FCC Still Pushing for Number Portability on Nov. 24

JediAeryn writes "eWeek.com is reporting the latest on cell phone "number portability." Looks like the FCC is requiring wireless carriers to allow customers to take their numbers with them beginning Nov. 24th. This is all well and good, provided these companies don't throw out more lawsuits to slow the process. My local Verizon store has been giving me the same date for several weeks, but mentioned that other companies are afraid of losing their current customers. My question to the Slashdot community is this: is that a valid concern? Do you plan to switch carriers, and for what reasons?"

Re:Not soon

[Asprin]

Yeah, I agree with that, but let me add that I think the number portability issue, while nice, is not the most important determining factor in picking or switching carriers. Far more important to me is HARDWARE portability, so that a $270 phone has a lifespan extending even unto other carriers' networks at the end of the service contract. Why the hell we have to be forced to buy the phone WITH the service in this country is beyond me.

Only a new concept in the US...

[Talthane]

This has been a feature of both landlines and cellular networks for some time in the UK (I'm not sure about the Continent). Strangely enough, the phone system hasn't collapsed and we still seem to have a working telecommunications infrastructure. *touch wood*

In fact, what happened was that some customers switched from company A to company B, and some customers switched from company B to company A, and so on. And people were happy. And companies, the good ones anyway, didn't fall apart, so they were happy too.

I don't know what the motives of the objecting companies are, but perhaps they should think more about the service they're providing - if it's easy for people to switch and they provide a good service, said company could actually benefit.

Hostage?

[jridley]

IOW, some providers have crappy service, and feel that holding their phone number hostage is the only way to keep their customers? That's a pretty sad commentary on their own companies.

What we really need...

[vudufixit]

Is to make the damned phones portable from carrier to carrier, not just the number.

But for other businesses this won't work

[MyNameIsFred]

This won't work for everyone. For example, I have a guy I use for painting. He runs his business out of his home, and isn't listed in the phone book. Every couple of years, I give him a call. If he did what you recommended, I would never be able to find him. A loss of business for him.

My point, for some people in some businesses, your approach is adequate. For others, it is not. And number portability is important. It all depends on how frequently your repeat customers call you.

Re:Not soon

[Anonymous Coward]

If the only main reason behind staying with a particular carrier is because you don't want to "lose the investment" of your phone, then I could accept that for simple Joe Schmoe; however, seeing that you are probably technology savvy - you should look into the phone's band range. As long as there a carrier that supports the phone's band settings, that is not a valid argument. The phones restrictions to a specific carrier is a simple mechanism to circumvent. Try doing a search on Google for the phones manufacture and the word "unlock". There are numerous websites which will tell you the methods in which your phone can be "unlocked".

Nokia phones, for example, can typically be unlocked by entering in a code through the keypad. The code is generated by a program, which can be found on the net, using an algorithm using the IMEI serial number and a code assigned to the carrier (combination of Country Code and Carrier).

Number Portability

[freebase]

I wouldn't hold my breath for Nov 24th. There's a significant number of techinical issues that have yet to be worked out, that the FCC has conviently ignored.

Can the wireless carriers implement number portability? Yes... Will it break a bunch of a stuff if they do? Yes again.

One of the most significant things that still has to be addressed is exactly how, who, and when the PSAP databases get updated. For those of you not up on telco terminology, the PSAP database is what 911 uses to locate you by your caller-id info.

Of course, the major issue with the carriers has to do with increased billing costs. Each carrier (wirelines and wireless) has their areas divided into rate centers. These are typically, but not always, associated with NPA-NXX numbers. Visit NANPA [nanpa.com] for more info on NPA-NXX.

Moving numbers between carriers will mess with the rate centers severely, for awhile anyway, and cause much confusion between carriers in relation to call termination charges, etc.

Re:Yes, because sprint sucks

[pyros]

I'm always amazed by the way people obsess over service contracts. Sprint will not cancel your service if you don't sign a new contract when your current one expires. If you don't change your plan at the end of the contract, they just kepp billing you at the same rate. You can cancel at any time for free after this. If you try to change your plan, they'll ask for a contract to get the special rate. But they're perfectly willing to charge you a little more per month ($10) instead of signing a contract. So if you intend to switch within 15 months, pay the extra fee per month and save money in the long run.

Re:Can I move it to VoIP?

[Eraser_]

No, because Cellular numbers are in a special block of "Call these for spam and Die" number blocks. This is originally from when call phones cost $1/minute to talk on, but it still holds true today where it's not a "free" call to get.

Why this doesn't work on people with metered phone access is beyond me. Oh wait, the telemarketers are working for ATT, so they get their nickle either way.