Cell phones can be transferred from one provider to another.
Porting from TracFone to another cell phone provider allows options to keep your existing number, contacts and in many cases, the same cell phone. Porting is the process of canceling TracFone service at the same time you activate the cell phone with another service provider. Porting is convenient to the user who wants to transfer to save money, as well as those who want to receive greater reception and better customer service.
Instructions
1. Consider the network infrastructure of both TracFone and the provider to which you will be transferring. Wire carriers in the United States use either CDMA or GSM networks. Code Division Multiple Access phones are only compatible with networks that support CDMA technology, like Sprint and Verizon. Global Systems for Mobile Communication is used by AT&T and T-Mobile.
GSM, which CNET Reviews says has a more global reach, uses SIM cards. The Subscriber Identity Module card is a portable memory chip which can be removed from one phone to another. With CDMA technology the user contacts the cell phone provider to program account information into the new phone. While many cell phone providers support both infrastructure technologies, some only support one or the other. The provider you're switching to will tell you if your existing phone is compatible for porting based on the new provider's network infrastructure.
2. Contact customer support to activate the phone with the new provider. The support technician will ask for your current TracFone telephone number, account information and the ESN/IMEI/MEID number of the TracFone. The ESN/IMEI/MEID number varies depending on the model of the phone.
Electronic Serial Numbers (ESN) is the unique identification number that a manufacturer embeds on a wireless phone's microchip, according to the Telecommunications Industry Association. When a call is placed, the ESN is transferred to the wireless carrier's mobile base station, allowing it to check the validity of the call. The International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number is usually found behind the battery. Every mobile phone has a unique IMEI number used only in identifying the device. Mobile Equipment IDentifier (MEID), says TSA, is a globally unique number for a piece of mobile station equipment. MEID is the replacement for the ESN.
3. Provide the new service provider with the ZIP code and current cell phone number.
4. Allow up to 24 hours for the porting process to complete. You will not be able to use the cell phone until the process completes.
Tags: cell phone, account information, CDMA technology, cell phone provider, IMEI MEID, IMEI MEID number, IMEI number