| Author |
Number Portability - first impressions |
moodswinger
Joined: Dec 10, 2001
Posts: 78
From: New York, USA
PM |
What are your impressions of the initial effects of the number portability feature? Have many people chosen to switch? Who are the winners and who are the losers amongst the networks?
My vague impression is something like this:
1. Verizon - definitely a winner (they boast the best network and advertise tirelessly)
2. T-Mobile - probably a winner (many people itching to switch to GSM and T-Mobile affordable plans)
3. Cingular - possibly a winner (mostly because they advertise their rollover minutes ad nauseam)
4. Nextel - probably the same (they are good for groups and companies with their push-to-talk feature and are likely to keep those customers)
5. AT&T - likely a loser (they exploited their existing customers by barring them from switching to GSM network)
6. Sprint - definitely a loser (all my friends & acquaintances are switching from Sprint to Verizon ot T-Mobile because of the lousy coverage).
This is from what I could observe in NY. Any other "reports"?
Do you think this feature is going to boost/harm the sales of SE phones? |
|
|
fabrizio
Joined: Mar 06, 2003
Posts: 134
PM |
Probably right on everyone, except for T-Mobile, I think its still undecided. They either improve service and coverage from what VoiceStream used to offer, or they will losing more customers than winning |
amagab
Joined: Oct 29, 2002
Posts: > 500
PM |
T-Mobile is definitely a winner if you consider price. And in these murky days people surely are thinking about their budget. T-Mobile has a lot to offer but I'm not sure they are communicating that well with potential customers. I do, however, like Cingular roll over plans - an idea long used in Europe.
|
amagab
Joined: Oct 29, 2002
Posts: > 500
PM |
Just read that AT&T are being investigated by FCC for their number portability compliance problems.
|
moodswinger
Joined: Dec 10, 2001
Posts: 78
From: New York, USA
PM |
Thanks for the comments, guys. I think it is still too early to make definite predictions. Here in NYC people are switching en masse from Sprint to T-Mobile and Verizon.
I wonder if this influx of customers is going to improve or deteriorate T-Mobile and Verizon service/coverage and what are Sprint and AT&T going to do to counter this?
It remains to be seen. I, however, had to change my number - in order to get a free phone from T-Mobile + a fat rebate. No way around that one yet. |
diddy0071
Joined: Aug 28, 2002
Posts: 187
From: (near Sacramento) Arbuckle
PM, WWW
|
I'm going to have to disagree with you. I was a FORMER Verizon Wireless, and I switched to At&t way before the phone switching was available. I just don't think Verizon is a good customer Service place, and when I was with them, (without contract, they ripped me off constantly) If you don't have a contract, they will treat you like shit, and I switched to At&t, and I love it. Also, I have to point out, that At&t, T-Mobile, and Cingular, are the Only companies in the US with GSM networks, so if you want to use good phones, (ex T610, Z600, or any Brickia (NOKIA) phone, your shit out of luck, cuz Verizon doesn't support them) Sorry to say, but VZW will lose. A lot of people are going for these good phones, and so they will more than likely switch from Verizon. The biggest loser will be Verizon, and all others will see Verizon's Customers come to them. How many people agree?
~~~*~~~*~~DIDDY KONG~~~*~~~*~~
"Not just another good looking MOFO!"
|
amagab
Joined: Oct 29, 2002
Posts: > 500
PM |
You say good phones at GSM providers? Well, it depends what you are after. The CDMA providers have a lot of cool mainstream phones - phones for people who don't care too much about bluetooth and other tech stuff. Those will still stay with CDMA providers. Also, Verizon offer faster wireless web than GSM providers at this moment.
It is hard to say who will win or loose but one thing is for sure and that is that T-Mobile has the cheapest plans and that might bring over a lot of people.
|
amagab
Joined: Oct 29, 2002
Posts: > 500
PM |
I have one question regarding number portability:
-Will the new provider cover the penalty fee if you are still in contract?
|
701
Joined: Nov 26, 2002
Posts: > 500
From: Romania
PM, WWW
|
@amagab: I dont think so , as they arent the ones signing the contract (the old1) but u r! |
masseur
Joined: Jan 03, 2003
Posts: > 500
From: Sydney, London
PM |
certainly in Australia and UK when they introduced MNP you are still financially responsible for existing contracts when you move to a new carrier and I expect its the same in US
|
amagab
Joined: Oct 29, 2002
Posts: > 500
PM |
Be aware if you are porting to Cingular. Although I had great plans and excellent customer service experience with T-Mobile I had to port to Cingular due to lack of coverage in my home.
This turned out to be quite a big problem. I received my SIM from Cingular today and then spent TWO HOURS on the phone with 7 different reps in 4 different departments trying to port my number. I was furious and I still haven't been ported. The engineers are working on it as I speak and hopefully it will be settled tomorrow.
Another thing that is outrageous with Cingular is that their customer service IS NOT 24 hours. That is TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!!! I hope that will change soon.
So just be aware that you might need lots of time when talking to Cingular customer service - they are amateurs!!!
|
amagab
Joined: Oct 29, 2002
Posts: > 500
PM |
I just want to follow up with how fricking lousy Cingular's customer reps are. Today I was told by two people that the port request would take one hour. When calling the third person she said that the other two reps are lying and that it will take 3-5 DAYS. Unbelievable! First of all, can you believe that one rep is calling her co-workers lyers. Second, why can't reps ever have the same information. This is crazy! I'll definitely switch back to T-Mobile the first chance I get.
|
Thorin78
Joined: Jan 13, 2004
Posts: 13
From: PA, USA
PM |
I guess I'm just lucky. I switched over from AT&T to Cingular. I sat there at the counter talking with the customer rep and he ported 3 numbers for me all at the same time. It only took 3 hours. I had a beer w/ the sales rep in the mean time and all the phones were activated and all so I'm very happy. |
porterg
Joined: Sep 13, 2002
Posts: 45
From: North Carolina
PM |
Being in the business, couple things about portability. First, every carrier scrambled to get teh software to work, and the inter-carrier links up and running. Everyone thought that # portability would keep being postponed. Not!
When you go to do one, bring your bill! Cannot stress that enough. Make sure that everything matches perfectly. If going to Cingular, call your current provider first. Have them remove your middle initial from account. Also, if you have, Jr., Sr., etc, see if that can be removed. It might be worthwhile before porting to any carrier to do that. Some of the database software can really mess up a middle initial or prefix.
Don't expect it to go thru in a heartbeat. May get lucky, may get stuck in major trouble. Get the rep to find out EXACTLY what the problem is. There are escalation people out there as the last resort. I just pushed one thru for a rep in the store I just took over. Had been pending for a long time.
Finally, if you don't like the answer you are getting from a call in, call back. There are many different centers, some know more then others.
As far as Cingular cust service not being 24/7, the reason for that is to have more reps on during normal hours, rather then spreading them out. Yes, none on sunday stinks. But the hold times are generally very short. We in the stores have to call exactly like any external customer. Stores are generally open on sundays, though. |
amagab
Joined: Oct 29, 2002
Posts: > 500
PM |
My issue has now gone to the highest manager in the number portability department and has been promised to be solved within 72 hours (not counting the weekend). Hopefully it will work fine because I have one more number to port.
|
|
|
Posted: 2003-12-03 20:23
