news:Cingular Offers Number Portability Warnings

Portability does require the former carrier to tie your lie through the
system... Depedning on their switching and NOCs abilties, it will take
time... It iosnt simply a keppunch on a keyboard and boom...

Plus you have then to have the new carrier port that incoming line to
their system and configure...

This isnt a simple plug and replug anymore...

Any carrier will set procedures to protect themselves financially
(several carriers have said wont release account in arrears or such) and
liability wise for calls until proted properly...

Makes business sense regardless...



"PDA Man" <[email protected]> wrote in article
<[email protected]>:
> Cingular Wireless yesterday warned U.S. wireless customers that the
> nationwide shift to wireless number portability will not go as smoothly as
> they might wish. The carrier said that customers who switch service after
> the deadline on November 24 may lose basic parts of their service for hours
> before their switch is complete. Cingular also warned that subscribers who
> cancel their service plans may lose their phone numbers if they do not
> follow proper procedures. This announcement is part of a campaign by most of
> the leading U.S. carriers, which oppose the FCC's local number portability
> (LNP) requirement. The only major carrier thus far to embrace the shift to
> number portability is Verizon Wireless, which expects to take existing
> subscribers away from rival carriers after the deadline passes. The other
> carriers hope to discourage subscribers from switching service providers.
> This campaign is expected to intensify as the number portability deadline
> approaches.
>
> For more on Cingular's warning:
> - read this
> http://lists.fiercemarkets.com/c.htm...5ez5,b48k,hbcp
> CNET
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> ----
>
>

[posted via phonescoop.com]

---

› See More: news:Cingular Offers Number Portability Warnings

"John Andrews" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Portability does require the former carrier to tie your lie through the
> system... Depedning on their switching and NOCs abilties, it will take
> time... It iosnt simply a keppunch on a keyboard and boom...
>
> Plus you have then to have the new carrier port that incoming line to
> their system and configure...
>
> This isnt a simple plug and replug anymore...
>
> Any carrier will set procedures to protect themselves financially
> (several carriers have said wont release account in arrears or such) and
> liability wise for calls until proted properly...
>
> Makes business sense regardless...
>
>
>
Potentially, that would mean that someone who is in dispute over a bill may
not even be able to take their number with them.

Exactly.. and why should they?

"Justin" <[email protected]> wrote in article
<[email protected]>:
>
> "John Andrews" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Portability does require the former carrier to tie your lie through the
> > system... Depedning on their switching and NOCs abilties, it will take
> > time... It iosnt simply a keppunch on a keyboard and boom...
> >
> > Plus you have then to have the new carrier port that incoming line to
> > their system and configure...
> >
> > This isnt a simple plug and replug anymore...
> >
> > Any carrier will set procedures to protect themselves financially
> > (several carriers have said wont release account in arrears or such) and
> > liability wise for calls until proted properly...
> >
> > Makes business sense regardless...
> >
> >
> >
> Potentially, that would mean that someone who is in dispute over a bill may
> not even be able to take their number with them.
>
>

[posted via phonescoop.com]

"John Andrews" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Exactly.. and why should they?


I could think of several legitimite reasons. In fact, billing issues could
be the reason some people leave in the first place.

> In article <[email protected]>,
> robjvargas@sprîntpcs.côm (O/Siris .) wrote:
>
> > That's actually *not* how WLNP will work once it's active. We're
> > getting the first details on it now.

"Phill." <[email protected]> wrote in article
<[email protected]>:
> Its how Cingular says it WILL work at Cingular.

No.

From the Cingular WLNP page, supporting sales reps and other Cingular
Employees:

"Start the process with your new carrier. If you cancel your current
service with your existing carrier, you may end up losing your number. "

Please have whoever told you otherwise check with their normal
information channel for an update; they are handing out incorrect
information.

[posted via phonescoop.com]

On Thu, 25 Sep 2003 15:36:14 -0000, [email protected] (John Andrews)
wrote:

>Any carrier will set procedures to protect themselves financially
>(several carriers have said wont release account in arrears or such) and
>liability wise for calls until proted properly...

Except that the FCC ruled in July that you cannot be held hostage by
your carrier either for pending charges or the ETF. You are
responsible for the charges, but you are not prohibited from going to
a new carrier and the older carrier has to abide by the request to
port their number to another carrier.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
To send an email reply send to
GSMthemobilestandard ( yahoo.com

That's the point. I *want* to get reasonable assurance (testing out the
service) before jumping the fence (porting the number). That's what the
whole 14 day return period is about. Don't you normally test drive a new
car before you trade in your old one?


"Jer" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> John wrote:
> > One other question, come to think of it. Do you have to do the number
port
> > when you sign up? I'd be interested in trying out the phone and service
for
> > a few weeks before porting the number over and canceling the old
service. I
> > can only imagine how crappy it'd be to port the number over and then
realize
> > the thing doesn't work well.
>
>
> Well, John, if you don't have some reasonable assurance that the grass
> really is greener on the other side, why are you climbing the fence?
>
> --
> jer email reply - I am not a 'ten' ICQ = 35253273
> "All that we do is touched with ocean, yet we remain on the shore of
> what we know." -- Richard Wilbur
>

John wrote:
> That's the point. I *want* to get reasonable assurance (testing out the
> service) before jumping the fence (porting the number). That's what the
> whole 14 day return period is about. Don't you normally test drive a new
> car before you trade in your old one?
>


Actually, no, I don't test drive these days. I figure if I don't know
enough about the car's condition and drivability to already want it,
I've got no business buying it. If I did decide to test drive, it'd
have to be for at least a week or longer, certainly long enough to do
a really swell road trip - and the only way that's gonna happen is to
rent one similar enough to make it worthwhile. But that's about cars
which have no returnability if it turns out I just don't like how it
drives. Cingular offers a 14 day bail-out clause in all new
contracts, but if it's a ported number, what'cha gonna do? port it
back? I suppose you could. Or, you could rent a Cingular phone for a
while until you've determined it's value - sorta like my vacation test
drive in a rental.


--
jer email reply - I am not a 'ten' ICQ = 35253273
"All that we do is touched with ocean, yet we remain on the shore of
what we know." -- Richard Wilbur

"Jer" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> John wrote:
> > That's the point. I *want* to get reasonable assurance (testing out the
> > service) before jumping the fence (porting the number). That's what the
> > whole 14 day return period is about. Don't you normally test drive a
new
> > car before you trade in your old one?
> >
>
>
> Actually, no, I don't test drive these days. I figure if I don't know
> enough about the car's condition and drivability to already want it,
> I've got no business buying it.

Well, that would be nice, but a sane person would want to see for themselves
if they can keep their ass in the seat while driving, check the clutch
functioning, make sure it doesn't ride to stiff or too soft, etc.

You are brave indeed to make such a purchase decision based merely on spec
sheets and word of mouth. I, on the other hand, am a chicken and prefer to
see for myself of the car is a POS.


---
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Version: 6.0.521 / Virus Database: 319 - Release Date: 9/23/2003

"Jer" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> John wrote:
> > That's the point. I *want* to get reasonable assurance (testing out the
> > service) before jumping the fence (porting the number). That's what the
> > whole 14 day return period is about. Don't you normally test drive a
new
> > car before you trade in your old one?
>
> Actually, no, I don't test drive these days. I figure if I don't know
> enough about the car's condition and drivability to already want it,
> I've got no business buying it. If I did decide to test drive, it'd
> have to be for at least a week or longer, certainly long enough to do
> a really swell road trip - and the only way that's gonna happen is to
> rent one similar enough to make it worthwhile. But that's about cars
> which have no returnability if it turns out I just don't like how it
> drives. Cingular offers a 14 day bail-out clause in all new
> contracts, but if it's a ported number, what'cha gonna do? port it
> back? I suppose you could. Or, you could rent a Cingular phone for a
> while until you've determined it's value - sorta like my vacation test
> drive in a rental.

The whole point is that I don't want to port my number, and then have to do
it again because the coverage is unacceptable. Whether I rent a phone or
buy it with the option of returning it within 14 days, I don't care.
However, Cingular, or any other company, doesn't rent phones. I just want
to make sure the coverage is acceptable in the areas I need it to be before
I spend the time and effort to port my number. The alternative is to buy a
phone, try it out for 2 weeks, and then return it. If the service is
acceptable, then buy another phone, this time porting over the number at the
outset. That's just more effort for me, and a money loser for the phone
company.

BTW, your vacation rental is the same thing as a test drive. The point is
you actually got in that model and got the "feel" of it.

"John" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Does anyone have an estimate on how long will it take from the first call
to
> when the number is completely transferred over?
>
Supposedly, cellco to cellco ports will take up to around 3 or 4 hours, not
days or weeks. Landline to cellco ports, however, will take days, if it
will really be possible in Nov. The port is done automagically thru
different systems. I also hear there will be systems which will monitor the
status of the port.

"John Andrews" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Exactly.. and why should they?
>
Because holding a number hostage will not lessen any carrier's chance of
someone not paying a bill. If someone is going to run out, they will run
out regardless.

I doubt a carrier will be able to keep a number if any bill is not paid,
since the carrier will not know that the customer is porting a number till
it recieves a porting request from another carrier. After the port is
complete the customer's account is still open, but without a number. If a
bill or ETF needs to be paid, it will be settled after the number is ported
out. Carriers have ways to get their money.

John wrote:


> The whole point is that I don't want to port my number, and then have to do
> it again because the coverage is unacceptable. Whether I rent a phone or
> buy it with the option of returning it within 14 days, I don't care.
> However, Cingular, or any other company, doesn't rent phones. I just want
> to make sure the coverage is acceptable in the areas I need it to be before
> I spend the time and effort to port my number. The alternative is to buy a
> phone, try it out for 2 weeks, and then return it. If the service is
> acceptable, then buy another phone, this time porting over the number at the
> outset. That's just more effort for me, and a money loser for the phone
> company.

Well, there's your option. Get a new phone from Cingular, use it for
14 day eval purposes. Then cancel. Make decision. Sorta like a
girlfriend (or boyfriend), except in my book, they get 30 days.


>
> BTW, your vacation rental is the same thing as a test drive. The point is
> you actually got in that model and got the "feel" of it.

Yeah, it is the same thing, yet I've never actually done it - though
that option is available to anyone.



--
jer email reply - I am not a 'ten' ICQ = 35253273
"All that we do is touched with ocean, yet we remain on the shore of
what we know." -- Richard Wilbur

In article <[email protected]>, Jer <[email protected]>
wrote:

> Well, there's your option. Get a new phone from Cingular, use it for
> 14 day eval purposes. Then cancel. Make decision. Sorta like a
> girlfriend (or boyfriend), except in my book, they get 30 days.

Except there a lots of charges. Likely you're into a 2nd billing period,
for which they'll charge you in full, then there's the "nonrefundable"
activation charge".

Cellular companies all pull that trick. Start you with a full billing
period one week in, so you'll get charged Extra if you quit after 14
days.

Phill. wrote:

> In article <[email protected]>, Jer <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
>
>>Well, there's your option. Get a new phone from Cingular, use it for
>>14 day eval purposes. Then cancel. Make decision. Sorta like a
>>girlfriend (or boyfriend), except in my book, they get 30 days.
>
>
> Except there a lots of charges. Likely you're into a 2nd billing period,
> for which they'll charge you in full, then there's the "nonrefundable"
> activation charge".
>
> Cellular companies all pull that trick. Start you with a full billing
> period one week in, so you'll get charged Extra if you quit after 14
> days.


Well, whoever said an education was free?

--
jer email reply - I am not a 'ten' ICQ = 35253273
"All that we do is touched with ocean, yet we remain on the shore of
what we know." -- Richard Wilbur