Port or Transfer Your Phone Number to Sure Send
Port or Transfer Your Phone Number to Sure Send
Purpose: Bring your existing phone number(s) to Sure Send from another carrier or platform.
Before You Begin
- Your A2P campaign must be approved before you can port or transfer numbers
- Numbers lose their existing configuration during transfer (opt-outs, settings, messaging service associations)
- You'll need to reconfigure and associate the number with your campaign after transfer completes
Tip: If you haven't completed business registration yet, do that first. See Business Registration for SMS.
Check If Your Number Can Be Ported
- Click Settings in the left navigation
- Click Phone Settings
- Click Porting
- Click Port Numbers
- Enter your phone number(s)
The system checks portability and automatically detects whether your number is already in Twilio (which means you'll use the transfer process) or with a traditional carrier (which means you'll use the port process).
Internal Transfer (Twilio-to-Twilio)
When to use: The current platform uses Twilio as their phone provider.
Common Twilio-powered platforms include:
- Follow Up Boss
- Aloware
- OpenPhone
- Sierra Interactive
- Dialpad
- Aircall
- JustCall
What To Do
- Notify your current provider of your intent to transfer the number(s)
- Complete any release documentation they require (such as a Letter of Authorization)
- Submit your transfer request in Sure Send — the system will detect it's a Twilio number and route it appropriately
- Our team coordinates with Twilio to complete the transfer
- You'll be notified when the transfer is complete
Timeline
1–5 business days (once both parties have approved)
Note: You don't need to obtain credentials (Account SID, account number, PIN) from your current provider. Our team handles coordination directly through Twilio.
External Port (Traditional Carriers)
When to use: Your number is with a traditional carrier like AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, or another non-Twilio provider.
What You'll Need
| Item | Where to Get It |
|---|---|
| Current carrier name | Your phone bill |
| Account number | Your phone bill or carrier account |
| Port-out PIN | Request from your current carrier |
| Service address | Address on file with your carrier |
| Utility bill or carrier invoice | Recent bill showing your name and service address |
What To Do
- Request a port-out PIN from your current carrier (call customer service or check their app/website)
- Click Settings → Phone Settings → Porting
- Click Port Numbers and enter your phone number(s)
- Complete the porting form with your carrier and account information
- Upload your utility bill or carrier invoice
- Sign the Letter of Authorization (LOA) sent to your email
- Click Submit
Twilio coordinates the port with your carrier. You'll receive status updates as the port progresses.
Timeline
5–15 business days (carrier-dependent)
After Your Transfer Completes
Once your number has been successfully ported or transferred:
- The number appears in your Phone Settings
- Reconfigure for SMS and/or Voice as needed
- The number is associated with your approved A2P campaign
You can now use the number to send and receive text messages and calls through Sure Send.
Bulk Porting
Need to port multiple numbers at once? Sure Send supports bulk porting for up to 1,000 numbers in a single request.
- All numbers in a bulk request share one Letter of Authorization
- Progress is tracked via completed count
- Each number follows the same validation and approval process
To start a bulk port, enter multiple numbers when prompted during the porting flow.
Troubleshooting
| Issue | What It Means | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| "Number not portable" | Number may be VoIP or from an unsupported carrier | Contact support for assistance |
| "Already in Twilio" | Number is with another Twilio-powered platform | Use the transfer option instead of port |
| Port taking longer than expected | Carriers can take up to 15 business days | Check status in Phone Settings; contact support if no updates after 15 days |
What's Next
Once your number is active in Sure Send, you can:
- Configure SMS and voice settings
- Add the number to automations and workflows
- Start communicating with your contacts