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Can You Convert Your Landline Number to Your Cell Phone?

UPFRONT/GO

Ask the Tech Guru

My landline keeps getting more and more expensive, and I wouldn’t mind dropping it. But can I keep this number that I’ve had for decades?

Photo of a landline telephone connected to a smart phone via a curly cord

AARP tech writer Edward C. Baig: The good news is that you can likely keep that landline number and funnel those calls to your cellphone. Yes, many cellphones can work with two lines. The process is called porting.

STEP 1 | Make sure your cellphone can take two SIM cards or eSIMs. Those can accept calls to two different numbers on the same device. But you may incur charges.

STEP 2 | Call your cell carrier and tell them the landline number you want ported. Your landline provider might also charge you a fee to release the number.

STEP 3 | Cancel your landline.

Have a question for the Tech Guru? Email it to personal tech@aarp.org. Select questions will be answered.

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