List of prepaid carriers - determining current carrier

For #3, try dialing a nonsensical number and wait for the error message. Sometimes the name of the carrier will be mentioned. Also you may hear a three or four digit number. Often that is the system identification number (SID). If you post that number here on the forum, someone can chime in with what carrier uses that SID.

 

For #2, I always go to https://www.wirelessamberalerts.org/index.jsp and enter the number there, they seem to always show the right carrier. Just don't follow through with the sign up process beyond the first step.

 

You can search which carrier owns a block of the local phone exchanges here:

Local calling guide: NPA-NXX search

Enter the area code (NPA) and next 3 digits (NXX) and it'll list you the city, state and which carrier owns each block in that prefix.

Here's an example in my area, some blocks in the same prefix are Alltel (ATNI) and some are Sprint: http://www.localcallingguide.com/lca_prefix.php?npa=864&nxx=425

 

For 2 and 3 go to https://www.wirelessamberalerts.org/submitTN.do and input a wireless number (or a land line that was ported to wireless) and it will tell you the wireless operator for that number.

(Don't worry about signing someone up since you have to agree to terms.)

 

This won't help you if the number you input has been ported to another service. If you want to see the original holder of number blocks go to TelcoData.US: Welcome to the Telecommunications Database but that only tells you who was assigned a number block. It will not help you if the number has been ported.

 

Check out Fuzion Mobile. I've been with them for about a year and love the service and the price. Plus, you can port the number you have if you want to keep it (I had to because I've had the same number for years). Good Luck!

 

Err, how does this relate to the question the original poster asked?

 

IMHO: directly.

 

Care to explain how? How does your suggestion tell the OP what the original carrier is? As far as I can see it doesn't do anything to answer that question.

 

I agree completely, it does nothing to answer that question. As for the explanation -- sure, since you asked. You keep saying question (singular). The OP contains questions (plural). The previous post partially answers one of the questions in the original post. You can use the elimination technique to narrow it down from there.

 

Asking your question using bold and red does not make your message easier to read or make it more important. As far as access to voicemail some carriers do not require a password if you're accessing voicemail from the phone as default making it more convenient and others do not. You can always set up a pass code (and it's wise to do so if you've been following the News Corp. scandal of the last few weeks.)

 

"To access your account, please enter your 4-digit pin."

That exact phrase is used on Google Voice phone numbers.
You can hear it when you call a Google Voice number and press star (*).