Looks like the port dept do not open on the weekends, I guess the email for me to call Red Pocket is an automated email generated maybe 12 hr after port starts.
Ports from a Sprint MVNO to Tello isn't comparable to true port from another carrier to Tello, as one's internal and the other's an external port.
Who ported from Sprint to Tello? Not me. My lightning fast port was Sprint to Mint.
My Red Pocket (Sprint) to Tello are both Sprint, so you say it should be easier?
It probably isn't any easier or done differently from the customer perspective, but behind the scenes it is a much different process than a port from a non-Sprint service provider.
So the turnaround timeframe may differ between Sprint-to-Sprint versus other-to-Sprint.
The fact that PEW's Cellnuvo # sat dormant, active, inactive, or whatever, on an unused Red Pocket defunct plan for a year or or whatever, may have caused some unusual problems with the port.
I'm guessing if the number sat at Red Pocket unusable for a year, a day or 2 waiting for a port to complete is probably worth waiting for. I think the first part of the delay seems to be R.P., but they still deserve credit for finding the number and making it available for porting at all.
While all my ports to Tello were quick and easy (from Sprint Postpaid and Ting CDMA, and maybe Red Pocket CDMA?), my only port out of Tello was surprisingly difficult. Account number not available on the dashboard, and it took me a few days to get it from Customer Service. Once I received the credentials, it went smoothly.
Sprint made us call in to get the transfer number so then we can port. And when we did at a store the guy tried to talk to me for a half an hour and I was like absolutely not it's too late just give me the damn number.
I'm curious about the fate of your port into Tello. Was it successful?
Yes, was completed Monday morning as promised.
Thanks for the update and glad everything worked out for you.
As we all know, "YMMV", but I've found Tello's customer service to be outstanding and extremely responsive, whether via chat or phone, and they can send you a transcript of the chat when it's done. IMHO they really have their act together.
I just hope Tello survives the Sprint / T-Mo merger if and when it happens, since the only other (non-Big 4) provider with customer service as good as theirs is Ting, which in my case would be much more expensive.
Thanks again and happy Tello-ing! 
Initiated another port to the same acct... really like my number in use with Sprint 1 yr free - want to keep it.
No excuse of the other side slow on approving the port, as it is Sprint.
Showing pending, waiting for it to complete tomorrow morning.
As a comparison, another line ported to Mint, was transferred in less than a minute.
I've noticed too that intra-carrier ports can sometimes take longer than inter-carrier ports. More info: How LNP Works
Interesting reading, st3fx!
Just to add another data point...
I ported 2 numbers from Sprint Postpaid yesterday, Wednesday 1/30 mid-afternoon..
The first to Ting/GSM, which completed within a few minutes.
The other to Tello (Sprint MVNO). I emailed the request to Tello Support at 2:38 PM 1/30, and the Tello dashboard indicates the port request was submitted at 3:06 PM. The port was not completed when I last checked around 11:00 PM on 1/30, but was completed when I checked at 10:30 AM 1/31. Worst case, around 20 hours. (But that includes overnight, that the port completed sometime before I checked this morning, and the fact that the Tello port involved the last open line on the Sprint Postpaid account, and I've read that the last remaining line on a multi-line account might take longer to port out.)
In both cases, I was pleased with the experience. Tello chat led me through the process of submitting the request as I was porting the number over the top of an existing Tello line, and the web dashboard doesn't handle that feature. Chat sent me a list of all required information to include in the email to Customer Service, emailed me a transcript of the chat conversation without me requesting it, and the port request was submitted within 30 minutes of my email.
The easiest way to do this by yourself on the web dashboard is to swap in a new device as it will ask you whether you want to keep your existing number or port in a new one at that point. Then you can initiate the port. Once it goes through you can swap back to the original device.
Of course that requires you to have a spare device. Those placeholder MEIDs from the ringplus days would come in handy.
Still good to hear tello customer service helped you out
Great tip, mmfacemm! I do still have older phones around.
Not having a very good experience today with porting in to Tello.
Monday 12/23 7:30pm - ordered port-in to Tello from T-Mobile.
Tuesday 12/24 8:30am - T-Mobile releases the number and closes the account.
At that point, I started getting an automated message when calling the number, "The number you are calling temporarily unavailable..." Carrier lookup on the number shows that it made it to Sprint.
Emailed Tello for status of port, no reply.
Called Tello for status of port, wait another 48 hours! (i.e. until 12.26 day after Christmas)
It looks to me a lot like Sprint has the number and port is complete, but now is just waiting for Tello to turn the service on and close the port ticket.
I suspect the port department at Tello just hasn't been working today 12/24, or they've been swamped with new lines on the Christmas promotion. Either way, it's wrong of them to initiate the port when they know they're not going to be around to finish it. Ports are not supposed to result in a service outage of much time if any, certainly not several days!
Also, it's annoying,because not only did they not finish the port, but they also do not pre-activate the service on a temporary number while the port is pending, which would allow for mobile data work among other things. Instead, I have effectively suspended service. So as far as my welcome to Tello is concerned here, they have not been good to me!
Sorry to hear this!
I suspect you're right about the porting department not working on the holiday.
In benefit of hindsight, it's always best to port to an MVNO Monday-Thursday (without holiday), because it's not atypical for ports to not complete on weekends & holidays.
You're right that the port is typically scheduled between the winning carrier and losing carrier to take place at a mutually-agreeable time, and the old line should be expected to keep working until just before the new line becomes active. That's especially important for MVNOs to do correctly, because of the smaller staff and hours. A timing screwup like this (leaving a gap of no service from either provider) can be the fault of the losing carrier, the winning carrier, or the winning-carrier-MVNO-interface. For whatever reason, it seems like this has happened to several people lately when porting to Tello.
I don't think most MVNOs do the temporary number thing during a port, and it's likely the exception rather than the rule.
It is very possible that you need to activate your Tello phone in order to get Sprint service. Did you get Sprint LTE on your cell phone?
Good suggestion! I have had ports into Tello actually complete and be ready for use before the web interface indicated it was complete.
It's worth trying the activation (hands-free provisioning) steps even if the port doesn't show as completed.
Do a carrier reset by dialing ##72786# if on android. On iPhones, dial ##873283#.