Portabilitatea numerelor - o realitate in tarile civilizate

U.S. phone numbers are soon to go mobile too  

Reuters
26 March 2003  

U.S. regulators set to enforce number portability.

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Sure, it's not quite the greatest thing since sliced bread, but it's a change that will make it easier for people to keep in touch, no matter who manages the calls.

Starting in November, U.S. regulators will enforce a rule that requires wireless operators to offer "number portability," the ability to switch carriers without making consumers give up their telephone number.

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"Traditionally, we've always called a place and asked for a person. Now we're calling the person no matter where they are. Everyone will have a phone ... Moving forward, you'll keep the phone number".

That means consumers will face less of an obstacle when moving to cheaper service plans or switching services if they're not happy with their current provider.

"The cell phone companies use the phone number like crazy glue," . "You get the number, and it sticks with that particular cell phone company. If you want to change to a different company - too bad."  

In a recent survey conducted by Consumer Reports, about one-third of respondents said they wanted to switch wireless services. But a significant number of them didn't because they were unable to take their phone number with them.

That is precisely the reason why wireless operators are fiercely objecting to this rule .

They argue that nearly a third of consumers already change carriers on a regular basis, and the new rule will only cause the provider-switching phenomenon to grow and, in turn, lead to more loss of customers and more damage to their bottom lines.

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With about 143.8 million mobile telephone subscribers, the United States is the world's largest mobile phone market in terms of sales, according to Gartner Dataquest. To win new customers, carriers have offered huge bundles of minutes at low prices as well as discounts on phones, contributing to a high turnover rate.

Providers also said the cost for revamping their networks could run as high as $1 billion in the first year alone .

The Federal Communications Commission, which regulates the telecommunications industry set Nov. 24 deadline.

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In addition to being able to take their phone number, analysts said consumers will also likely benefit from even more attractive price plans and new features as wireless operators work harder to keep customers and attract new ones.

Wireless operators like Verizon Wireless and Cingular Wireless, which have ties to traditional telephone companies, may even try to bundle their services to keep customers, analysts said.

"Consumers are the big winners on this issue," said Rudy Baca, a wireless analyst with Precursor Group.

Baca expects wireless operators to charge consumers to keep their phone numbers, but he doesn't expect that to cover all of the costs to make it happen.

Other analysts said they don't expect companies to charge much if at all, given the intense competition in the industry - if one operator decided to offer the service for free, customers would flock to that company.

However, in the end, number portability may ultimately help the wireless industry in their competition with traditional telephone service because customers will be more likely to make their cell phone their main phone if they know the number will stay the same.

TotalTele  

Mobile Number Portability

To switch to the Orange network and bring your existing mobile phone number, you'll first need to buy any new Orange phone and choose how you want to pay for your calls.  

Once you've finished shopping, click the 'pay now' button and we will:

- ask you some simple questions about your existing network and number  
- send you a letter in the post advising you what you need to do next.  

This letter will include details of how to obtain a Port Authorisation Code (PAC) from your existing service provider. The PAC is an authorisation code that allows us to transfer your number to the Orange network. Once you have received this code, you simply pass it on to us, and your existing number will then be transferred to your Orange phone between 7 and 37 calendar days from the date your PAC is issued.  

There are two ways to switch to Orange: you can join Orange now and receive a temporary number so you can enjoy all the benefits of Orange straightaway, or wait until you receive your PAC and bring your number to Orange.  

Interested? Find the phone you want now - you will be able to confirm that you wish to bring your existing mobile number with you after you've finished shopping. You can also choose to join Orange and bring your existing number with you by calling 0500 80 20 80, or visiting your nearest store.  

URL: http://shop.orange.c...p/esales/esales >> "Switch to Orange..."
sau
URL: http://www.orange.co...ortability.html

Originally posted by mihai^
vor mai trece ani de zile, poate chiar niciodata cand va fi asa si in Romania....

Originally posted by arty
Sau ash fi interesat care e raportul prepaid/abonament.... probabil 9/1 sau mai mare...

Greece to launch mobile number switching in 2004  
By Reuters staff
11 December 2003  

Mobile number portability trial phase starts in January.

Greeks will be able to keep their mobile phone numbers when switching from one network to another from next year, telecom regulator EETT said on Thursday.

Mobile number portability will be rolled out gradually starting on January 12, with companies selecting a limited number of users for the trial phase, EETT said in a statement. Commercial operations will start in March.

 
The regulator said the move would intensify competition.

TotalTele