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Mobile Number Portability
Indians are finally going to get the eagerly awaited mobile number portability which allows cell phone users to change their operators while retaining their existing numbers.
This means, if you are, for example, an Airtel user, and wish to change to Idea Cellular, your cell phone number remains the same.
How it works …
- You will have to pay at most Rs 19 to the new cellular operator for porting your number from your old operator.
- To initiate the porting of number, you have to first send an SMS from your cell phone to 1900. You will then receive a unique porting code from your existing service provider.
- Now you will have to fill an application form quoting the unique porting code and send it to your new service provider for transferring your number.
The maximum waiting period for porting the number would be 7 working days. However, in Jammu and Kashmir, Assam and North East service areas, it would be 15 working days.
Interestingly, the cellphone number of the customer will stay out of service just for two hours.
It is estimated that by January 20, 2011, the mobile number portability will be available nationwide.
[Source : Economic Times ]
Update [January 21, 2011]
Mobile number portability goes Official today. The following image explains how you can switch mobile carriers without changing your cell phone number.
Procedure to switch mobile carriers without changing your number. Image credits : telecomtalk.info