Cell Phone Numbers

[A-ROD]

Starting today if you live in BC, Alberta, Ontario or Quebec
You will be able to keep and transfer your cell number from provider to provider.

This is great news....

 

[r_s426]

In the long term, I think it will be great for consumers. Cell phone companies will have a work a little harder to earn loyalty, rather than leveraging the fact that you weren't able to take your number with you when you left.

Hopefully we also follow the U.S. soon with regard to companies "locking" phones. It will be illegal for US carriers to do that soon.

 

[Edifice]

So, I can go from Telus -> Bell - > Rogers -> Fido -> Virgin Mobile -> Telus, without having to change my number?

 

[mprex]

Wireless number portability starts tomorrow (Mar 14), not today.

 

[to-guy69]

Starting today if you live in BC, Alberta, Ontario or Quebec
You will be able to keep and transfer your cell number from provider to provider. This is great news....

A little known fact is that you can also transfer your landline number to another provider as well. . .it's not just wireless numbers.

 

[raven@mirage]

They have always had that. you can even transfer your pager number into a cell phone number.

 

[gramps]

Starting today if you live in BC, Alberta, Ontario or Quebec
You will be able to keep and transfer your cell number from provider to provider.

This is great news....

Now this is good news, for keeping the same number, but you have to get another phone. Sure some of the providers give you a free phone but they want you to lock into a contract, usaually 3 yrs.

When the Government, or whoever regulates wireless phones, makes it so you can pick whatever phone you want, then connect with the provider of your choice, that will be doing something right. The way it is now is just a ripoff.

 

[CapitalGuy]

When the Government, or whoever regulates wireless phones, makes it so you can pick whatever phone you want, then connect with the provider of your choice, that will be doing something right. The way it is now is just a ripoff.

What he said.

 

[mprex]

When the Government, or whoever regulates wireless phones, makes it so you can pick whatever phone you want, then connect with the provider of your choice, that will be doing something right.

No, that would be terrible!! That would mean all wireless providers must use the exact same technology, and practically the same set of phones, which equates to the lowest-common-denominator and stifles innovation.

It would be like the government mandating everyone to stick with VHS tapes for the sake of rental-store compatibility.

 

[gramps]

No, that would be terrible!! That would mean all wireless providers must use the exact same technology, and practically the same set of phones, which equates to the lowest-common-denominator and stifles innovation.

It would be like the government mandating everyone to stick with VHS tapes for the sake of rental-store compatibility.

I don't know about you, but I would like to have my choice of what phone to buy, not what the provider supplies. I'm sick of being told, this is what we have take it or leave it.

I have a Nokia phone which I don't like. Not because it's a Nokia, but because it's not the model I wanted. Fido offered the one I wanted but they don't have a plan that works for me so since I like Nokia, this was the only model available.

 

[mprex]

So buy the phone that you like. No one is putting a gun to your head, forcing you to buy a phone you don't want from your cell provider.

I'm a Fido customer, and I didn't care about any of their subsidized phones. So bought my phone while in transit at the Hong Kong airport. I want to get a new phone now and will probably buy it from expansys.

 

[biog]

I don't know about you, but I would like to have my choice of what phone to buy, not what the provider supplies. I'm sick of being told, this is what we have take it or leave it.

I have a Nokia phone which I don't like. Not because it's a Nokia, but because it's not the model I wanted. Fido offered the one I wanted but they don't have a plan that works for me so since I like Nokia, this was the only model available.

Then take your business elsewhere. The beauty of capitalism is that if you don't like what someone is offering, go somewhere else. I'm sick of people telling companies what they will and will not sell.

Also, if I'm not mistaken (and I very well might be) a "locked" phone is also somewhat subsidized by the phone carrier. That's why it generally costs more to by a model from Nokia then it is to buy it from a carrier. If you want to get a specific phone, go to a place like tigerdirect.ca and buy whatever phone you want.

 

[CapitalGuy]

If you want to get a specific phone, go to a place like tigerdirect.ca and buy whatever phone you want.

Then how do I get it coupled to my Bell Wireless phone #?? Will the Bell store activate a phone I bought somewhere else?

 

[gramps]

Then how do I get it coupled to my Bell Wireless phone #?? Will the Bell store activate a phone I bought somewhere else?

That is the point I was trying to make, getting the phone I want and having Bell activate it.