Area51_FLG
11-27-2003, 10:39 PM
Customers excited about switching their wireless carriers following the recent establishment of number portability may want to take a breath and take their time.
A new U.S. Federal Communications Commission rule allows wireless phone customers in the 100 largest U.S. metropolitan areas to keep their phone numbers when they switch wireless carriers. Many customers in those areas will also be able to keep their phone numbers when they switch from landline telephone service to wireless service.
Customers in smaller U.S. markets must wait until May 24 for wireless number portability to go into effect for them.
Technical Difficulties
Some problems with porting numbers--including delays of several hours--have been reported since Monday, and customers may want to wait for holiday deals on wireless service, said Albert Lin, who analyzes wireless technology for American Technology Research. Customers should expect the porting process to take about 2.5 hours if there are no problems, according to the FCC.
Customers may want to wait at least until Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, when wireless carriers traditionally begin their holiday promotional deals, Lin said. Because many customers have service contracts with their current wireless vendors, they may have to pay penalties to get out of those contracts, warned the FCC.
"A lot of people are still gathering information and shopping around," Lin said. "The customer who has the luxury of time should wait and shop around and give the industry time to smooth out the bumps."
Some wireless vendors have had problems with switching, Lin said, although industry-wide statistics aren't available. "The carriers aren't talking about their horror stories, only the success stories," said telecom analyst Jeff Kagan.
Smooth Sailing?
Verizon Wireless reported two to four times its average number of new customer sign-ups on Monday, said Jeffrey Nelson, a company spokesperson. Tuesday's traffic was a "steady flow," he added.
"Day one was a very, very good day for us," Nelson said. "We're not going to provide a day-to-day breakdown; our investor relations people would start kicking us."
Asked if Verizon Wireless had encountered any problems with porting numbers, Nelson said: "Every hour since Monday the whole industry is getting better."
Though Lin said he wouldn't characterize the first days of porting as smooth, Evolving Systems, which sells number-porting software, views the process as generally working. George Hallenbeck, Evolving Systems' chairman and CEO said that It's difficult to tell at this point how popular number portability will be, and what kinds of problems customers will encounter.
"I don't think we're going to know for sure how it's going to be until a couple of weeks from now, because I imagine the volume's going to pick up over time," Hallenbeck said.
Wait and See
Both Lin and Kagan advise customers to wait and check out holiday deals from major wireless carriers. Expect more offers from wireless carriers in the first and second quarters of 2004, Kagan said.
"I'd categorize the deals so far as first-generation deals: not really hot yet, but enough to sway the early-adopter customers who were lined up to make the change on day one," Kagan said by e-mail. "As these early switchers thin out, I think, we'll start to see more aggressive deals. It's not a price war per se; it's creative packaging, including more minutes, expanded free hours, and bundles--but of course, price always plays a role."
Lin noted that some offers now include lower prices, free minutes, expanded weekend and night hours, and free phones every year. Before switching, customers should do some research and find the best deal for them, he said.
Helpful Hints
The FCC and AT&T Wireless Services offer other advice if you want to switch carriers while keeping your phone number:
Check to see whether your current wireless service imposes an early termination fee. By law, carriers cannot refuse to transfer a number if a fee or outstanding balance is unpaid.
Expect to get a new phone if you switch carriers. Many cellular phones don't work with multiple carriers.
Don't cancel service at your old wireless carrier before signing up with the new carrier. Your new carrier will handle the switch; and if you cancel your old service before contacting your new carrier, you'll likely lose your phone number.
Have an old wireless bill with you when you contact your new carrier. The new carrier will need to enter your information exactly as it appears on your old bill for the number port to go smoothly.
Ask your new carrier about recycling your old phone. Some carriers, including AT&T Wireless, can refurbish your old phone or donate it to charity.
Expect your new wireless carrier to charge a fee to recover the costs of porting.
A new U.S. Federal Communications Commission rule allows wireless phone customers in the 100 largest U.S. metropolitan areas to keep their phone numbers when they switch wireless carriers. Many customers in those areas will also be able to keep their phone numbers when they switch from landline telephone service to wireless service.
Customers in smaller U.S. markets must wait until May 24 for wireless number portability to go into effect for them.
Technical Difficulties
Some problems with porting numbers--including delays of several hours--have been reported since Monday, and customers may want to wait for holiday deals on wireless service, said Albert Lin, who analyzes wireless technology for American Technology Research. Customers should expect the porting process to take about 2.5 hours if there are no problems, according to the FCC.
Customers may want to wait at least until Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, when wireless carriers traditionally begin their holiday promotional deals, Lin said. Because many customers have service contracts with their current wireless vendors, they may have to pay penalties to get out of those contracts, warned the FCC.
"A lot of people are still gathering information and shopping around," Lin said. "The customer who has the luxury of time should wait and shop around and give the industry time to smooth out the bumps."
Some wireless vendors have had problems with switching, Lin said, although industry-wide statistics aren't available. "The carriers aren't talking about their horror stories, only the success stories," said telecom analyst Jeff Kagan.
Smooth Sailing?
Verizon Wireless reported two to four times its average number of new customer sign-ups on Monday, said Jeffrey Nelson, a company spokesperson. Tuesday's traffic was a "steady flow," he added.
"Day one was a very, very good day for us," Nelson said. "We're not going to provide a day-to-day breakdown; our investor relations people would start kicking us."
Asked if Verizon Wireless had encountered any problems with porting numbers, Nelson said: "Every hour since Monday the whole industry is getting better."
Though Lin said he wouldn't characterize the first days of porting as smooth, Evolving Systems, which sells number-porting software, views the process as generally working. George Hallenbeck, Evolving Systems' chairman and CEO said that It's difficult to tell at this point how popular number portability will be, and what kinds of problems customers will encounter.
"I don't think we're going to know for sure how it's going to be until a couple of weeks from now, because I imagine the volume's going to pick up over time," Hallenbeck said.
Wait and See
Both Lin and Kagan advise customers to wait and check out holiday deals from major wireless carriers. Expect more offers from wireless carriers in the first and second quarters of 2004, Kagan said.
"I'd categorize the deals so far as first-generation deals: not really hot yet, but enough to sway the early-adopter customers who were lined up to make the change on day one," Kagan said by e-mail. "As these early switchers thin out, I think, we'll start to see more aggressive deals. It's not a price war per se; it's creative packaging, including more minutes, expanded free hours, and bundles--but of course, price always plays a role."
Lin noted that some offers now include lower prices, free minutes, expanded weekend and night hours, and free phones every year. Before switching, customers should do some research and find the best deal for them, he said.
Helpful Hints
The FCC and AT&T Wireless Services offer other advice if you want to switch carriers while keeping your phone number:
Check to see whether your current wireless service imposes an early termination fee. By law, carriers cannot refuse to transfer a number if a fee or outstanding balance is unpaid.
Expect to get a new phone if you switch carriers. Many cellular phones don't work with multiple carriers.
Don't cancel service at your old wireless carrier before signing up with the new carrier. Your new carrier will handle the switch; and if you cancel your old service before contacting your new carrier, you'll likely lose your phone number.
Have an old wireless bill with you when you contact your new carrier. The new carrier will need to enter your information exactly as it appears on your old bill for the number port to go smoothly.
Ask your new carrier about recycling your old phone. Some carriers, including AT&T Wireless, can refurbish your old phone or donate it to charity.
Expect your new wireless carrier to charge a fee to recover the costs of porting.