This article explains the difference between the terms 'hosting', 'porting' and 'importing'.

Always use the correct industry terminology when working with telephone service providers to avoid confusion and service interruptions.

Hosting

Industry term also used in Sakari
Also referred to as Hosted Messaging
Only supported for existing landline or Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone numbers in the United States and Canada
Transfers only the SMS services of a number to a different provider from the original number provider
A hosting arrangement exists between the voice provider and the SMS provider
SMS services are released by the voice provider to the SMS provider
The voice provider can reclaim SMS services at any time without prior warning to the SMS provider
All SMS on hosted numbers are automatically routed through the new SMS provider
The phone number will continue to send and receive voice calls, and the original voice provider remains responsible for managing voice services
The original voice provider remains the owner of the number throughout
Changing the voice provider for a number terminates any existing hosting arrangement

Porting

Industry term also used in Sakari
Occurs between two number providers (typically voice providers, that may also provide SMS services)
The current provider is known as the 'losing' provider and the new provider as the 'winning' provider
Typically initiated by the winning provider on request by the end-user
Transfers a phone number between two telephone service providers on behalf of an end-user
Transfers voice and SMS services as a 'bundle' to the winning provider
Terminates any existing hosting arrangement between the losing voice provider and a separate SMS provider (like Sakari)
Requires coordination between the losing provider and the winning provider regarding the porting date
Numbers from any country can be ported to Sakari for SMS
Voice services are not supported in Sakari and will not be ported

Sakari term
Adding an outbound number as a Sender in Sakari via a number provider integration (e.g. Twilio, Aircall)
Only supported for numbers from the relevant provider
The original number provider remains the owner of voice and SMS services after importing
All SMS sent and received from Sakari using imported numbers use the original provider's SMS network
The phone number will continue to send and receive voice calls, and the original provider remains responsible for managing voice services
International and domestic SMS deliverability, coverage and troubleshooting remain the responsibility of the original provider