’We like this change’

Mobile phone users in city give number portability the thumbs-up, say customers will truly be kings now

'We like this change'

Mobile phone users in city give number portability the thumbs-up, say customers will truly be kings now

Expect a number of your friends and contacts to change their mobile service provider in 2010 if you have caught them murmuring their unhappiness over their operator. Except, this time you need not worry about changing the numbers you have stored, and can wish them all a happy New Year from your existing mobile phone contact list.

Pic used for representational purpose only

And yes, if you go for a change as well, you do not have to go through the bother of sending dozens of 'here's my new number' SMSes.

Residents of the city are elated they can keep their mobile phone number while switching to a new service provider by paying a maximum of Rs 19, the fee ceiling fixed by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) when it rings in mobile number portability (MNP) from January 1.

"This is a very good idea where one can change the service provider but keep the same old number at a nominal cost, if any," said Virat S Kumar, a mobile phone user.

"With MNP, competition between service providers will get tougher as every operator would want to become number one by having the most number of connections. The one who provides better service and has good offers will attract more customers. All this is good for the customer."

So far, many people who would have liked to change their service provider refrained from doing so for fear of losing their number, which was with hundreds of their contacts.

This was especially a big issue with businessmen whose clients had had their number for years.

Mobile phone user S Srivastava felt every user would welcome the new facility.

"This facility is pro-customer, giving him more benefits. If customers are unhappy with the current service provider, they can now easily shift to another service provider without fear of losing their existing number and contacts," said Srivastava. "As there will be lot of competition between service providers, everyone will try to give the best service." In the old scheme of things, you often also had to pay extra to get a number of your choice, such as a number you considered lucky, from the new service provider. Another mobile user, Rohit Kumar, was also enthused by the greater competition expected between service providers. "I will be very happy with this facility. With this facility I think the tariff will be competitive and customers can expect more and more offers and schemes," said Kumar.

How is it done?
A customer has to pay a maximum of Rs 19 and give a written undertaking to the existing service provider that he is shifting to another service provider and is retaining his phone number. TRAI's guidelines say that within five days of submission of the undertaking, the mandatory subscriber identity verification should be done.u00a0 The operators concerned must inform the customer of the exact date when the switch will happen. TRAI has clarified that this facility will be available only within a given licensed service area. Post-paid customers have to clear all outstanding dues before changing operators, but need not pay any deposits again.

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