Number Portability, iPhone Activation, & Syncing *A MUST READ*

Question

_*Phone numbers to know:*_
*AT&T Customer Service: 1.800.331.0500*
*AT&T Number Porting Department: 1.888.898.7685 (open till 11 or midnight)*
*AT&T IT Help Desk for iPhone: 1.877.419.4500*
AT&T is a LOCAL NUMBER PORTABILITY COMPANY. This means that if you have a number to port that originates in a different _*AREA CODE*_ from your current _*ZIP CODE*_ +(i.e. Phone number is Florida and you live in California)+ AT&T "normally" _*DOES NOT PORT*_ these types of numbers.
+(I was told by an AT&T representative that an exception was made for my situation because of iPhone)+
Because of this NUMBER PORTABILITY restriction iTunes will most likely have a problem activating your iPhone. Transferring your number from one carrier to AT&T should be fine through iTunes as long as you are not transferring a number from one AT&T MARKET to ANOTHER AT&T MARKET (i.e. different States).
If you are transferring your number from one AT&T MARKET to another AT&T MARKET then I highly recommend calling the AT&T number portability department. Explain your situation and don't let them tell you that it can not be done. IT CAN BE DONE! What you will need to do this type of transfer is an ADDRESS in the MARKET that your number originates in. +For example, you are from Texas and signed up for service with Verizon in your hometown. Then you move to Oregon but don't change your *_PRIMARY PLACE OF USE_ +(place where you started service. Different from billing address)+* with Verizon for whatever reason. Living in Oregon you decide that you would like to buy iPhone (You have to use AT&T) but want to keep your same phone number because it's a local call for your family and friends in Texas. So, when you call AT&T Number Portability Department to switch your number from Verizon be prepared to give them an address from Texas to start service with your Texas number and then give your current Oregon address for the billing of the service.+ This should allow your number to be transferred smoothly in a matter of 15-20 minutes. If you try to do this type of transfer through iTunes it will most likely fail.
Once you have gone through the number porting you leave iPhone on the dock to charge, finish the activation, and sync it. +TIP: After the phone has charged and synced go through a power cycle+ +(You may have to reset the iPhone for your text messaging feature to begin working).+
_*Before you connect the iPhone to the computer I would HIGHLY suggest doing the following:*_
*-Update all your contacts*
*-Update your calendars*
*-Use iphoto Buddy (FREE @ http://www.iphotobuddy.com/) to create an additional new iPhoto library just for your iPhone*
*-Create a new playlist in iTunes to organize the songs/video that you want on iPhone*
*-Clean your Mailboxes of old, junk, or deleted mail (if using Google read their support for IMAP)*
*-Clean up your Safari bookmarks*
*-If you have wireless networking at home or work find out your passwords to the network to allow iPhone Wi-Fi to connect to those networks*
Hope that you find this information helpful.

Answer 1

Hello Chris.
When becoming an at&t subscriber and wanting to port a number from another provider, at&t handles the entire process regardless your chosen phone.
If you contact Verizon in advance to cancel your account before becoming an at&t subscriber, and before at&t contacts Verizon to port your number, at&t won't be able to port your number from Verizon and you will lose it - having to get a new phone number with at&t.
I was formally a Verizon subscriber, and I had been a Verizon subscriber since the summer of 2001 before becoming an at&t subscriber a couple of months before the iPhone was first available at the end of June last year. I ported my number from Verizon, and at&t handled everything. I never contacted Verizon, and the last time I heard from them was when I received my final bill - along with an incentive to change my mind and come back to Verizon - which they certainly didn't offer me while I was a subscriber.
The activation process for your iPhone by at&t and at&t's request to Verizon to port your number to at&t notifies Verizon of your intent to cancel your account, so no need to contact Verizon in advance.