How to Replace a Sprint Phone With a Prepaid Phone

Your Sprint phone number will transfer to your new prepaid cell phone.

If you choose to switch phone service providers, the Federal Communications Commission requires Sprint to transfer your current phone number to your new cell phone. This requirement applies to both contract cell phones and prepaid phones. Unless you have moved, which nullifies the FCC requirement, all that you have to do to replace your Sprint landline or cell phone with a prepaid cell is contact the new cell provider and request that your old phone number be transferred. You must switch providers, however, since Sprint will not transfer numbers from their own landlines or cells to prepaid cell phones.

Instructions

1. Purchase a prepaid phone that does not use Sprint as the service provider.

2. Call your new cell phone service provider to activate your prepaid phone, using the contact information that came with your new phone.

3. Request that your prepaid cell phone service provider contact Sprint to transfer your old phone number to your new prepaid phone. They will confirm your identity, and then process your request.

4. Check to see if the new provider charges a fee to port your old phone number over to your new prepaid cell phone. They are permitted to charge you a just and reasonable service fee.

5. Do not cancel your service with Sprint until you are positive that the number has been successfully ported to your prepaid phone.

Tips & Warnings

• If your old Sprint phone is a contract cell phone, you will need to pay the early termination fee if you do not finish out the terms of your Sprint contract.

References

• Consumer Reports: Phones And Prepaid Devices: Learn How To Buy A Prepaid Phone
• Aitelephone: Cell Phones Number Portability
• FCC: Keeping Your Telephone Number When You Change Your Service Provider