when is possible keep phone number and change carrier?

[GSMUser]

Just wondering if anyone knows for sure when can I change carrier and be able to keep my cell number? I read something like that last month but it didnt indicate any date. I am currently with pacbell and have to keep my number for work.

[KevinJames]

Blocks of numbers (exchanges) are assigned to the carriers. If Cingular allows you to do that, they would loose a number from their pool, which they won't allow. So, no, you must surrender your phone number when leaving the carrier.

[TNDan21]

That's the way it works now but I think I know what he is talking about. Isn't it called something like cellular number portabilty or something like that? I read something a little while back to about that apparently its gonna allow you to change providers but keep your same number. I am not sure when that is gonna happen or if it even will but for some reason by the end of 2002 sticks in my head. I have no clue to be honest but I have heard things here and there about it. Does anybody have any more info about this?

[Tommyboy]

Yes, it's called number portability. It is scheduled to occur in November 2002. This will allow you to take your number and switch carriers. Furthermore, it will allow you to take wireless #s and switched them to landline #s. This is so huge that more than likely you will see that date pushed back. The impacts to all telecom companies will be dramatic. There many issues that will arise from this and I'm sure it will be a nightmare for consumers and the carriers in the short term. But as of right the date is November 2002.

Tom

[KevinJames]

Just as a consumer I was hoping this issue would silently die. (In fact, that is one reason I didn't even mention it in my original reply.) I think we are all going to regret this. But I know that Pacific Bell and SBC have been working feverishly to address this issue.

Imagine this: I am a Pacific Bell residential customer and an ATTWS customer. I decide to switch my residential landline service to ATT and want to keep my number. ATT will probably have to petition PacBell so that they will know of the change. Then, a few months down the road, I become disenchanted with ATT so I decide to try Sprint home service. Sprint will probably have to communicate with ATT, but not with the regional Bell. So now the regional Bell's database still shows me on ATT but ATT shows me with Sprint. Knowing how fickle customers can be I expect this scenario to become even more exaggerated. Now that no carrier's database agrees with another the first question is going to be: "Ah, whose data is current and correct?" They'll end up having to compare install dates. It will be a mess.

[Tommyboy]

Exactly my point when I mentioned it being a nightmare. I'm not looking forward to it myself.

Tom

[Uwdsr]

You are talking about how it will work with landline phones. Am I missing something? If I have a Sprint PCS phone and hate it, I could go to Verizon with my number. There is no middle man (Pac Bell in your case) to deal with.

[TNDan21]

o

[TNDan21]

Sorry about that above post I posted something in here and then I decided I wanted to delete it but unfortunely you can't seem to delete messages on here just edit them.

[Tommyboy]

I think Kevin was just giving an example of how complicated it can get when switching the number from wireless to landline and vice a versa. Yes, when number portability becomes reality you could take your number from Sprint to Verizon. But my point is in the beginning it won't be as easy as you make it sound. There is work that needs to be done behind the scenes to be able to activate and bill that number correctly. Not to mention the old carrier will have to release that number and you can bet they won't until they are 100% sure you don't owe them any money which could take a month to be sure if you consider roaming charges. Furthermore, companies will play little games trying to keep you and thus delay the release of the number. It WILL get messy but in the long run the consumer will benefit. Just be prepared for the worse and eventually it will turn around.

Here's how I solved the problem: I got my own 800 #. I just call the 800 # carrier and switch cell phone numbers, or direct it to my home. I can switch cell services, and my clients never know.

The 800# is technically 'yours', meaning that 800 numbers have 'number portability.' So you can switch carriers of the 800 number of you wish. I use www.callatn.com, and they charge no monthly minimum.

While this may not solve your problem, it does make it easier the next time. Why not forward your current phone to a new one, and ask callers to stop calling the old one, and use the new one? I know your employer thinks otherwise, but eventually the old number just won't be necessary. If it is, you can go to the carrier's minimum plan.

-Bill Radio
-www.mountainwireless.com

[KevinJames]

Bill: Thanks for the link. Its amazing how many tidbits can be gleaned just from reading.

I also know of another site that provides personal 800#'s: http://www.ureach.com

[erub]

an 800 # would be perfect for a business, espically if that business is run from a cell phone - kinda odd/expensive giving one out for personal use I would think, although I've heard of parent's creating one so that their kids could call home at anytime (this was a few years ago, before cell phones became very inexpensive).

[DiverDown]

I sure hope are retarted FCC realized the implications of allowing a person to have a cell number become a landline number, by doing this solicitors will basically rule all of our domains, cellular and landlines.

[KevinJames]

Erub: Actually, I used UReach (still do for free web-email) when they were an upstart and giving away free minutes. Having an 800# allowed me to give a single number to people. UReach's system is so versatile, I could configure it to re-route incoming calls to whatever phonenumber I wanted (home, work, cell, pager, whatever). It was also a fax-imaging system so I could have faxes sent to my 800 number which I could then view online at any web-enabled computer.

It really isn't as odd as it seems to have struck you.

Another thing I was able to do with it is "call-through." Since their rates were very competitive, sometimes it was better for me to just call my own 800# and then, using options they had enhanced the system with, enter any USA phone number and call another number. Again, I can't say enough good about them, I just couldn't afford to keep it up and all the other services I am using. Within the last year, my life has settled down considerably--I'm not traveling as much, so I didn't need all the fun stuff I was using.

o

Any one who says that number portability is a bad idea probably works for a cell-phone company or is a moron. Customers should be jumping up & down to see this become a reality. No longer will you be trapped with a crappy cell-phone carrier... you will have the freedom to switch to whichever carrier you like whenever you like. It works this way with 800's & with long distance carriers. There is no reason why it can't work with cell-phone numbers. Yes, it will be a nightmare at first, but will be less trouble in the long run (& if you're so concerned about switching carriers, then don't!!!) One more thing for the couple of morons above who wrote without thinking... think about this--which is more trouble: switching carriers & keeping the same phone number (thus having to deal with a few switching issues) or switching carriers & changing phone numbers (thus having to make sure you give out your new number to everyone you know).... hmmm.... let's think before we speak next time!!!

[Mike]

I believe I read not long ago that the number portability date has been pushed back at least one year.

[topenga]

yep. Verizon petitioned to have it pushed back another year. From what I read, they claimed that they needed more time to get everything ready and minimize the hassle. Uh huh. yeah. This number portability issue was first brought up in 1996. The wireless companies have successfully managed to weasel out of moving forward with it for 6 years so far. It isn't the first time it's been pushed out and, in my opinion, it isn't the last.

Also, I thought the number portability issue was just to let you take your wireless number from one carrier to the next, not to take a wireless number and make it a landline.

--
topenga

[rockstar]

Ok... So this is not directly related to the thread, but the number protability thing was mentioned:

Subscribers to AT&T Wireless this month will get a little surprise in their monthly statement: A get-out-of-contract-free card. The carrier says it is offering in this month's bill the option for subscribers to back out of their contracts without paying the $175 cancellation fee if they halt services by the end of July.

The carrier plans to raise two wireless-related service rates, and says that it is giving users the chance to leave their contracts if they don't want to pay the new prices. New charges essentially follow the lead of other carriers -- such as Sprint PCS -- that charge $1.25 for directory assistance calls rather than 99 cents. AT&T Wireless also will begin charging airtime for outgoing calls that remain unanswered for 30 seconds or more, says spokesman Mark Siegel.
''[These charges] are exactly what our competitors are charging,'' Siegel says. ''We likely won't handle all future situations this way, but we just felt in this case that the right thing to do was give them this opportunity [to cancel with incurring the $175 fee].''

Cancellation fees are set up to keep subscribers on board -- forcing them to decide whether its worth the cost to switch to a new provider or just stick it out through the end of the contract. Faced with slowing new-subscriber numbers, carriers want to sign up users for lengthy contracts to keep them with the company and keep churn rates low. The FCC's recent decision to delay local number portability requirements -- making it impossible for users to swap service providers without changing numbers -- also may help curb churn.

[KevinJames]

Rockstar,

Old news. Already discussed here weeks ago.

There goes your kingship [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

Oh, and to the anonymous poster that suggested that those who don't want number portability either work for cell company or are a moron. Nope, you're wrong. I neither work for a cell company, and I am definitely not a moron. I am a well-respected IT manager. I also don't hide behind "anonymous" when making statements like you do. I would tell you what I think of people that hurl insults without responsibleness, but then I think I just did.

[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif[/img]

I have a Motorola phone with Nextel service, but do not use the direct connect feature. Can I change the carrier? I do like the phone.

[Matt]

I don't think Nextel phones are compatible with any other carrier.

[Gabriel]

nextel phones do not work with any other carrier. nextel uses iDEN, which to my knowledge no one else uses. they do use SIM cards, but they do not work in GSM phones (i have tried it), and since they have SIM cards they will not work with CDMA or TDMA or etc. so nextel customers are stuck with their phones.