Cell phone question--what happens when you port a number?

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

When you get a new cell phone and a new carrier, and you port the number over to the new carrier, what happens to the old cell phone? Does it just go dead in your hands? Or is it like you have two phones with the same number until your contract runs out with the first carrier?

(Complicating matters somewhat, I'm moving my cell phone number from one pay-as-you-go provider to another pay-as-you-go provider.)

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

My sister just answered the question. She says the old phone will stop working, not right away, but in a couple of days. She says it's like a brain transplant in a 1950s horror movie.

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

Like that line from Star Trek-it's dead Jim.

I have several older phones that I think I am going to try to sell.

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

You should! My old one is so old I don't think the "Phones for Soldiers" drive will take it.

[IreneLF Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close IreneLF]

i ported from tmobile to verizon. verizon worked right away, full address book, and all, like nothing ever happened and i got to keep my old phone #.
i never thought to check on the old phone b/c with the new one who needed the old one?

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

I keep the old phones to use when I jump in the pool with the new one.

Most phones are not carrier specific - you can use them with any plan.

That said, this is not true of the phones that are "little computers" - iphone, Blackberry, Droid....

Just "plain old" phones you talk on.

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

My new one has a keyboard and web capability! I'm all excited to be moving firmly into 2007.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

My new one has a keyboard and web capability! I'm all excited to be moving firmly into 2007.

Next you will be telling us you have 'outgrown' the Poconos

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

My new one has a keyboard and web capability! I'm all excited to be moving firmly into 2007.

My cell phone has all that as well. But, to me it's still just a dumb phone.

[Kay H Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Kay H]

I have an OLD cell phone that I keep turned off unless I know someone is going to call me. I do make calls on it though. It is pay as you go since I use it so seldom. There is no cover over the keys and many times in my purse some buttons get pushed and it kinda goes to the internet connection and runs down my money. I've never gone to the internet on it and I'm not even sure that's what it does.

I thought about getting a phone with a cover but now I see that all the new fancy phones do not have covers over their keys. It would probably take me forever to learn how to use it. I guess I'll stick with what I have until I either lose it or ruin it.

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

Does the keyboard lock, Kay? My old phone is a Nokia with no cover, but you lock the keyboard so it doesn't start calling people on its own. You push two keys to lock it, and then you push them again to unlock. Some phones have a little slider button to lock the keyboard.

My new one is like a clamshell--the keys are covered that way.

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

Next you will be telling us you have 'outgrown' the Poconos

That will never happen! The Poconos are a CLASSIC.

[Kay H Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Kay H]

My phone only locks when it is on. If it locks when off, I never knew.

[Kay H Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Kay H]

Funny story

One time I was at the movies and my cell called Pat h 3 or 4 times without me knowing (must have pushed last # called or something). She could hear me laughing so she knew it was me. Every time she hung up, my phone would call her again.

She thought I was partying and was drunk.

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

My phone only locks when it is on. If it locks when off, I never knew.

You mean it turns itself on and THEN dials Pat? Now that's a smartphone! Next it will be calling for a pizza.