Virgin Not Happy with Slow Number Portability

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With recent news on Canadian cell phone number portability Virgin Mobile has labeled the Canadian mobile industry's plan to introduce number portability 'too slow' after The Canadian Wireless Technology Association unveiled a two-year plan to address the issue citing 2007 as possible trial date.

Richard Branson wrote an open letter that will appear in Canada's national media on September 14, 2005. The letter encourages Canadian mobile customers to email: mynumberismobile@virginmobile.ca with their views on number portability and their desire to speed up the implementation process. Surveys as far back as 1998 revealed more that 70% of Canadians said keeping their mobile number was important to them. Recent research by Virgin Mobile uncovered that as many as 30% of consumers would switch carriers now if the option was available - clearly indicative of a high level of dissatisfaction that Canadian consumers feel about not being able to freely transfer their mobile number if they leave their incumbent carrier.

Virgin Mobile supports Industry Canada's request for an 'expeditious' implementation of Number portability and challenges the industry to follow through with a consumer-friendly plan that includes:

- availability of number portability for Canadian consumers as soon as 2006;
- a hassle-free and positive customer "transfer" experience that takes less than 4 hours (not bad);
- and a guaranteed no penalty fee structure to customers for choosing to switch (not sure how they'll get out of this one since many are on contracts. i think you should still have to honour your contract).

"Virgin Mobile will continue to stand up for Canadians on this issue. As Canada's newest mobile provider and an international brand we have seen how consumers in other markets have benefited with better service and better value once number portability is introduced. We have also seen how not offering it to customers can restrict competition and that means that mobile customers are worse off." Of course you would Virgin, you have the most to gain.

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