December 2, 2003
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Wireless number portability now
available for U.S. consumers
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As of November 24, U.S. wireless consumers can benefit from "porting" their phone numbers. Whether it's from one wireless service provider to another or from a wireline number to a wireless number, wireless number portability (WNP) will change the way the nation's 152 million wireless consumers shop for their telecommunications services.
Wireless consumers should know these basics:
- Leave the port to your new provider. Your new service provider's sales
associates or customer service representatives will work with your old
service provider to ensure a smooth transition. When you call or visit
the new service provider, you should bring the most recent copy of your
current provider bill to verify information and facilitate your
request. Be sure, however, to keep your service active with your old
service provider during the switch or you could lose your number. Once
the transfer is complete, your old service will automatically be
deactivated.
- A new service provider equals a new phone. To ensure that customers
receive the best call quality and access to the full range of services,
U.S. wireless service providers will most likely require consumers to
purchase a new phone with the specific providers customized technology.
- While you wait. While the FCC recommends a two-and-a-half hour
timeframe for moving a phone number from one service provider to
another, it's only a recommendation. Depending upon your provider, the
timeframe could vary from two hours to a couple days for a wireless-to-
wireless transfer and could be even longer to port a wireline number.
During that time, however, customers will still be able to use their
old phones.
- Not everybody can take advantage of WNP in November. The November 24
deadline is for customers living in one of the nation's top 100
metropolitan areas, which covers nearly 70 percent of the population.
WNP will take effect in the remaining areas by May 24, 2004. To see
which cities make the first round, visit www.easyporting.com.
- Not every company will be completely prepared. WNP is a tremendous
undertaking, representing a multi-million dollar investment. While
wireless companies have been working toward this deadline for several
years, most will probably have some kinks to iron out during the first
weeks of portability. The wireline to wireless mandate represents a
bigger challenge, involving more complex technology and longer port
times.
PR
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