Industry changes are on the horizon for cellular industry.
The FCC has ruled that customers can change carriers
(cellular providers) and maintain their existing cellular
number.
In the past individuals have been forced to make decisions
between the quality or clarity of service and a new
number. Decidedly one of the biggest reasons individuals
keep service they are dissatisfied with is because they
don't want to lose the number known to friends and colleagues.
The ruling, said to go into effect November 24, 2003
in top metro areas, will open the market for cellular
service providers.
The change is sure to prompt price wars and improved
customer service as carriers struggle to maintain their
customer base. By May the FCC expects number portability
nationwide.
In order to move a cellular number to a new carrier
follow these simple steps:
1.) Contact the new carrier prior to disconnecting
your old service or you may lose your number.
2.) Provide details to the new carrier to make
the switch this might include account and password information.
3.) The new carrier will submit a transfer request
to the old carrier. In addition the new carrier will
send details of the transfer into the portability database.
The database alerts all subscribing carriers that the
transfer has occurred.
4.) The old phone will work until the transfer
is complete; while the transfer is taking place the
new phone will only be able to dial out.
Carriers are aiming to process transfers within 2 1/2
hours but there are no penalities in place should a
delay occur.
If you are using software to send text messages to
phones be sure to update the carrier information for
any transfers.
About the Author -
NotePage, Inc. develops SMS, alphanumeric paging and
wireless messaging software solutions. http://www.notepage.net
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