Keep your number!

The excitement of getting a new phone is often tempered  by the stark reality that you had to change networks and so you now need to change your number.

How many times has this happened to you?

It is really frustrating to change your phone number as often you think you told everyone about the change but inadvertently, you missed someone so you stop getting their calls.

Think about all the important calls you might have missed all because you could not retain your number once you switched networks.

Number Portability

Although we are not there yet, number portability, which means keeping your phone number across networks, is getting closer.

The Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) is to select a number portability licensee in another two weeks. This is in order to meet the Government’s May 31 deadline for implementation of the system.

Consumer Benefit

The best part about the upcoming change is that consumers will no longer feel trapped to remain with one network simply because they fear losing their phone number.

A self-employed person, for example who uses his phone to conduct business can not easily switch to a number that is not recognized by his clients. In fact unanswered calls might result in a loss of revenue.

Persons often cart around two phones, one from each network as they try to keep in constant communication with friends.

Number portability will create better competition, and give users a free hand to choose their provider based on service quality and price, rather than being dependent on one provider in order to maintain their phone number.

I eagerly anticipate the process as it can only get better from here for consumers. Well that’s my two cents!

What is your take on the issue?

Teri Ann Renee Paisley

Gleaner online writer

Tags: telecommunication services