to FPL in order to save money. However, I have some questions and looking for the answers from the forum members.

1. With Primus I have lots of features such as Call Waiting, Caller ID, Call display, Call blocking, Follow Me, 5 Way calling, Enhanced Voice Mail etc. What features from these would be available with FPL service.

2. With PRIMUS, I have only one ATA but I have 2 numbers. The first one is my main number with 416 area code and then I have a virtual number with a 519 area code. The 519 number is sort of permanently forwarded on my main 416 number. So, the questions is can I keep the same type of setting from FPL as well by porting both numbers from Primus to FPL.

Thanks for your help.

Freephoneline is great for the larger population, but there are some exceptions (eg. you're on the National Emergency Call List)... but for most people it works great!

1: Call Features:
- Call Waiting... yes, no difference here
- Caller ID... yes, no difference here and it's possibly to set your name too (when calling others)
- Call Blocking... no, though there are solutions you can do locally
- Follow Me... yes, absolutely, up to 3 numbers I believe?
- 5-way Calling... no, I believe they offer 3-way calling and can otherwise build your own solution
- Enhanced Voicemail... yes, though what "enhanced" means different things to different people

2. Two phone numbers is not doable without getting fancy. Bridonca mentioned how you can't forward a freephoneline to another freephoneline account... if this is the case it rules out the simplest solution of getting 2 accounts and forwarding them across. There are services out there that are both free and paid for you to use any unlocked ATA (which is why your Primus ATA probably won't worked as it's probably locked to Primus), OR you can purcahse/use a 2-SIP account ATA like bridonca suggested. The PAP2 however, won't work either because it allows only 1 SIP account afaik when you need 2. The cheapest one when I looked a while back was from Grandstream (I didn't pursue it any further and never ended up getting one so not sure of the details).

In my opinion, the extra cost to pay for a second line with Freephoneline has benefits on its own: you spend more now but in the LONG RUN you save a lot, without any inconvenience to your family or whoever calling you from both locations. Also, Freephoneline is a great quality service, and if you win by saving a LOT in the long run and pay a liitle extra, the cost you pay also helps Freephoneline too... more savings for you, more money for them = win win! Freephoneline has been weighing out countless feature suggestions and undoubtedly any payments we make to them goes towards a good cause.

On the record, I'm not in any way related to Freephoneline other than a regular customer... it's just one of those things which caught me off gaurd how good they are. =)

[cu2o2o2]

Hi,

I have been using Primus VOIP for more than 5 years and though happy with the service, I would like to port the number to FPL in order to save money. However, I have some questions and looking for the answers from the forum members.

1. With Primus I have lots of features such as Call Waiting, Caller ID, Call display, Call blocking, Follow Me, 5 Way calling, Enhanced Voice Mail etc. What features from these would be available with FPL service.

2. With PRIMUS, I have only one ATA but I have 2 numbers. The first one is my main number with 416 area code and then I have a virtual number with a 519 area code. The 519 number is sort of permanently forwarded on my main 416 number. So, the questions is can I keep the same type of setting from FPL as well by porting both numbers from Primus to FPL.

Thanks for your help.

Ok, here are some of what you will lose by leaving Primus.

You won't have the call log where it gives you the caller name and the capability to add it to your Directory and/or Concierge. You also won't have the capability to dial a number by just clicking the directory entry.

You won't have a Directory that gives you the ability to store 5 numbers to a single caller name and can also be sorted.

You won't have the Concierge FMFM, Remote phone, DISA, Back-up call forward, 5-way calling, whitelist and TMG.

You won't have the the capability to have a virtual number and the option to forward an FPL number to another FPL number.

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, YOU WILL LOSE THE ANNUAL BILL OF $280+ FROM PRIMUS !!!

In 2010, I tested the FPL softphone in April, then purchased my config in May, and finally purchased another config where I ported my Primus number (which I had since July 2005) to FPL in August. Total cost: $263.29 ($108 for 2 PAP2T's - I keep one for backup, $100 for 2 configs, and $25 for porting one number....plus taxes). For two phone numbers, I paid less than what I paid to Primus in a year for just one phone number, and I couldn't be happier!

[wonderdollar]

Hi,

I have been using Primus VOIP for more than 5 years and though happy with the service, I would like to port the number to FPL in order to save money. However, I have some questions and looking for the answers from the forum members.

1. With Primus I have lots of features such as Call Waiting, Caller ID, Call display, Call blocking, Follow Me, 5 Way calling, Enhanced Voice Mail etc. What features from these would be available with FPL service.

2. With PRIMUS, I have only one ATA but I have 2 numbers. The first one is my main number with 416 area code and then I have a virtual number with a 519 area code. The 519 number is sort of permanently forwarded on my main 416 number. So, the questions is can I keep the same type of setting from FPL as well by porting both numbers from Primus to FPL.

Thanks for your help.

Ok, here are some of what you will lose by leaving Primus.

You won't have the call log where it gives you the caller name and the capability to add it to your Directory and/or Concierge. You also won't have the capability to dial a number by just clicking the directory entry.

You won't have a Directory that gives you the ability to store 5 numbers to a single caller name and can also be sorted.

You won't have the Concierge FMFM, Remote phone, DISA, Back-up call forward, 5-way calling, whitelist and TMG.

You won't have the the capability to have a virtual number and the option to forward an FPL number to another FPL number.

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, YOU WILL LOSE THE ANNUAL BILL OF $280+ FROM PRIMUS !!!

In 2010, I tested the FPL softphone in April, then purchased my config in May, and finally purchased another config where I ported my Primus number (which I had since July 2005) to FPL in August. Total cost: $263.29 ($108 for 2 PAP2T's - I keep one for backup, $100 for 2 configs, and $25 for porting one number....plus taxes). For two phone numbers, I paid less than what I paid to Primus in a year for just one phone number, and I couldn't be happier!

Vow!! Thanks for the detailed reply. Its good to know that you were a PRIMUS VOIP user like me and do not regret your decision to transfer OR port the voip number to FPL and your post is making me determined more to move towards FPL in order to save money though I would be losing some great features as well. However, I do not understand this, why all this features are not found (at least I could not see these any thing about 3 way calling and call waiting) detailed on the website.

I would be initiating the porting of number soon.

Thanks once again for your help.

[FONGO_steve]

I think everyone else here has beat me to answering your questions - thanks guys!

In regards to having two inbound numbers - if you bought config files for them both, you could also look into something like PBXes or SIP Sorcery to have a few numbers share one device. Just one thing to note though: both are third party services, so our support team won't be able to provide any direct support or config help for them (but our forum certainly will )

[Jake]

Just one thing to note though: both are third party services, so our support team won't be able to provide any direct support or config help for them (but our forum certainly will )

I have to admit, it's a bit weird the official forum letting us give out tips and hacks on how to get around restrictions you apply, and how to exploit the service to it's fullest. There is even a way to allow you to choose your own number to a point, which I'm surprised has not been mentioned before. But props to you for allowing it

[Ice]

That's exactly what I thought at first too! Over time though, I've come to realize exactly what's going on and what "Freephoneline" is all about.

They operate under a different business model getting money from incoming (external) calls while providing minimal level of services in comparison to the red carpet prestige you see from the big box companies (and we'd all agree it's not even that!). They have done this very well with great customer service, etc, and in return have asked the community (here) to help out. Instead of making rash decisions and trying to make it big, they're the other way around - they're big but not "showing off" and as a result are able to provide a quality service leveraging on technology to make things work! Think Google and Gmail... I love dealing with smaller companies because they listen to their users and really try to be better... big companies follow rigid procedures that often end up in sheer frustration!

As for helping around restrictions... I see these more as barriers against abuse. So long as you're using it for personal or low-rate uses and aren't causing trouble in any way, they're there to provide you with a service, plus they make money too = Win-win! I know good user experiences have encouraged people to bring more people over to increase their customer base ($$$) in a world where more and more people are simply cancelling their home phone because it costs too much.

As long as it doesn't hurt them or cause any trouble, they seem pretty flexible... I just hope and pray somebody doesn't start ruining it for the rest of us!!!

[wonderdollar]

So ultimately I decided to port only 1 number from PRIMUS and the porting has been completed over 2 weeks ago. Everything seeks to be working fine but I can not use the 3 way calling feature. Do I have to make some changes in order to use this feature? Thanks for your help.

[FONGO_steve]

So ultimately I decided to port only 1 number from PRIMUS and the porting has been completed over 2 weeks ago. Everything seeks to be working fine but I can not use the 3 way calling feature. Do I have to make some changes in order to use this feature? Thanks for your help.

The 3-way calling should work the same as any other carrier by using the 'flash' button on your phone. Are you using our ATA, or do you have your own device?

[wonderdollar]

So ultimately I decided to port only 1 number from PRIMUS and the porting has been completed over 2 weeks ago. Everything seeks to be working fine but I can not use the 3 way calling feature. Do I have to make some changes in order to use this feature? Thanks for your help.

The 3-way calling should work the same as any other carrier by using the 'flash' button on your phone. Are you using our ATA, or do you have your own device?

I am using the ATA (Grandstream HT287 1.1.0.42 DevId 000b822b0834) I bought from FPL while porting my number from PRIMUS.

I will check the feature again and post the result here. In the meantime, do you have any suggestion for me.

[wonderdollar]

So ultimately I decided to port only 1 number from PRIMUS and the porting has been completed over 2 weeks ago. Everything seeks to be working fine but I can not use the 3 way calling feature. Do I have to make some changes in order to use this feature? Thanks for your help.

The 3-way calling should work the same as any other carrier by using the 'flash' button on your phone. Are you using our ATA, or do you have your own device?

I am using the ATA (Grandstream HT287 1.1.0.42 DevId 000b822b0834) I bought from FPL while porting my number from PRIMUS.

I will check the feature again and post the result here. In the meantime, do you have any suggestion for me.

The 3 way calling feature is still not working. I have already contacted the tech department and they are looking in to it and I am still waiting for a call back from the Tech department.

Any body else had this problem. And if yes, how was it solved?

Thanks

[FONGO_steve]

Can you PM me your number, along with a full description of how the 3-way calling isn't working? I'll see if anything looks unusual on your account setup.

[johnboykw]

Hi,

I have been using Primus VOIP for more than 5 years and though happy with the service, I would like to port the number to FPL in order to save money. However, I have some questions and looking for the answers from the forum members.

1. With Primus I have lots of features such as Call Waiting, Caller ID, Call display, Call blocking, Follow Me, 5 Way calling, Enhanced Voice Mail etc. What features from these would be available with FPL service.

2. With PRIMUS, I have only one ATA but I have 2 numbers. The first one is my main number with 416 area code and then I have a virtual number with a 519 area code. The 519 number is sort of permanently forwarded on my main 416 number. So, the questions is can I keep the same type of setting from FPL as well by porting both numbers from Primus to FPL.

Thanks for your help.

Ok, here are some of what you will lose by leaving Primus.

You won't have the call log where it gives you the caller name and the capability to add it to your Directory and/or Concierge. You also won't have the capability to dial a number by just clicking the directory entry.

You won't have a Directory that gives you the ability to store 5 numbers to a single caller name and can also be sorted.

You won't have the Concierge FMFM, Remote phone, DISA, Back-up call forward, 5-way calling, whitelist and TMG.

You won't have the the capability to have a virtual number and the option to forward an FPL number to another FPL number.

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, YOU WILL LOSE THE ANNUAL BILL OF $280+ FROM PRIMUS !!!

In 2010, I tested the FPL softphone in April, then purchased my config in May, and finally purchased another config where I ported my Primus number (which I had since July 2005) to FPL in August. Total cost: $263.29 ($108 for 2 PAP2T's - I keep one for backup, $100 for 2 configs, and $25 for porting one number....plus taxes). For two phone numbers, I paid less than what I paid to Primus in a year for just one phone number, and I couldn't be happier!

Vow!! Thanks for the detailed reply. Its good to know that you were a PRIMUS VOIP user like me and do not regret your decision to transfer OR port the voip number to FPL and your post is making me determined more to move towards FPL in order to save money though I would be losing some great features as well. However, I do not understand this, why all this features are not found (at least I could not see these any thing about 3 way calling and call waiting) detailed on the website.

I would be initiating the porting of number soon.

Thanks once again for your help.

I'm a current Primus TBB user and looking into porting my number over to FPL as well, but I was wondering about the loss of "Backup call forwarding" and the ability to block specific number's (ie telemarketers that don't get the hint...) I know there is the "FollowMe" feature here, but can anyone confirm it works the way I think it does when set to "unavailable"? (ie, I think it works that if the ATA/softphone is offline, then it forwards any incoming calls to the listed number(s)?) Also, if there are multiple followme numbers listed, I thought I read somewhere they both ring at the same time? or is it one after the other?

And is there anything that I could set up (after I know the number of course) to block telemarketers?

Thanks.

[Jake]

Telemarketers should follow the 'Do not cal list'. If they do keep calling and you are on the list, take down their name, the company they work for and the number; then report them to the do not call list. We have not had to do this for a long time now as we changed to a FPL number and have not had any calls, but when we were with bell we had loads calling, but not after we reported them - so it did work (back then anyway).

[Funkytown]

I can not use the 3 way calling feature. Do I have to make some changes in order to use this feature? Thanks for your help.

I know it's been awhile but I hope you got 3-way (conference calling) working, its just a matter of configuration inside your Grandstream ATA Voip device ... I'm using 2 Grandstream models and I guarantee you that 3-way works on Grandstream.

Oh I to left Primus to switch over to FreePhoneLine after being with Primus for over 3 years and I know for a fact that I made the best move ever by saving hundreds of $$$ with FreePhoneLine.

Cheers!