Cheap way to port landline phone number to google voice?

Hello, I recently bought an Obi110 to replace my current landline phone service. I want to keep my landline number. I don't understand the full details yet, but I think it goes something like this:

- Get a cheap sim card.
- Port my landline number onto the sim card.
- Port sim card to google voice
- Set up Obi110 with google voice

Here's what I was thinking on the sim card, but I want to make sure with you guys this will work: http://www.ebay.com/itm/SIMPLE-MO...2a248e24be
I don't have a tmobile phone, but I think I might be able to find a friend that has an old tmobile phone.

If that won't work, will this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-T-Mob...3a7d31d292

The difference I can see from the two above choices is the first one is just a sim card, and the second one is the card + activation kit?

If none of these will work, can you suggest an inexpensive alternative option?

Why cant you just port the land line number right to GV? I don't see how porting it to a cell phone line would help.

Quote from mrbobhcrhs : Why cant you just port the land line number right to GV? I don't see how porting it to a cell phone line would help.

only cell numbers can be ported over to GV.

something about GV operating like a simulated cell phone company.

Hmm interesting. I just got my mom an obi so im sure at some point she will need to go though the same thing.

Quote from mrbobhcrhs : Hmm interesting. I just got my mom an obi so im sure at some point she will need to go though the same thing.

easiest way is to get a tmo prepaid phone and port the landline to it first.

you get something like $3 of airtime that doesnt expire for 3 months with the retail package $20-25.

make at least one call in and one call out to verify the number port worked.

then you can port the number from tmo to GV.

PRAY that everything goes well with GV as there is _NO_ customer service. O.O

port it to tmobile sim card

+1 on tmo prepaid. that's what i did a ways back... ported my voip number to tmo for a very basic cost (I think then it was just the sim card cost, didn't load any minutes or anything, so if you've got a free tmo sim then that's that). once it's verified as being on tmo prepaid, you can pay the $20 to port it to GV.

Quote from shoitz : +1 on tmo prepaid. that's what i did a ways back... ported my voip number to tmo for a very basic cost (I think then it was just the sim card cost, didn't load any minutes or anything, so if you've got a free tmo sim then that's that). once it's verified as being on tmo prepaid, you can pay the $20 to port it to GV.

Will this work? http://www.ebay.com/itm/SIMPLE-MO...2a248e24be

Quote from Initial Z : Will this work? http://www.ebay.com/itm/SIMPLE-MO...2a248e24be

No clue.... looks like you may need to buy minutes with that. What I used was actual T-Mobile Prepaid. The SIM is $5 or less in the store I think, and it comes with a very small balance (something like 8 minutes), but since the goal was not to use the minutes, that was all I needed. They show up once in a while on SD here for free, but if you don't already have one I would just swing by the store and grab one, as opposed to continuing to pay the monthly rate on your home phone while you wait to save $3 on a SIM card.

The Simple Mobile thing may work too, but I haven't done it with that company so I don't know.

If you've got an unlocked phone that takes a SIM card, that's the easiest way to make sure it gets activated properly. If not, maybe you can borrow one from somebody? Needs to be unlocked.

*edit* $0.99 for the SIM card online
http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.co...-sim-cards

I don't know if its true, but I heard/read that it can be near impossible to port your number OUT of GV if ever needed to do that.

Quote from jbloggs : I don't know if its true, but I heard/read that it can be near impossible to port your number OUT of GV if ever needed to do that.

This used to be true, but was changed I believe early 2012. $3 to port out, or $0 if you paid to port your number in:
http://support.google.com/voice/b...er=1316844

You can order a prepaid activation kit with SIM direct from T-Mobile for no charge. You have to wait for shipping.

http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.co...vation-Kit

For best results, don't port into your primary google account. Obi's documentation recommends as much.

If you accidentally leave a gmail window you wouldn't get your calls if you use your primary account.

ok, I found this fortunately, because I'm looking for this info! I was already wondering why I couldn't simply port to GV.
So.. ok, the steps:
- get a t-mobile prepaid phone? Just at the store somewhere.. what's the cost usually?
- Now.. what about the sim. DO I need a prepaid phone with sim?... (yes, I'm a n00b when it comes to this)
- port the number to the new phone...(how?)
- try out the landline number on the new phone.. just to be sure it's ported
- port to GV
done.

Is there a how-to document somewhere on how to do this step-by-step? And what phone I would need? (I mean.. it's only to port the number, so...)

Thank you for any input on this!