When you must absolutely, with out a doubt keep your phone number. Except for one thing … you don’t really need to answer the calls, or call from the phone number. NumberGarage has a PARK service feature that allows people (and now “officially” businesses as of April 2013) to PARK a number to use later.

We have attorneys who use NumberGarage for holding phone numbers in dispute with failed, or fighting business owners. One owner wants the phone number, the other has control and not complying, and it can get really ugly. Then, a court of law says “No entity, or person, or termination will occur. The phone number in question must be retired and left in escrow for ten years.” Yes, we have numbers that must stay with us for a long, long time.

PARK your phone number because you have to, not because you want to. We are here for you when you need us, and you will know when you need us. That will be when you don’t want to lose your phone number.

Link:

http://smallbiztechnology.com/archive/2008/10/dont-lose-your-phone-number-pa.html