Wireless number portability begins today in the States
Wireless number portability begins today in the 100 most populated areas in the United States. Things to remember:
1) You can keep your number but probably not your phone. Different carriers use incompatible technologies which means you'll have to change phones when you go to a different wireless company. My cell phones and plans page has a link a group you can donate your old phone to. In The Future, consider a phone you can sync your PC to, so you don't loose your address book and contact information. Again.
2.) If you cancel your existing contract you may face early cancellation fees, sometimes a huge amount.
3.) The carriers won't make it easy for you to change. Don't start by asking your old carrier to switch your service and number to a new provider. No. If you bought your phone over the counter, take it to a store with the phone and plan you now want, along with a recent bill. That bill will have the account information they need to switch. I'd try the same approach with on-line cellular dealers. Start with the company you want to go with now, and let them do the work.
4.) You can now transfer your house telephone number to your wireless device if both have the same area code. I don't know how exactly how this will work. Seems to me your landline would have to die, you could not have both numbers ring when someone calls. I also don't understand how people get by without a hard wired phone. You'd have no fast internet connection and it's harder for emergency services to locate you.
5.) Starting out with wireless? Think about buying a cell phone on-line. You can't compare several companies at your local wireless store but you can on the web. I have more on this on my cell phones and plans page. Most web sites are easy: put in your zip code and back comes a list of carriers and phones and prices. One caution. Many of these sites overlook regional wireless companies which could offer good deals. Shop around.
Good luck on dealing with this historic change. It may provide you the incentive to upgrade your phone or to try a new wireless carrier. Now, if only service and coverage could be improved by simply setting a date.