Selecting a Phone Number
One of the most important steps in the activation process is selecting the phone number you will use with your Ooma system. Your phone number is part of who you are. After all, it’s the number people will dial when they want to connect with you! With Ooma, you have the option of keeping your existing phone number or selecting a new one.
- What are my options for selecting a phone number?
- Choosing a new phone number
- Can I call 911 even if my phone number is not from a local area code?
- Am I guaranteed to have a phone number in the area code that I want?
- Can I choose an 800 number for my Ooma?
- Can a unit with a U.S. phone number have a Canadian 911 address and vice-versa?
What are my options for selecting a phone number?
During the activation process, you will be asked whether or not you have an existing phone number that you would like to port to Ooma.
Porting your existing home phone number to Ooma is the easiest way to make sure that your friends and family can keep in touch without any of the confusion of a new phone number. Before you decide to port your number, here are some things you need to know:
- Ooma charges a one-time processing fee of $39.99 to port a phone number
- Ooma supports porting in most areas; visit www.ooma.com/port to check if your number can be ported
- It typically takes 3-4 weeks to complete the porting process
- For more information about porting, please see our porting article
If you think you would be interested in porting a phone number to Ooma, answer yes. Otherwise, answer no. Keep in mind that answering yes DOES NOT start the porting process. Similarly, answering no to this question does not preclude you from porting your phone number later.
I do want to port my existing number to Ooma
If you answered yes to the porting question, you will be prompted to choose a temporary phone number to use during the porting process. You can start to use the Ooma system right away.
At the end of the activation process, you can log into My Ooma to initiate the process of porting your phone number. Please see our number porting article for a step-by-step walkthrough of how to port your number to Ooma.
I do not want to port my existing number to Ooma
If you answer no to porting question, you will select a new phone number to assign to your Ooma system.
Choosing a new phone number
The first step to choosing a phone number is entering your desired area code. Ooma will provide you with some phone numbers to choose from that are as close to your preferences as possible.
If you don’t like the numbers that are available in the combination you entered, try experimenting with different area codes until you find a number that feels right for you.\
Can I call 911 even if my phone number is not from a local area code?
Yes, your 911 call is routed by the service address on your Ooma account, not your phone number. If Ooma is your only phone provider, your call will be routed over the Internet along with your phone number and the address that you’ve provided to Ooma. For that reason, it’s important to keep your personal information up-to-date by logging into My Ooma periodically and making sure everything is accurate. If you are using your Ooma system with a landline backup, your 911 call will be routed through your landline just as it always has been. You can learn more about using 911 with Ooma by visiting our 911 FAQ (U.S. or Canada).
Important: If the Internet is down, in the case of an emergency that warrants a call to 911 and you do not have a landline backup, you will need to call 911 from a mobile phone.
Am I guaranteed to have a phone number in the area code that I want?
Chances are very good that you’ll be able to get a telephone number within your local calling area. Unfortunately, Ooma cannot guarantee that you will be able to find a phone number in any specific area code. For example, no new 212 area code phone numbers are available, but Ooma can still provide phone numbers in that calling area (area code 646, etc).
Can I choose an 800 number for my Ooma?
No. At this time, only regular U.S. and Canada numbers are available for selection.
Note: Residential phone numbers from premium area codes including Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico can be selected, but carry an annual charge of $29.99/year. This subscription fee is waived for one premium phone number with an annual subscription to Ooma Premier. If you would like to activate your Ooma account with a phone number from one of these premium area codes, please contact a member of our Customer Care team.
Can a unit with a U.S. phone number have a Canadian 911 address and vice-versa?
No. The Ooma Telo Base Station device sold in the United States must have a U.S. service address. Devices sold in Canada must have a Canadian service address.
