Landline Number Portability?

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MikeAqua

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#146993 5-Jun-2014 10:29

I am moving suburbs in Nelson (not very far). Telecom have told me that keeping our landline number is not an option.

I've noticed previously that if you move businesses around within a city, Telecom are very helpful on number portability. For our home account it's a flat no.

The reason given is that the exchange we are on is 'hard wired' so the number cannot move with us.

Am I being fed a line of BS?

Mike

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#1059663 5-Jun-2014 10:39

Not an expert but definitely not just BS, something to do with the NEAX's can't do that or something

You can move within an exchange area and keep your number, but moving to a new exchange area can't be done unless you port your number to VOIP if I'm not mistaken

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cbrpilot

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#1059681 5-Jun-2014 10:56

My understanding is that number ranges are physically programmed into each NEAX Switch. If you change switches, you change number ranges.

My views are my own, and may not necessarily represent those of my employer.

ubergeeknz

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#1059688 5-Jun-2014 11:05

Just FYI, and not suggesting you do so, but if you were to change to another voice provider, assuming they can connect you directly eg. VoIP or unbundled, then you can keep your number (provided you're in the same local calling area).

Of course though if you go back to Telecom or the only option is to wholesale the voice service from Telecom, you'll need to take the new number. They can't move them between exchanges.

scheduler

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#1059689 5-Jun-2014 11:07

Other then porting to a VOIP provider another option may be port to Vodafone's home phone wireless and naked work. I understand this works as long as you remain in the same free calling area.

freitasm

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#1059694 5-Jun-2014 11:12

MikeAqua: I am moving suburbs in Nelson (not very far). Telecom have told me that keeping our landline number is not an option.

I've noticed previously that if you move businesses around within a city, Telecom are very helpful on number portability. For our home account it's a flat no.

The reason given is that the exchange we are on is 'hard wired' so the number cannot move with us.

Am I being fed a line of BS?

No conspiracy here, no BS being fed, Telecom is not trying to be mean, just how it is. If you move from one exchange to another then keeping the number is not an option.

The alternative is to move the number to a VoIP provider which will then make it more "movable".

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kfella2000

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#1059703 5-Jun-2014 11:22

As FunnyFela suggested port your number to a voip provider like 2talk then find a naked dsl ISP like wanna, vodafone snap just to name a few and then you can setup your phonenumber into an ATA (analogue telephone adapter) which is a small box that allows you to plug your standard home phones into and your calls go over the internet instead of through the exchange. Then if you move houses in the future the ATA with your number programmed into it goes with you.

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#1059704 5-Jun-2014 11:25

WorldxChange do a very good VoIP product that would enable you to keep your number.

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MikeAqua

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#1059765 5-Jun-2014 13:06

Thanks guys good to know it's not BS. Surprised in this day and age that the flexibility isn't their.

I must admit I am rather cynical about Telecom. Every interaction we seem to have with them, as residential users, ends up involving a stuff up of some kind by them. I'll be interested to see how the move goes.

On the business front, they are fantastic to deal with. The contrast is astounding.

Mike

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#1059786 5-Jun-2014 13:19

Just for clarification this issue has nothing to do with number portability - which is the ability to move a number to another provider.

The exact same service is available to "keep" your number regardless of whether you're a business or residential customer. Move your current number to a customerlink (charges apply) and it'll point to your new number. It will not be present however on outbound CID.

MikeAqua

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#1059891 5-Jun-2014 16:11

Interesting because we were specifically told by Telecom that 'pointing' service it isn't available at all to residential customers.

Mike

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#1059894 5-Jun-2014 16:18

Incorrect. It's available to anybody but you need to be aware of the price which would put most people off.

If you want your number move to VoIP. Best move you could ever make.

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raytaylor

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#1061425 8-Jun-2014 19:24

MikeAqua: Surprised in this day and age

Remember, its still 1987 inside most telephone exchanges

Customer link at $20 per month I believe is the solution there.

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plambrechtsen

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#1062037 9-Jun-2014 18:11

raytaylor:
MikeAqua: Surprised in this day and age

Remember, its still 1987 inside most telephone exchanges

Customer link at $20 per month I believe is the solution there.

It's more like 1981 rather than 1987, but who's counting :)

And it's not most exchanges, it's all exchanges.

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#1064137 12-Jun-2014 14:54

Does Telecom have an ENUM / E.164 project?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telephone_number_mapping
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E.164

In a future with a DNS based system for numbering would there even a need for a centralized exchanged switches any more?

Every carrier/voice provider just runs dns for their numbers (internet all the things)... must be scary for incumbents with massive legacy equipment/systems...

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#1064154 12-Jun-2014 15:11

Errr. ENUM would probably hit the IPv4 limit wall any minute now.

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