When Number Portability Arrives...

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › When Number Portability Arrives...

spazz

266 posts

Ultimate Geek

#10399 20-Nov-2006 19:29

What will it mean for existing promos like 027 Mega TXT, BestMate™ etc? How will users differentiate between those who are on Voda and those on Telecom when it has become quite commonplace for people to say "I'm on 027, what about you?" (instead of "I'm on Telecom", etc). Are we in for a bit of widespread consumer confusion? Will this put an end to network-specific promos since it will become increasingly difficult to ascertain who's on what?

Thoughts please :)

http://walkingisoverrated.com

johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#53063 20-Nov-2006 19:37

Read the info on this link and they are already heading in that direction

TXT 2000 Vodafone to Vodafone

http://www.vodafone.co.nz/pricing_plans/supa-prepay.jsp

Purchase BestMate™ on Supa Prepay for $6 a month and call, TXT and video call, as much as you like to one nominated Vodafone NZ number.

spazz

266 posts

Ultimate Geek

#53064 20-Nov-2006 19:51

Is the new Vodafone number range 021027xxxxx just coincidental?

http://walkingisoverrated.com

johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#53066 20-Nov-2006 20:14

spazz: Is the new Vodafone number range 021027xxxxx just coincidental?

This is a old number range its been out for over 12 months

Jama

1420 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#53072 20-Nov-2006 20:46

Probably a good subject for a forum

Is NP useful? Would you use it? or is it just misguided?

I think confusion is right.

alasta

6701 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

#53077 20-Nov-2006 21:13

Jama: Probably a good subject for a forum

Is NP useful? Would you use it? or is it just misguided?

Actually, I believe that it's very, very important. When I changed my phone number just over a year ago, I found it to be a huge hassle to inform all of my friends and family and it would be that much worse if I had been using this phone for business purposes.

I agree that there will be some confusion with regard to number prefixes, but it's a small price to pay.

tonyhughes

Hawkes Bay
8476 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#53083 20-Nov-2006 21:51

I think NP is important, and the networks, promos and plans will just adapt.

Sooner the better...

grant_k

3539 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#53084 20-Nov-2006 21:52

Most other countries in the Western World have had NP for some years. I agree with Alasta that it's hugely important.

Not having NP doesn't only discriminate against people who want to change from Telecom to Vodafone (or vice versa). It also prevents me from changing from Vodafone On Account to Prepay as I so desire without the expense and major hassle of getting new business cards printed, informing people of my new mobile number etc, etc.

When NP arrives in April next year, it is going to force Vodafone to clean up their act in this area and look after On Account customers much better and more promptly (if they haven't already got their act together by that time).

Let's turn the question around:

==> How can NP possibly be a bad thing so far as Telco customers are concerned?

I know it's a lot of hassle for the Telcos, but they are there to SERVE their customers, right?

It will be interesting to hear everyone's reponse to this...

Equinox IT

Cloud spending continues to surge globally, but most organisations haven’t made the changes necessary to maximise the value and cost-efficiency benefits of their cloud investments. Download the whitepaper From Overspend to Advantage now.

jesseycy

294 posts

Ultimate Geek

#53135 21-Nov-2006 16:04

It's actually not hard for Telcos (at least as staff are concerned with anyway)...

I worked in Hong Kong before (an where I am now.. :D)... Had number portability for years, with more than 5 mobile companies... And all a staff member has to do when they successfully lure a customer over, is to fill inb a "number retention form"... Jot down the old SIM number, make the customer sign a form to allow this transfer... And voila...

The technicians will just "execute" these changes every midnight..... How is that a big pain???

As for customers.... JUST ask your friends... Not that hard, really...

richms

28168 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#53232 22-Nov-2006 15:02

the big problem will be for multiple phone carrying people, they will not know which network the recipiant is on when they go to make acall to someone they dont often call. Eg, calling a builder or whatever, you may end up talking a bit and use chargable min's instead of bundled ones because they have ported across to the other company.

Richard rich.ms

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#53237 22-Nov-2006 15:59

richms: the big problem will be for multiple phone carrying people, they will not know which network the recipiant is on when they go to make acall to someone they dont often call. Eg, calling a builder or whatever, you may end up talking a bit and use chargable min's instead of bundled ones because they have ported across to the other company.

This isn't a problem at all. Vodafone & Telecom will do what every other network in the world who has faced a similair problem will do - play you a recorded message if your call is going off network to a ported number if you are on a plan with included on network minutes.

portege

188 posts

Master Geek

#53238 22-Nov-2006 16:10

Do you guys know how much this will cost any of the telcos?