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What Has Number Portability Done For You?

Posted by timothy on from the absolutely-nothing-huh dept.

Coldeagle writes "Number portability has been around for a few days now, I was wondering; have any of you fellow Slashdot readers switched carriers? How was your experience, and have you seen any price warring since it went into place?" Or is number portability so far more hype than happenin'?

4 of 756 comments (clear)

  1. I did... by curunir · · Score: 5, Informative

    ...and it seems like the process is relatively painless.

    One tip for those who are thinking of trying to port their number. Do *not* do the process online. I ordered my new phone that way and the number ported two days before my new phone arrived. As soon as your number ports, your old phone stops working for anything besides 911 calls. Needless to say, I was without a cell phone for two days while I waited for my new phone to arrive.

    Other than that, everything went pretty smoothly.

    --
    "Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos!"
  2. I was able to use it to get a better deal.. by Sikmaz · · Score: 5, Informative

    With my current carrier, I called them and told them I was thinking about switching and they chopped $15 off my bill if I would stay.

    It can't hurt to ask!

  3. All I know... by chrismcdirty · · Score: 5, Informative

    ..is that Sprint is charging me $2.20/month for it.

    --
    It's like sex, except I'm having it!
    1. Re:All I know... by Boogaroo · · Score: 5, Informative

      Disclaimer: I work for T-Mobile

      I know most carriers charge you a PER MONTH fee, so it could cost you a fair amount over the long term to keep your number. T-Mobile does not charge any fees for keeping your number when you port to them.

      One carrier, Qwest will kill your home phone as well if you port your Qwest cellphone to another carrier. Seems kinda rude to me.

      All in all I havn't gotten nearly as many people that want to port their number in the last few days. I'd say only 15% of those with existing service I sign up want to port their number. A lot of people like the idea of a new number simply to stop unneccessary calls from people. When you have a cellphone I find people will call that number exclusively even if you're at home, so you burn minutes when you don't need to.

      As far as big sales to keep existing customers, you bet! Normally (I feel)T-Mobile beats everyone's plan price hands down, but since November the competition's gotten a lot stiffer. Not that everyone gets those promotional plans, but those promotions are top notch from every carrier. It's a prime time to sign up with anyone right now really. In six months prices will probably go back to what they were since the hype will have died down.