The Old Joel on Software Forum: Part 3 (of 5) - Anyone change cell phones yet?

Anyone change cell phones yet?

I'm thinking of changing cell phone providers. Has anyone gone through this process successfully?

Having worked on numerous business systems I'm a little wary of trying this out so soon into implementation.

Any thoughts on good services in Minneapolis?

NathanJ
Wednesday, December 3, 2003

Do you mean change cell phone providers whilst keeping your current number? I'm trying to go through the process at the moment. We'll see if it works. Just remember that if you move to a different area code you won't be able to keep your old number, at least that is what they told me (e.g. if you originally got your cell in area code 123 and moved to area code 321, you probably won't be able to kep 123-XXX-XXXX *OR* get 321-XXX-XXXX).

MR
Wednesday, December 3, 2003

Yes, I meant change providers while keeping the same number. How long have you been "in process". My understanding is that it should be done in about a day.

My biggest reservation is that I might be stuck without any cell phone access for several days and people will get "not in service" messages during this time.

NathanJ
Wednesday, December 3, 2003

The reccomendation is to get your new service first. Then stop your existing service.

apw
Wednesday, December 3, 2003

How do you get new service while keeping your existing service and bring over your old number?

Dorn
Wednesday, December 3, 2003

Nathan,

I'm looking at different vendors/comparing prices/etc. -- and the example 'gotcha' I mentioned is what I'm going through. My biz cards, etc. all have my cell on there which is a different area code than I happen to live in and it's a pain to try and get the number moved over.

MR
Wednesday, December 3, 2003

topic was just mentioned on slashdot:
http://ask.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=03/12/03/1743217&mode=nested&tid=103&tid=126&tid=137&tid=193&tid=99

you'll probably see more feedback there.

Steve H
Wednesday, December 3, 2003

If you cancel your existing cell phone service your number may be reassigned before you get a chance to sign up for new service. Therefore you go to your new carrier and tell them you want to port your number. Then drop your old carrier.

apw
Wednesday, December 3, 2003

Why are cell phones in the US tied to a particular area code? (Is that the same area code as your home phone?)

In Australia our mobile numbers are just seperated by the first 2 digits like a mobile area code. Sydney landlines are 02, Melbourne landlines are 03, Perth are 08 etc. and mobile phones all start with 04 (no matter where you live), so by looking at the first 2 digits of a number you can tell wether you are calling interstate or a mobile.

I know australia uses GSM for the most part, not sure about the US, but using GSM I have changed providers (from a prepaid phone to a post paid provider even) and I have had the same mobile number for the past 5 years without trouble.

ChrisO
Wednesday, December 3, 2003

"Why are cell phones in the US tied to a particular area code? (Is that the same area code as your home phone?)"

Remember, in the US (and Canada) you don't pay to call someone in your local area code. So if I get a number that it's my area code, then I know I can call it for free.

Of course, that's how it's supposed to work. In reality, there might be several different area codes that I can call for free because the other 7 digits of the number are all exhausted.

I avoided this whole number portability thing a long time ago by simply having my office phone forward to my cell phone if I don't answer it. I recently changed phone providers and it was no fuss at all. I don't even know my cell phone number!

Almost Anonymous
Wednesday, December 3, 2003

With such a straightforward process, how hard could it be?

http://www.easyporting.com/pdf/Final_Detailed_Flow.pdf

Jonathan
Wednesday, December 3, 2003