Phone numbers

Buy a number

1. Open Phone Numbers in the sidebar and click Buy number.
2. Enter a three-digit US Area code and click Search.
3. Click Buy next to the number you want.

Each plan includes a set number of phone numbers. If the button is unavailable, you either need to pick a plan on the Billing page first, or you've reached your plan's limit and need to upgrade or release a number.

Assign an agent

A number only answers once an agent is assigned to it and that agent has a published version.

1. On the Phone Numbers page, find the number.
2. In the Assigned skill column, choose the agent from the menu.

The change takes effect for the next call. If a number is set to Unassigned, or its agent hasn't been published yet, callers hear a short polite message and the call ends.

Label a number

Click Add label next to a number to give it a friendly name like "Main line", then Save label. Labels only help you tell your numbers apart.

Bring your own number

You can move a number you already have from another carrier to Boundless. Your current line keeps working until the move is complete.

1. On the Phone Numbers page, click Bring your own number.
2. Enter the Numbers to port, one per line. We check that each one can be moved.
3. Fill in your Current carrier details exactly as they appear on your bill: account holder name, carrier account number, account PIN and service address.
4. Name the Authorized person who signs the Letter of Authorization. Port updates also go to their email.
5. Upload a Signed Letter of Authorization and a Recent carrier bill from the last 30 days showing the account holder, the address and the number (PDF, PNG or JPEG, up to 8 MB).
6. Review and submit.

Carriers usually respond within a few business days, and the whole move typically takes two to four weeks. We check its progress and notify you whenever the status changes. If the carrier needs something corrected, the request tells you what, and you can fix it and resubmit. When the move is complete, the number appears on your Phone Numbers page with a Ported badge; assign it an agent like any other. Ported numbers count toward your plan's number limit.

Pause incoming calls on a number

To stop a number taking calls for a while, open Phone Numbers and set its agent to Unassigned. Callers then hear a short message that the line isn't set up and the call ends; your agent isn't used and no call minutes are counted. To turn calls back on, pick the agent again. The change applies to the next call, straight away.

Unassigning doesn't release the number. It stays on your account and keeps its phone number until you remove it.

Release a number

To give a number up, click the release button on its row and confirm. This can't be undone: the number goes back to the carrier and you may not be able to get it again.