Enable SMS With Your Existing Carrier
Clerk provides a method for our customers to send and receive messages on voice-enabled numbers they already own. It is possible to import your current phone number to Clerk for SMS and also keep your voice with your existing carrier. SMS Only feature does not affect your voice calling capabilities of the number. Not all carriers support splitting the Voice and Text portion of a number.
If we only host the SMS portion of your phone number with Clerk then you will continue to receive phone calls via your existing carrier. If you completely port the number, you can leverage the calls through our add-ons such as “Call Forwarding” or “Voice in Slack”.
An existing landline can be text-enabled. When enabled in Clerk, the voice capabilities will remain as they are with your existing carrier, and Clerk will simply host the SMS functionality.
We can often host SMS functionality while leaving voice functionality with your existing provider.
In order for us to host SMS on an existing VoIP line, you’ll need to contact your current carrier to have them relinquish control of the SMS functionality by removing the SPID from your number.
Once your provider has confirmed that the SPID has been released, we can enable your number in Clerk in about 3-4 hours.
Depending on the number and the carrier, we can often text-enable or host SMS for toll-free numbers.
If you have a cell phone number you'd like to utilize with Clerk, we will need to port the number entirely in order to use it. Please contact us and provide a copy of your phone bill with phone number & account number visible, as well as the PIN for your account. Keep in mind the phone number will be moved over in its entirety both voice and SMS.
Porting a number to Clerk is the transfer of a phone number from your existing provider to Clerk. The process involves providing the right documentation to prove ownership of the number and coordinating between the existing provider and Clerk Chat on the porting date. When a port request is submitted to Clerk we will port both Voice and SMS by default.
To enable your phone number in Clerk please reach out to support@clerk.chat and we can verify your eligibility.
