Cell Phone Number Portability in Canada. Finally.
This is just a public service announcement. As of March 14, 2007 you will be able to keep your phone number when switching mobile service providers in Canada. About bloody time. This should lead to increased competition and better prices. So ummm... don't sign any long term cell phone contracts in the next week.
5 comments:
Hallelujah! I am one step closer to never giving any money to Bell or its affiliates again! Now if only I had a choice other than another legacy monopolist...
why wait to sign a contract? Most companies will assume contracts from other companies where the two have arrangements.
When I moved to university from Ontario the local baby bell took over the 6 months remaining on the Bell contract I had. This is not unusual and it would not surprise me that burried in the black ink competitors like Telus and Bell have some arrangement like that.
The key, ask a billion questions before signing anything. Including things like "can I and who can I take my contract to"
I'm thrilled by this news too - I think this is nothing but good news for the consumer. However, I think it's important to note that carriers must only allow 'porting out' of numbers by March 14 - carriers don't have to accept numbers being 'ported in' until September 12 - and you can be damned sure they're going to drag their feet about it. Seeing as how it's a bit useless to be able to move your number from a carrier without having a carrier to move it to, you might want to wait a little longer still before signing any contracts. ;-)
Yeah Matt brings up a very good point. That's why I linked to that particular article. It makes too points. One that it is only half compulsory until September and the other that you should settle the details on the new contract before cancelling the old contract . That way you will know that you can keep your new number before you change plans.
The most important part of the change - as it happens - is not that you will be able to carry your number per se, but rather that cell phone companies are going to be forced to offer better deals shortly. That's why you should hold off on signing a new long term contract until you see the better offers that will come in either March or September depending on how the companies decide to play it.
Why would any carrier drag their feet porting in a new customer?
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