Number Portability & Switching to New Carrier ...

I have a question about number portability & switching carriers.

Background:
- currently have Cingular service, off-contract
- GAIT plan, using Nokia 6340i
- main usage in SE Michigan,
- occasional Northern MI & National travel, mostly urban areas
- been happy with coverage
- (except for the "dropped call on cell hand-off" issue w/ 6340)

Standard advice when switching carriers is to verify coverage in
the specific areas I intend to use the service. Presumably this
means that if I'm not happy, I should cancel in the 2 week trial
period.

My question regards number portability (obviously I want to keep my
number). If I try Sprint (or any carrier, for that matter), and
switch my number, and then find out that I don't like the coverage,
what happens to my number when I cancel? If I were to go back to
Cingular after switching away, I would have to sign a new contract,
and probably won't be able to get back on the GAIT plan.

The only solution I can think of is to sign up for new service and
try it. Don't cancel existing Cingular service, and don't port my
number to the new carrier at first. If the service is decent, then
cancel during the trial period. Then I can sign up again, porting
my number this time, knowing that the service will be acceptable.

Alternatively, can I try new service out, and then port my existing
number, or must the porting be done at start of contract?

Thanks for any clarification or advice. I don't want to complicate
things, but I also don't want to get stuck with sub-par service, or
having to get a new number.

--
Regards,
Dan Parks

---

› See More: Number Portability & Switching to New Carrier ...

Be aware that you would also have to get a Sprint PCS phone.


Dan Parks wrote:

> I have a question about number portability & switching carriers.
>
> Background:
> - currently have Cingular service, off-contract
> - GAIT plan, using Nokia 6340i
> - main usage in SE Michigan,
> - occasional Northern MI & National travel, mostly urban areas
> - been happy with coverage
> - (except for the "dropped call on cell hand-off" issue w/ 6340)
>
> Standard advice when switching carriers is to verify coverage in
> the specific areas I intend to use the service. Presumably this
> means that if I'm not happy, I should cancel in the 2 week trial
> period.
>
> My question regards number portability (obviously I want to keep my
> number). If I try Sprint (or any carrier, for that matter), and
> switch my number, and then find out that I don't like the coverage,
> what happens to my number when I cancel? If I were to go back to
> Cingular after switching away, I would have to sign a new contract,
> and probably won't be able to get back on the GAIT plan.
>
> The only solution I can think of is to sign up for new service and
> try it. Don't cancel existing Cingular service, and don't port my
> number to the new carrier at first. If the service is decent, then
> cancel during the trial period. Then I can sign up again, porting
> my number this time, knowing that the service will be acceptable.
>
> Alternatively, can I try new service out, and then port my existing
> number, or must the porting be done at start of contract?
>
> Thanks for any clarification or advice. I don't want to complicate
> things, but I also don't want to get stuck with sub-par service, or
> having to get a new number.
>

"Dan Parks" <unlisted> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I have a question about number portability & switching carriers.
>
> Background:
> - currently have Cingular service, off-contract
> - GAIT plan, using Nokia 6340i
> - main usage in SE Michigan,
> - occasional Northern MI & National travel, mostly urban areas
> - been happy with coverage
> - (except for the "dropped call on cell hand-off" issue w/ 6340)
>
> Standard advice when switching carriers is to verify coverage in
> the specific areas I intend to use the service. Presumably this
> means that if I'm not happy, I should cancel in the 2 week trial
> period.
>
> My question regards number portability (obviously I want to keep my
> number). If I try Sprint (or any carrier, for that matter), and
> switch my number, and then find out that I don't like the coverage,
> what happens to my number when I cancel? If I were to go back to
> Cingular after switching away, I would have to sign a new contract,
> and probably won't be able to get back on the GAIT plan.
>
> The only solution I can think of is to sign up for new service and
> try it. Don't cancel existing Cingular service, and don't port my
> number to the new carrier at first. If the service is decent, then
> cancel during the trial period. Then I can sign up again, porting
> my number this time, knowing that the service will be acceptable.

Exactly correct. Don't cancel your Cingular account till you are satisfied
with whatever service you decide to go with. If you try SPCS, go with the F
& CA option (only $5/mo. and it allows for 50% of your monthly bucket of
minutes on roaming, if you are in a SPCS corporate area. If you are in an
affiliate area, it could cost more and provide less minutes for roaming.
>
> Alternatively, can I try new service out, and then port my existing
> number, or must the porting be done at start of contract?

No, you can port your phone number anytime to another carrier.
>
> Thanks for any clarification or advice. I don't want to complicate
> things, but I also don't want to get stuck with sub-par service, or
> having to get a new number.

Dan, here's what I'd recommend. Talk with your friends, workmates and the
folks at your local watering hole about their service, their plan and where
they use the phone. You might find SPCS with F & CA works best, or there
could be another provider offering better service in the areas you plan on
using your phone.

Bob

Bob

On Sat, 25 Sep 2004 12:03:10 -0500, Dan Parks <unlisted> wrote:

>
>Alternatively, can I try new service out, and then port my existing
>number, or must the porting be done at start of contract?

I just switched to Cingular today, and am told that I can port our
Sprint numbers over at any time by calling Cingular customer service.
Not sure what Sprint's policy is.

>Thanks for any clarification or advice. I don't want to complicate
>things, but I also don't want to get stuck with sub-par service, or
>having to get a new number.

IMO, and others here disagree with me, Sprint is a very sub-par
service. I've had problems with signal strength (unable to get
signals frequently, or in roaming mode, even in hometown of
Jacksonville, FL) and faded signals from day 1. The folks here keep
saying it was my phone, but after three different phones on the Sprint
network (only mine was the A460) couldn't keep a call going (even at 5
bars, calls kept getting dropped with a "signal faded" message on
phones after about a minute or two) at our office yesterday, I've had
it.

Made the switch today, went from a 500 minute plan for 55.00 a month
and 20.00 for the extra phone, to an 850 minute plan for 59.00 a month
and 9.99 for the extra phone, and the minutes I don't use each month
roll over instead of being dumped.


--
Deb

[email protected] wrote:
> On Sat, 25 Sep 2004 12:03:10 -0500, Dan Parks <unlisted> wrote:
>
>
>>Alternatively, can I try new service out, and then port my existing
>>number, or must the porting be done at start of contract?
>
>
> I just switched to Cingular today, and am told that I can port our
> Sprint numbers over at any time by calling Cingular customer service.
> Not sure what Sprint's policy is.
>

Sprint will let you port after you activate. They did for me - my Verizon
contract didn't end until six weeks after I turned on my Sprint phone.

Any carrier SHOULD - when you think about it, the new phone has to be activated
on the new carrier's network before the port can be done!

But I can confirm that Sprint will. I did it myself. Just don't go to Radio
Shack to do it; they'll tell you it can't be done. Call *2 or 888-211-4PCS and
ask your friendly neighborhood Customer Service rep to transfer you to a
porting specialist.

> IMO, and others here disagree with me, Sprint is a very sub-par
> service.

Sprint works great for me, but I do know that a number of people have had bad
experiences with them. You really just need to determine whether Sprint will
work *for you.* My suggestion, if you have any questions about whether Sprint
will work for you, is this: Sprint has a 14-day return policy. Get a phone, but
DON'T port the number yet. If you find that the service doesn't work for you,
return the phone within 14 days and you're only out the activation fee plus
whatever airtime charges you've accumulated during the 14 days. If it does work
for you, go ahead and port your number over. Again, Sprint WILL allow you to
port a number to an existing, active phone. I speak from experience.

Do be aware that you can NOT close your account with the old carrier until the
number is ported. Numbers CAN NOT be ported from closed accounts.

--
JustThe.net Internet & New Media Services, http://JustThe.net/
Steven J. Sobol, Geek In Charge / 888.480.4NET (4638) / [email protected]
PGP Key available from your friendly local key server (0xE3AE35ED)
Apple Valley, California Nothing scares me anymore. I have three kids.

[POSTED TO alt.cellular.cingular - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <[email protected]> on Sat, 02 Oct 2004 19:06:10 -0700, Steve
Sobol <[email protected]> wrote:

>[email protected] wrote:
>> On Sat, 25 Sep 2004 12:03:10 -0500, Dan Parks <unlisted> wrote:

>> I just switched to Cingular today, and am told that I can port our
>> Sprint numbers over at any time by calling Cingular customer service.
>> Not sure what Sprint's policy is.
>
>Sprint will let you port after you activate. They did for me - my Verizon
>contract didn't end until six weeks after I turned on my Sprint phone.
>
>Any carrier SHOULD - when you think about it, the new phone has to be activated
>on the new carrier's network before the port can be done!

Why would that be true?

>Do be aware that you can NOT close your account with the old carrier until the
>number is ported. Numbers CAN NOT be ported from closed accounts.

In addition, the porting of the number will automatically inactivate the old
account.

--
Best regards, HELP FOR CINGULAR GSM & SONY ERICSSON PHONES:
John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/#Cingular>

John Navas wrote:
> [POSTED TO alt.cellular.cingular - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]
>
> In <[email protected]> on Sat, 02 Oct 2004 19:06:10 -0700, Steve
> Sobol <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>>[email protected] wrote:
>>
>>>On Sat, 25 Sep 2004 12:03:10 -0500, Dan Parks <unlisted> wrote:
>
>
>>>I just switched to Cingular today, and am told that I can port our
>>>Sprint numbers over at any time by calling Cingular customer service.
>>>Not sure what Sprint's policy is.
>>
>>Sprint will let you port after you activate. They did for me - my Verizon
>>contract didn't end until six weeks after I turned on my Sprint phone.
>>
>>Any carrier SHOULD - when you think about it, the new phone has to be activated
>>on the new carrier's network before the port can be done!
>
>
> Why would that be true?

Are you saying you can port to a line that isn't active yet?

Keep in mind, I'm not saying that you should have to activate first,
separately. I'm just saying that the phone has to be activated first. Normally
if you port to a new line of service, this will all be done behind the scenes.


--
JustThe.net Internet & New Media Services, http://JustThe.net/
Steven J. Sobol, Geek In Charge / 888.480.4NET (4638) / [email protected]
PGP Key available from your friendly local key server (0xE3AE35ED)
Apple Valley, California Nothing scares me anymore. I have three kids.

On Sun, 03 Oct 2004 09:38:44 -0700, Steve Sobol <[email protected]>
wrote:

>Are you saying you can port to a line that isn't active yet?
>
>Keep in mind, I'm not saying that you should have to activate first,
>separately. I'm just saying that the phone has to be activated first. Normally
>if you port to a new line of service, this will all be done behind the scenes.

We wanted to start the port yesterday when activating, but some idjit
(won't mention her name, but she was riding along with my husband)
forgot to bring her phone and the account information needed by
Cingular to do it. They told me to call on Monday and they would get
it rolling then.


--
Deb

[POSTED TO alt.cellular.cingular - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <[email protected]> on Sun, 03 Oct 2004 09:38:44 -0700, Steve
Sobol <[email protected]> wrote:

>John Navas wrote:
>>
>> In <[email protected]> on Sat, 02 Oct 2004 19:06:10 -0700, Steve
>> Sobol <[email protected]> wrote:

>>>Any carrier SHOULD - when you think about it, the new phone has to be activated
>>>on the new carrier's network before the port can be done!
>>
>> Why would that be true?
>
>Are you saying you can port to a line that isn't active yet?

I'm saying (from personal experience) that the carrier can port a line even
when a phone hasn't yet been activated.

>Keep in mind, I'm not saying that you should have to activate first,
>separately. I'm just saying that the phone has to be activated first. Normally
>if you port to a new line of service, this will all be done behind the scenes.

Right, which is why phone activation should be a non-issue.

--
Best regards, HELP FOR CINGULAR GSM & SONY ERICSSON PHONES:
John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/#Cingular>