.png){kind=logo}
Using Your Existing Business Landline for Texting with Chekkit
Hosting allows an eligible business landline to send and receive text messages through Chekkit without moving the number’s existing phone service.
This means customers can call and text the same business number, while your current phone provider continues handling all voice calls.
What Is a Hosted Landline?
A hosted landline is an existing business phone number that has been text-enabled through Chekkit.
Once hosting is complete:
- Calls continue ringing through your existing phone provider and phone system.
- Text messages are sent and received through your Chekkit Inbox.
- Your business keeps the same publicly advertised phone number.
- Your existing phone service and carrier remain active.
Hosting only moves the number’s messaging service to Chekkit. It does not transfer ownership of the number or move your voice service.
Important: Do not cancel your existing phone service. The number must remain active with your current provider.
Hosting Compared With Porting
Hosting and porting are two different processes.
Hosting a Landline
- Only SMS and MMS messaging are connected to Chekkit.
- Calls continue through your existing phone provider.
- Your current phones and phone system continue working.
- Chekkit Voice features are not added.
Porting a Number to Chekkit Voice
- The number’s calling and messaging services move to Chekkit.
- The previous provider and physical phone setup may stop working once the port is complete.
- Calls are handled through Chekkit Voice.
- Voice features such as call routing, voicemail, call history, recordings, and transcripts become available (if enabled on your plan).
If you only want to text from your existing landline while keeping your current phone system, hosting is usually the appropriate option.
Which Numbers Can Be Hosted?
Hosting is generally available for eligible Canadian and US numbers:
- Business landline numbers
- Local numbers classified as landlines
- Toll-free numbers
Mobile numbers cannot be hosted through this process.
The number must also:
- Remain active with its current phone provider
- Be owned or controlled by your business
- Not already be text-enabled or hosted by another messaging provider
- Pass the carrier’s eligibility and ownership checks
Eligibility is not guaranteed. Chekkit will check the number before beginning the authorization process.
Information Required
To submit a hosting request, Chekkit may require:
- The phone number you want to host
- Your legal business name
- The physical service address associated with the number
- The name and title of someone authorized to make changes to the number
- The authorized person’s email address
- The current phone provider
- Any extension or call-tree instructions needed to reach someone at the number
The information provided should match the records held by your current phone provider. We may also request a recent phone bill if additional proof of ownership is required.
The Hosting Process
Step 1: Contact Chekkit Support
Email support@chekkit.io and confirm that you would like to use your existing business landline as your Chekkit texting number.
Include the number you want to host and your business name.
Step 2: Eligibility Check
Chekkit will submit the number for an eligibility review.
A request may be rejected if the number:
- Is classified as a mobile number
- Is already enabled for messaging
- Is hosted by another messaging provider
- Has incomplete or unavailable carrier information
- Is not supported by the underlying carrier
If the number is already hosted elsewhere, the previous messaging provider will need to release the messaging service before we can continue.
Step 3: Ownership Verification
An automated verification call may be placed to the landline to confirm that your business controls the number.
Chekkit will coordinate this step and provide any security code or instructions required to complete the call.
If the number uses an automated menu, call tree, or extension, please provide those details before the verification call is initiated.
Step 4: Sign the Letter of Authorization
After ownership is verified, an electronic Letter of Authorization, or LOA, will be sent to the authorized person’s email address.
The LOA gives our messaging provider permission to activate SMS and MMS routing for the number. It does not authorize a transfer of your voice service.
Review the information carefully before signing. The name and service address should match the information held by your current phone provider.
Please sign the LOA promptly, as unsigned authorization requests may expire and need to be restarted.
Step 5: Carrier Processing and Testing
Once the LOA is signed, the carrier will begin activating messaging on the number.
Chekkit will monitor the request and test inbound and outbound messaging once activation is complete.
Most requests are completed within a few business days after verification and authorization, but timing can vary depending on the number type, carrier, and whether the number was previously used with another messaging provider.
Step 6: Confirmation From Chekkit
Chekkit Support will confirm once the hosted number is active and has been added to your account.
Continue using your current Chekkit texting number until you receive this confirmation.
What Happens After the Number Is Hosted?
Once activated:
- Incoming texts sent to your business number appear in the Chekkit Inbox.
- Messages sent from Chekkit display your existing business number.
- Customers can call and text the same number.
- Calls continue through your existing carrier and phone system.
- Your current phone provider continues billing you for voice service.
You must keep the landline active with your current provider for the hosted setup to continue working.
Hosted Landlines and Missed Call Text Back
Missed Call Text Back does not automatically trigger for hosted landlines.
Voice calls to a hosted number continue directly through your existing phone provider and do not pass through Chekkit. Because Chekkit does not receive information about those calls, we cannot determine whether a call was answered or missed.
This does not affect regular texting. Chekkit can still send and receive text messages using the hosted number.
To use Missed Call Text Back with your business number, the calls would need to be handled through Chekkit Voice.
Common Delays or Issues
The Authorization Email Has Not Arrived
Check your spam or junk folder and confirm that Chekkit has the correct authorized signer’s email address. Contact support if the authorization needs to be resent.
The Information Does Not Match
The authorized name and service address should match your current provider’s records. Incorrect or outdated information may cause the request to be rejected.
The Number Is Already Text-Enabled
A phone number can only have one active messaging provider. If another company currently handles messaging for the number, they must release or deactivate their messaging service before Chekkit can host it.
Do not cancel the underlying voice service.
The Number Is Not Eligible
Some carriers or number types do not support hosting. If the number cannot be hosted, Chekkit can provide a local texting number or discuss whether fully porting the number is an available option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will hosting interrupt my phone calls?
No. Calls continue through your existing phone provider and should not be affected by the messaging activation.
Will my physical phones continue working?
Yes. Hosting does not replace your current phone system.
Can customers call and text the same number?
Yes. Calls remain with your phone provider, while texts are handled through Chekkit.
Can I cancel my current phone service after hosting?
No. You must keep the number and its voice service active with your current provider.
Can I use the number with another texting platform?
No. A number can only be routed to one messaging provider at a time.
Can I host a mobile number?
No. Mobile numbers are not supported through the hosted-landline process.
Can I switch to Chekkit Voice later?
In many cases, yes. Moving the number’s voice service to Chekkit requires a separate porting request and may affect your existing phones and carrier service.
Can hosting be removed later?
Yes. Contact Chekkit Support before making changes with your phone provider. We’ll help remove the messaging connection and confirm once the number has been released.
Requesting a Hosted Landline
To get started, email support@chekkit.io with:
- Your business name
- The landline number you want to host
- Your current phone provider
- The authorized contact’s name and email address
- The physical service address associated with the number
- Any extension or call-routing instructions
We’ll check the number’s eligibility and provide the next steps.