When you sign up for Beside, you are assigned an Beside number. If you prefer to use your own number with Beside, we offer two options:

Call forwarding allows you to redirect incoming calls from your primary line to your Beside number, without switching service providers. You can also pair call forwarding with Caller ID, so your personal phone number is displayed on the recipient’s screen when making calls.
However, text messages sent to your primary number are not redirected to Beside. And any messages you send from Beside will display your Beside number.

Porting involves transferring your existing phone number from another provider or app (like Google Voice, Sideline, or Quo - formerly OpenPhone) to Beside. This makes Beside your new service provider.

⛔️ Numbers with data plans (e.g., Verizon or T-Mobile) are not supported for porting. Since Beside isn’t a data provider, porting these lines would result in losing your data plan.

ℹ️ Once your number is ported, it will replace the Beside number originally assigned to your account.

⚠️ Beside does not currently support receiving two-factor authentication (2FA) messages - like verification codes from banks or apps. If you rely on 2FA regularly, we recommend keeping your current provider and using Call Forwarding instead.​

No, you will not lose access to your phone number during the porting process. Your phone service will remain uninterrupted while your number is being transferred to Beside. This ensures you can continue to make and receive calls and texts without any disruption.

The porting process typically takes about one week to complete, but in some cases, it may take up to two weeks. The specific timeline can vary depending on factors such as the approval process from your current provider. Rest assured, this timeframe is sufficient for a smooth and secure transition of your number.