And yet another Verizon / porting question...

[kirkub]

... except that I've read the FAQs and many, many threads on here and didn't quite find the answer to my scenario. So here goes!

I currently have a Verizon month-to-month plan (my 2-year contract had ended long ago, and I didn't see any phone I wanted to upgrade to). I use a Blackberry 8330. However, I've been using it so incredibly seldom (10-20mb data in a month, maybe 100 minutes used if that, all that for "only" $80+ a month), that I realised I'm much better off on a prepaid plan without data... So:
1) I would like to transfer the existing phone number to a VOIP, just because I've had the number for several years, basically to keep it as a voicemail box, and to later get rid of it, once I've contacted the people I actually want to contact back .
2) At the same time, I'd like to keep the Blackberry and put it on Page Plus for voice only, with a NEW number. I don't text, but I like my keyboard, and I have files, notes, photos, music, etc. on there - so I'd like to keep it.

When I went to a dealer yesterday, she told me she cannot activate my BB on PP with a new number, because it's already active with Verizon, and they can only do so if they port the number first (I was quoted $20 activation + $10 porting). But that's not what I want.

So how do I do it? First, port the old number to a VOIP (it's not a local area number, so I cannot port to a landline), wait till Verizon releases it, which will release my Blackberry, so PP can activate it with a new number? Or will I not be able to use my BB at all?

There were probably ways to describe my situation in fewer words, so thanks for reading I appreciate your help!
Cheers!
Kirk

[rgg]

This would seem to be the way to go:

First, port the old number to a VOIP (it's not a local area number, so I cannot port to a landline), wait till Verizon releases it, which will release my Blackberry, so PP can activate it with a new number?

I think you can now put a Blackberry onto Page Plus, they were banned for a while.

[Relztrah]

Kirkub,

Welcome to HoFo. You've come to the right place. First the easy part: keeping your old number. If you only want it for voice mail you have a couple good options. You could port your number into Google Voice which costs, I believe, $20 and is free from that point forward. (Or until Google decides they want to charge for GV.) The other option is to port the number to PagePlus and activate it on any old ten-dollar dumbphone that you pick up on eBay, Bonanza, Craig's List...or get a free hand-me-down from a friend who has upgraded to a better phone. Just make sure it's a VZW postpaid. You can't activate a Verizon prepaid on PagePlus. (Actually, I've done it through a PP dealer, but don't tell anyone.)

Then just use the number for voice mail. I'm doing this very thing just to keep my old number alive since I use my GV number for all calls and it rings to a phone I have from my wife's business. (There are perks when you wife has her own business.) You'll have to add $10 every four months to keep the number alive, so it will cost you $30/yr. Your number is still alive and you have 100 minutes to burn up if you need them for an emergency, or just leave the phone turned off and use the voice mail. Then when you don't think that you need the old number any more, just stop paying the $10 and your number will die a natural death. Use the dumbphone for a paperweight.

Activating your BlackBerry with a new number is another matter. After you port your number to another handset, that will free up your BlackBerry, at least as far as Verizon is concerned...I think. (Help me out here, experts.) If you've read the posts here, you'll see that there is some debate about whether or not it is possible to activate a BlackBerry on PP. The consensus is that it is not possible, but people have done it, just like I've activated VZW prepaids. If you just call PP customer service and give them the ESN of your BlackBerry you will almost surely not be able to do it.

You might go back to the dealer you used before or use one of the PP dealers who is a member of HoFo that are listed in the New to PagePlus sticky above. (FYI, HoFo rules forbid mentioning any specific dealer in your posts.)

I'll let the more knowledgeable HoFo members weigh in on whether or not you can actually activate your BlackBerry, but if in fact you do so through a PP dealer, as a courtesy you might want to purchase an $80/2000 min card from him as a thank-you. A helpful PP dealer is your best friend if you have any issues in the future. The $80 card is your best deal for voice only, and they don't expire for a whole year. There's an online vendor that many of us use where you can get frequent discounts, you won't pay state sales tax, and there's a rewards program. But I'll leave that up to you when and if you actually can activate your BlackBerry.

Good luck, and again, welcome to HowardForums.

[kirkub]

Thanks for the response(s), rgg and Reltzrah.

"If you've read the posts here, you'll see that there is some debate about whether or not it is possible to activate a BlackBerry on PP."
The dealer (in Fresno, CA) didn't even blink when I said I wanted to activate a BB, so I assume she's done that before. Maybe the debate on here is more about data? Shouldn't just about any phone work for just voice?
Unfortunately the website is still down for the only HoFo member who's within driving distance.

"The $80 card is your best deal for voice only, and they don't expire for a whole year."
The dealer had never heard of it, she said they only sold up to $50 pre-paid plans and that they all expire within 120 days. I looked on PP website and couldn't find the $80 card either!

Thank you and I'll let you guys know how it (eventually) ends!
Cheers,
Kirk

[telmesrin]

BlackBerries used to be banned from PPC. Some may still be, I'm not sure, but they aren't all banned anymore.

The $80 card is only available through dealers, not the PPC website. I don't know why your dealer wouldn't have heard about it.

[Relztrah]

"The $80 card is your best deal for voice only, and they don't expire for a whole year."
The dealer had never heard of it, she said they only sold up to $50 pre-paid plans and that they all expire within 120 days. I looked on PP website and couldn't find the $80 card either!

They put out a press release but don't sell the card itself on the website. It doesn't make sense to me, either. You can supposedly buy the $80 card at some convenience stores or gas stations, or get it electronically through CallingMart.com.