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Canadian Wireless Number Portability Arrives

It's finally here in Canada. We first reported the decision by the CRTC to adopt wireless number portability for mobile cutomers back in August 2005. The basic premise is consumers can no change service providers but keep their phone number (or, as long as it's within the same calling area, transfer a wireless number to a landline or the other way around.)

Canadians Can Now Keep Their Numbers

Hopefully wireless portability will increase the competitive spirit amongst Canadian providers and lower some of the prices. An earlier report has pegged Canada as the most expensive country in the developed world when it comes to paying for services.

Smaller carriers are banking on a change. Virigin says 41 percent of Canadians surveyed would switch carriers if they could. Canadian cell phone customers interested in switching carriers, however, must be aware of a few facts before they make a move.

For one, canceling a contract prematurely will cost money – up to $400 in fact -- depending on the carrier and how much time is left on the contract. You can't just up and leave, but when your contract is done, or if you're on pay-as-you-go, the options may be limitless.

Another problem is network. If you're on a CDMA network then your phone is stuck on the CDMA network (Bell and Telus; GSM - Rogers and .... um Fido?)

Chances are though, that carriers will have plenty of incentive to switch over and will start offering great plans and addons for customers. When you're thinking of switching remember do not cancel your phone before you switch or you will loose your phone number.

There is not indication of 'porting fees' and if we use the US as any indication of popularity, the industry won't flip on its head.

Port Wireless Numbers to Landlines

The new system will also enable consumers to move a phone number to or from a cell phone - or a traditional wired telephone across the wired-wireless divide.

One of the key barriers that could confront consumers moving between service providers is that they will likely have to buy a new cellphone. You should also note there is little fanfare from wireless providers suggesting they aren't too eager to engage in 'portability warfare'.

But people who may have left any of the service providers for a competing carrier in the past and are contemplating switching back to their original cellphone company should still be able to use their original phone, if it's still around.

Even if people moving from one carrier to another get a free phone or use an old one to avoid an expense, they will likely still have to pay fees linked to signing on with a service provider.

None of the carriers are suggesting they too won't charge a direct fee to move a customer's phone number to or from their networks, according to their representatives. But the same cannot be said for other costs.

Gruia pointed to European carriers that offer a service that lets customers store their contact list on the network, enabling them to use it with any phone - for a fee.

Because the number portability also crosses the wired-wireless divide, it means that a barrier to people figuratively cutting the cord on their phone at home and moving to a cell phone is gone.