Is Wireless Number Portability Changing the Game for Mobile Phone Plans?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Greg Bernhardt
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Wireless
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the implications of the new wireless number portability law on mobile phone plans. Participants explore their current experiences with various carriers and express their thoughts on potential changes in their service choices due to the ability to retain phone numbers when switching providers.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested, Exploratory, Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express satisfaction with their current carriers, such as AT&T Wireless, while considering the impact of number portability on their future choices.
  • One participant mentions the advantages of switching to carriers like AWS/Cingular/T-Mobile for better international service and coverage, highlighting the differences in customer experiences across regions.
  • Another participant notes that in regions where number portability has been implemented, customer churn rates returned to normal levels after initial changes, suggesting that the novelty may wear off.
  • There is a discussion about the cost-effectiveness of pay-as-you-go plans versus bundled services, with some participants advocating for the latter based on individual calling patterns.
  • Participants express a preference for certain carriers based on historical service quality and innovative packages, indicating that past experiences influence current choices.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on whether they will switch carriers, as opinions vary based on personal experiences and preferences. Multiple competing views regarding the advantages of different carriers and plans remain evident.

Contextual Notes

Some claims depend on regional differences in service quality and customer satisfaction, and there are unresolved assumptions about the impact of number portability on long-term customer behavior.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals considering a change in mobile phone plans, those interested in the implications of number portability, and consumers evaluating the cost-effectiveness of different mobile service options.

Greg Bernhardt
Admin
Insights Author
Messages
19,917
Reaction score
10,945
Anyone going to switch plans once the new wireless number portability law is passed that you can keep your phone number? I have been happy with At&T Wireless so far.
 
Computer science news on Phys.org
AWS' GSM service, or the older one?

Envious of those cheese-eating surrender monkeys, Brits, Italians, Finns, Indians, Chinese, ... who do all that texting (a.k.a. SMSing/messaging)? Anxious to travel the world without worrying about making your phone (and its contents) work in new places? Get AWS/Cingular/T-Mobile!

Then there are the boring reasons - my carrier has lousy coverage/customer service/billing/...

In places where number portability was introduced a long time ago (Hong Kong was one of the first, IIRC), most operators adopted defensive measures quickly, and churn (percentage of customers who moved to a competitor) returned to 'normal' levels after a few months.
 
When in the US I use T-Mobile, mostly for historical reasons. However, if Virgin Mobile offered a GSM option, I'd switch in a heartbeat. Why? For most people, the bundles offered by nearly everyone in the market (e.g. 300 'free daytime weekday national minutes', unlimited other time minutes) are more expensive than a pure pay-as-you-go scheme, because of their calling patterns. There are notable exceptions, of course.

In Europe and the Asia-Pacific regions, my preference again is Virgin Mobile, for the same reason. Historically, Orange offered innovative packages, but since its acquisition by France Telecom, they've reverted to 'me-too'.
 

Similar threads

Anyone Here Use Prepaid Mobile Phone Plan to Save $$$?
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K
Dual Channel Network Acceleration on Android Phone
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
5K
How can I receive security codes overseas without a traditional phone number?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
2A wireless charging mobile phone
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Which Mobile Phone Offers the Best Value Under 200 Euros?
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K
WiTricity and wireless energy trasfer.
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
5K
Using a wireless phone 160ft underground?
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
Wireless Troubles: A Day with Sprint
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
4K
How Do Wireless Digital Transmissions Work and What Affects Their Quality?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
Anyone sick and tired of all the fancy techy stuffs?
  • · Replies 22 ·
Replies
22
Views
3K