Cheapest way to keep a number?
 

So wife wants to keep her cell number. What's the cheapest way to get this done for about 1yr?

I've done some research and it seems the way to go is to port the number to a few cheap/free VOIP providers and port back. Anyone had experience with that?

when i ported my number to chatr, they said after 6 months of not topping up your phone you'd lose your number. so you could just get the cheapest plan ($20) twice a year and keep the number. if your wife is with fido or rogers it'd be super easy to port because they are the same company

Believe OP's looking for experience on free service. ie. Fongo.

But for your method, you can do it on Fido/Rogers/etc's prepaid service for even lower at $10/month. X2

It doesn't need to be free.

I just want the cheapest, most secure (no trouble porting out-in) and least complicated to keep number for a year.

I'd do what you suggested - VoIP or virtual number. Only downside is you'd have to pay the port in/port out fees. I looked on VoIP.ms which is what i use right now and it's $8.75 to port in a number.

If you plan to only make minimal calls, you can use their Per Minute Plan which costs $0.85 a month (for a Vancouver number) + whatever usage you use. Their rates are really good though (as in less than 1c/min).

voip.ms, (not sure about porting) but they charge 2$ month parking a DID.

if you dont plan on using the phone for anything, just call your provider and park the number as rally says, providers charge anywhere from 2-5 bucks a month to basically hold your number for as long as you need.

nice thing about a voip is you could still use the number even overseas. check and see if people calling or sending texts

Not sure about other VoIP providers but you can send text messages to/from VoIP.ms for free.