Without losing or changing their current phone number?
But there could be a catch...
Wireless Number Portability (WNP) brings an enhanced sense of mobility to cellular phone users in Canada. With WNP, you can change service providers and keep your existing phone number.
You can move your phone service from a wired phone to a wireless one, and vice versa and still keep the same number.
Keep in mind, as advantageous as that sounds, that you can only transfer your phone number to a new service provider. You may not be able to transfer the phone itself, or the service plan under which you are operating, or the calling features your service plan includes. You may have to get all these from your new service provider.
Nevertheless, the new service parameters are designed to bring added flexibility, choice and competition to the marketplace. For the service companies, there is no doubt that WNP is a technical, administrative and operational challenge. Even for the consumer, there are some hurdles to be overcome.
When will it happen? Canada's the third country in the world (after the US and Australia) to have complete wireless-to-wireless, wireless-to-wired and wired-to-wireless portability; it's the result of directives from the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to enhance competition in the marketplace. By the way, the CRTC has stated that pagers will not be a part of WNP.
Most metropolitan areas in the country will get WNP this Wednesday, March 14; interestingly, industry consultants advising the CRTC first proposed that the earliest and most expedient launch date for WNP would be in September, 2007.
That's partly due to what were several anticipated technical and operational issues to be addressed. As it stands now, some smaller cell phone companies will still have until September to complete transfer of incoming numbers.
The cell phone providers and the industry's lobby group, the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association, maintain the market is competitive. For the time being, inquiries to the carrier companies about WNP are being directed to the Association itself, and its website, www.wirelessnumberportability.ca, where comprehensive information and a generic FAQ section can be found.
For consumers who want to take advantage of wireless portability, it is important to contact and understand each company's (be it Bell, Rogers, Telus Virgin or others) individual approach to the process of changing or porting phone services.
How long will it take? Technically, the process could be easily completed in a couple of days (landline to wireless switches are a bit more complex than wireless to wireless), but each company may need more or less time to complete the assignment, perhaps as much as a week, depending on handset compatibilities, for example.
Differences in network infrastructures, service offerings and billing procedures may have to be bridged, as well.Once the transfer is completed, your new carrier or service provider would then notify you that full service is 'on', and your previous provider's service would be deactivated - but you should double check to make sure.
It is not advisable to cancel an old number before the switch is complete - the phone companies say they can only transfer an active number. Getting the sequence out of order would certainly extend it unnecessarily.What should I do? Tips for finding the best cellular phone service for yourself, your family and your business are many, varied and plentiful.
You should assess your specific and anticipated needs, and get as much information from the competing service providers as possible before making a decision - especially if switching services.You will want to contact a potential new service provider to ensure they can support your current phone. You should check your current contract, as well, to see if any fees or charges will apply should you cancel the service early.
Cancellation fees or outstanding service charges will have to be settled.A potential new service provider may need information from you before you transfer your phone number.Providers may want to see or access your wireless phone and the most recent monthly bill.
Without a bill, the company may ask for the account number; the account holder's name and the service address; the password /PIN; or the phone's serial number, located on the back of the unit, or under the battery.
Individuals, businesspeople and SOHO owner/operators will all want to check that the same services they currently depend on will still be available with a new company.
Services that are bundled with your current phone number, such as internet services, directory listings or alarm and security systems, could be affected by a change to a new service provider.
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