Mobile Number Portability

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lance4k

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#2756 15-Nov-2004 14:29

New Zealand is like the only country in the western world that doesn't have Mobile Number Portability. Vodafone and Telecom need to get their act together. I would like to have the opportunity to switch networks if I want and keep the SAME mobile number. It is so easy to do. All major telcos(AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Vodafone Australia) all have Mobile Number Portability.

Currently on Vodafone NZ u can change from Prepay to a contract but u HAVE TO CHANGE your number? What the hell for!?? U can change from contract to contract and keep the same number currently!!!!!Its stupid you can't go from Prepay to contract without changing your number on Vodafone NZ. To change numbers on the same network at Vodafone australia you just pick up the phone and call them and 3 hours later your done.

Also in Australia and other countries if you want to swtich from any other telco you just take in your sim card and they'll transfer your number and phone book to a new sim card on your new network.

Does anyone work at Vodafone and Telecom here? When is this going to happen? It'll increase competition between networks. PPL on vodafone could change to telecom for $10 txt. PPL on telecom might want to change to vodafone for Vodafone Live. Also people whos businesses want them to get on a business plan on a different network can change to that network and keep the same phone number. Man Mobile Number Portability would be heaven.

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#10212 15-Nov-2004 16:02

Canada dont have number portability...

alasta

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#10215 15-Nov-2004 17:27

It's not "so easy to do" at all. There are significant costs associated with the administration of number portability and determining how those costs are to be allocated is a potential minefield. It won't happen anytime soon without proper government assistance and, from all accounts, Paul Swain has put it in the too difficult basket for now.

I would also suggest that the fact that it would increase competition is likely to be a disincentive for the telcos to support it. After all, more competition implies lower prices.

However, I agree that it would be hugely beneficial for the market and it is well overdue. We can live and hope.

Jama

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#10230 16-Nov-2004 15:40

I don't see the point. There are only 2 mobile operators here. Maybe if there were 3 operators it would make more sense.

freitasm

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#10231 16-Nov-2004 15:52

C'mon Jama - it's good from a business point of view. Think of a company like Telecom getting the business from a Vodafone customer. Let's say Telecom gets a government department with a couple of hundred mobile phones. How many users will be happy changing their phone numbers? Let them use the number forever, I say.

Telecom (or Vodafone) can list this as a benefit - no need to change numbers, reduced stress, easy communication with customers, etc...

Jama

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#10247 17-Nov-2004 08:43

I agree with your points Freitasm but with only 2 carriers the costs don't add up. Another point I thought I would raise...

I was reading yesterday that the power industry in NZ is not regulated from a price perspective and the power generators have made a record profit. Power is a necessity a phone is not. TUANZ on behalf of telecommunication users regulary pushes for price drops on all sorts of communications products and services. The governement dictates what Telecom, Voda and Telstra can and can not do.

Maybe it is time to do the same for the power industry - maybe form a lobby group and call it PUANZ.

jcr976

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#10259 17-Nov-2004 18:54

If its so great overseas why does he not go back there and stop his moaning

tonyhughes

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#10332 20-Nov-2004 15:37

I agree with number portability in theory - but where does it end?

My bank account number when shifting between banks?

My street address when I move house? (Yes I know NZPost will forward mail, but Voda and Telecom can forward calls too)

My username@xtra.co.nz if I go to slingshot???

If I was in business, then yes, my staffs phone numbers would be very important to me and the business, but so are email addresses etc.

You can get a domain name and forward mail to pop3 accounts wherever you are, and you can get customerlink and 0800/0508 numbers to forward calls to any number you like, so in effect we already have these options open to those willing to pay for it.

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lance4k

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#10335 20-Nov-2004 22:43

We'll I need this service. Its stupid we need it. Would u like to watch the same tv channel all the time? I don't think so. u'd like to change channels. We need Mobile number portability. as a person shifts businesses and they get a fone they'll have to get a new number if the new company uses a diff network. U can use ur internet connection ANYWHERE IN NZ. would u like to only be able to use it at ur address??? I don't think so

tonyhughes

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#10338 21-Nov-2004 08:00

my jetstream at home is tied to my address, but im on a business trip today, sitting in a motel with a gtran card, so no, i dont quite agree with you there.

I personally believe there is a certain amount of intellectual property in the prefix especially - we all know what 021 025 and 027 are.

Why should Voda and Telecom give away their brand identitys to us, the users? Whats in it for them (really... ).

taniwha

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#10359 22-Nov-2004 11:38

where does it end?? it ends with cellphone number portability.
It would open true competition, there would be far less reluctance to "jump ship"

you change ISP and want to keep your email address, you buy a domain name.
you want keeping your physical postal address?? now that's being silly.

i suspect the fear of number portablity was a factor behind vodafone's "Motormouth" plans.

tonyhughes

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#10362 22-Nov-2004 11:56

I agree with number portability, but there is much more to it than meets the eye, so I am just raising questions... :-)

Lots of people have valid reasons to keep a postal address, and often will keep a PO Box.

I guess my main point, is should people have to pay for the privilege of keeping their phone number?

We can keep virtually any identifying info we want (email, po box address etc etc), but we happily pay for that service if we want it.

Why should we get our phone numbers for free if we jump ship?

Should Xtra let me keep my email address at no cost if I go to Slingshot?

tonyhughes

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#10363 22-Nov-2004 11:58

and yes, i can get silly now and again... life wouldnt be worth living without sillyness

taniwha

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#10364 22-Nov-2004 12:18

For a fee is reasonable, if there are costs incurred., but an enterprising telco might wish to pay the costs for customers who wish to switch to them.

silly is good

alasta

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#10366 22-Nov-2004 12:25

I don't think it should necessarily be free, but any costs passed on to the consumer should be reasonable.

In my case, I used my 021 number for several years and then, when I switched to 027, there was no way that callers could continue to contact me on my 021 number unless I left my Vodafone account open and set my phone to divert all calls to my 027 number. This solution would have cost a fortune and I simply didn't consider it to be practical. There was also the problem of my text messages not being able to be diverted to my new phone.

tonyhughes

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#10368 22-Nov-2004 15:14

The most common solution i know of is to switch your old phone to prepay and change your voicemail to say "My new number is ...... "

Telecom will switch a customer to prepaid with no hassles (as long as you pay your disconnection fee if any). I have heard of Voda customers getting a refusal from Voda to do this though. (and some successes).

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