If you’ve recently received that frustrating email from Skype announcing the retirement of their service in favor of Teams—with your Skype number scheduled for deactivation on May 5th—you’re not alone. We faced the same challenge, as many of our business operations rely on our trusted Skype numbers. When Skype’s change left us scrambling for an alternative, we set our sights on Google Voice. However, the transition wasn’t as straightforward as it might seem.
Google Voice supports only mobile numbers, while Skype numbers are virtual. After scouring online resources to no avail, we knew we had to get creative. The solution? Port our Skype number into a mobile carrier first, and then transfer it to Google Voice—ensuring that we keep our VOIP number accessible anywhere in the world without being tethered to a long-term mobile carrier.
Our Two-Step Porting Process
1. Porting the Number into a Mobile Carrier
- Purchase and Setup: We purchased a new line on Tello and set it up using an eSIM on one of our company’s mobile phones. The purchase flow was smooth, efficient, and user-friendly.
- Initiating the Port: Once our new line was activated, we logged into Tello’s online account portal to start the porting process. Porting the Skype number to Tello can take a few days, so patience is key. When prompted for the account number, we used our Skype online number, and when asked for a PIN, we entered “0000.”
2. Porting from Tello to Google Voice
- Accessing Google Voice Settings: Open the Google Voice app on your device, tap the menu icon, and navigate to the settings.
- Initiating the Port: In settings, select “Port a number to Google Voice.” Your default browser will open with step-by-step instructions. Follow these prompts carefully to complete the porting process from Tello to Google Voice.
Cost Breakdown
The total cost for the entire process was about $35—covering both Tello’s service and the Google Voice porting fee. Given the benefits of keeping your familiar number active and accessible worldwide via VOIP, we found it to be a very cost-effective solution.
Need Assistance?
We understand that porting your Skype number to Google Voice can seem daunting, especially when dealing with multiple carriers and unfamiliar procedures. If you have any questions or need help with the process, please don’t hesitate to reach out through our contact form. We’re here to help you make this transition as smooth as possible.