local cell phone number portability

Anyone know if and when this will happen for Canadian service providers?

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...0031106consacti

http://www.globetechnology.com/servlet/Art...3/TPTechnology/

18 months later it's a reality!

Toronto Star story.

Cellphone users to be able to keep numbers

OTTAWA — Canada's cellphone carriers have agreed to allow customers to retain their phone numbers when changing service providers within the same local calling area.

The Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association announced the agreement on so-called number portability, which will also allow customers to keep the same phone number when transferring landline phone service to wireless service or vice versa.

The deal announced today includes all of the country's major mobile phone providers — Rogers Wireless, including the Fido service it bought from Microcell Communications last year, Bell Mobility, Telus Mobility, Aliant Mobility, Bruce Municipal Telephone System, MTS Mobility, SaskTel Mobility, Sogetel Mobilite, Telebec Mobilite and TBayTel Mobility.
....
Barnes hopes the plan will be completed by Sept. 1, after which a common start date for portability will be established by the wireless carriers.

whoa, that's weird, I was just listening to this on radio news and this thread pops up..

That's great news. Planning on changing cell phone providers, but have held off since i really didn't want to lose my number. Now there's nothing stopping me now.

yep, this is happenning in the US for some time, but not sure how long (i found out about it about 6 months ago)....here in the US, you also can port land line phone numbers to your cell phone as well (which i thought was cool)...

Originally Posted by me!

whoa, that's weird, I was just listening to this on radio news and this thread pops up..

That's great news. Planning on changing cell phone providers, but have held off since i really didn't want to lose my number. Now there's nothing stopping me now.

Yup ... our surveillance cameras and mics caught that as well so I thought I would give you the details

As I posted though ... they've just finally agreed to make it happen. Will still be the end of the year I expect before you can actually do it.

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/TechNews...007312-cp.html

Just another article about this. Finally!

Originally Posted by congenic

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/TechNews...007312-cp.html

Just another article about this. Finally!

From the CBC...

Cellphone firms to offer number portability
Last Updated Fri, 22 Apr 2005 08:06:36 EDT
CBC News
TORONTO - Cellphone users in Canada will soon be able to keep their numbers when they change phone companies to get better rates or service.


The Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association said Thursday that its members had reached a deal on "number portability" for most of the country's 15 million cellphone users.

At the moment, cellphone owners must change their number when they change companies to take advantage of more attractive deals.

That necessity has interfered with competition in the industry, critics have said.


FROM MARCH 1, 2005: Virgin Group to push for cellphone number portability

The new policy will apply to phone owners who stay in the same calling area when changing providers.

It will also let people keep their old phone number when switching from landline service at their homes to a cellphone, or vice versa.

Companies signing on to the agreement include Rogers Wireless and its Fido service, Bell Mobility, Telus Mobility, Aliant Mobility, Bruce Municipal Telephone System, MTS Mobility, SaskTel Mobility, Sogetel Mobilité, Telebec Mobilité and TBayTel Mobility.

It will take several months for the new policy to take effect, said Peter Barnes, president of the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association.

Cellphone providers in 100 major U.S. cities have offered number portability since 2003.

yup that means for competitive rates from all the providers!! yes!!!

I hope this happens sooner rather than later.
First thing on my list is to dump rogers.

yeah know them...

there will be a $35 charge to transfer over your number portabliy.. etc..