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Yet More on Cellular Number Portability

Posted by michael on from the churn dept.

RadBlock writes "The Wireless Supersite has posted an interesting column analyzing number portability. Wireless carriers have been stalling on the availablity of number portability for years now. The final deadline is supposed to be in November, and it will allow you to keep your wireless phone number when you change carriers (one number for life... the ultimate!)"

3 of 211 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Does it really matter? by MoOsEb0y · · Score: 4, Insightful

    True, but you have to pay for those. If the wireless companies could cooperate, you wouldn't have to pay for this. Maybe that's why they aren't cooperating.

  2. That's exactly why cell companies don't want it by FearUncertaintyDoubt · · Score: 5, Insightful
    One of the big reasons to not switch your cell phone company is that you lose your number, and have to deal with changing over to a new number.

    If I could keep my number, my incentive to stay with RipOff Cellular goes down, and I'm more likely to switch to UselessMinutes Wireless Inc.

    In the end, there's probably just as many people who want to switch from A to B as want to switch from B to A. But even though the numbers of subscribers might remain fairly steady, it is more expensive to lose one customer and gain another than to just keep one.

  3. More Options Are ALWAYS a "Good Thing" by SUB7IME · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I have noticed that some people are complaining, "But if I always have the same phone number, then I can't avoid all those pesky telemarketers/ex-girlfriends/stalkers/parents/lawy ers/etc."

    What these people are ignoring is that you merely have the choice to keep the same number - not an obligation. If it behooves you to keep the same number, you may do so; if not, you can drop the number just like you do now.

    Giving the public more options is a "Good Thing."