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Wireless Number Portability begins today
Just as an announcement, WNP (Wireless Number Portability) begins today in Canada. It will mark the first time ever that customers can transport their existing cellphone numbers to another provider.
There are some important things to note though.
1. If you're still on contract with a a provider, let's say, Fido, and you want to switch to Bell, you'll have to pay an early cancellation fee to Fido. While you're doing the WNP, it will be automatically charged to your Fido account, so you don't have to call them ahead of time, the system will do it all for you. Just be sure you know how long you have left, otherwise you might be stuck with a $200+ bill. Remember, all outstanding balances must be paid to the previous service provider as well.
2. Handset compatibility. CDMA handset providers, such as Bell and Telus, have phones that are not compatible with Fido or Rogers, which are GSM providers. In fact, Bell phones will not work with Telus, and vice versa, AND Fido phones will not work with Rogers, and vice versa. They're all locked to their respective networks. Of course, with GSM phones, you can get them unlocked, so the problem isn't as big. But if you're doing the CDMA->GSM switch, or the other way around, you're going to have to purchase a new phone.
3. Other than early cancellation, there will be no fee for WNP.
4. Phone numbers that are no longer active cannot be transferred through WNP.
That's it for now, if I hear anything new, I'll let everybody know.
There are some important things to note though.
1. If you're still on contract with a a provider, let's say, Fido, and you want to switch to Bell, you'll have to pay an early cancellation fee to Fido. While you're doing the WNP, it will be automatically charged to your Fido account, so you don't have to call them ahead of time, the system will do it all for you. Just be sure you know how long you have left, otherwise you might be stuck with a $200+ bill. Remember, all outstanding balances must be paid to the previous service provider as well.
2. Handset compatibility. CDMA handset providers, such as Bell and Telus, have phones that are not compatible with Fido or Rogers, which are GSM providers. In fact, Bell phones will not work with Telus, and vice versa, AND Fido phones will not work with Rogers, and vice versa. They're all locked to their respective networks. Of course, with GSM phones, you can get them unlocked, so the problem isn't as big. But if you're doing the CDMA->GSM switch, or the other way around, you're going to have to purchase a new phone.
3. Other than early cancellation, there will be no fee for WNP.
4. Phone numbers that are no longer active cannot be transferred through WNP.
That's it for now, if I hear anything new, I'll let everybody know.
Comments
Four years ago the U.S. implemented wireless number portability, on March 14 Canada will finally do the same. Wireless number portability (WNP) will allow Canadians to keep their existing phone number when changing wireless carriers, but it will also allow Canadian consumers to move their landline phone number to a wireless number and vice versa. In December 2005 the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) decreed that Telus, Rogers Wireless and Bell Mobility had to make WNP available by next week in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec. All carriers must have WNP available no later than September 12 of this year, according to the CRTC.
For more on WNP in Canada:
- see this article from Digital Home
So whats happening now is they are introducing bundles and special offers to retain customers instead of cutting prices. For example, if you have your cell phone through rogers, they want you to have your landline through them as well - bell meanwhile has introduced free bell to bell and free to landline calling. This way, they compete without having to lower prices. So although WNP resulted in more competition and lower costs for consumers in the states, it doesn't necessarily mean it will happen here too.