Has that law passed yet that allows you to keep your cell phone number between services?

[KingNothing]

I forgot to ask the Verizon rep (I'm using Sprint right now) if that was the case or not.

BTW, anyone had any good experiences with Sprint's retention department lately? I'm going to try to get a better plan than $50 a month (more like $67 after taxes) for 500 anytime. I'm looking at getting a PDA/phone combination so I'm going to go for maybe $40 a month for the same minutes with wireless web access.

 

[Mr N8]

The law passed, but most cell-providers are either just implementing or still in process.

 

[Spoooon]

Before I switched, I talked them down to 300 anytime 3000 nights/weekend, free wireless web, and roadside assistance for 30 dollars a month.

 

[yellowperil]

When I got a Cingular plan last week, I asked the rep and he said it would be available in November, but initially only in the 100 largest markets. I'm not sure what this means, but he assured me that Gainesville wasn't one of them.

 

[Viper GTS]

The due date keeps getting extended, who knows if it will ever happen.

Personally I side with the telcos, the resulting fragmented number space will be a bitch to maintain.

Viper GTS

 

[LAUST]

How about Sprint and Nextel?

My work is gonna be buying me a Nextel and I want to dump the Sprint and keep the number, you know if those 2 are ready to get goin?

 

[KingNothing]

Originally posted by: Spoooon
Before I switched, I talked them down to 300 anytime 3000 nights/weekend, free wireless web, and roadside assistance for 30 dollars a month.

Switched to what, from what, and when was this? Any tips for wranging a deal out of them?

 

[Spoooon]

Originally posted by: KingNothing

Originally posted by: Spoooon
Before I switched, I talked them down to 300 anytime 3000 nights/weekend, free wireless web, and roadside assistance for 30 dollars a month.

Switched to what, from what, and when was this? Any tips for wranging a deal out of them?

My old plan was 300/3000 and roadside. It ended up being around 50 dollars after taxes.

I just called at the end of my 1 year agreement and told them I wanted to switch providers. They put me through to the cancellation department. The guy asked me why I wanted out. I told him that the plan I was on just wasn't competitive anymore. He asked me what I was considering. I made up a Verizon plan for 30 dollars a month. He put me on hold, then came back with an offer. I asked if they could throw in free wireless web and the did it.

I would wait to play "hardball" until you find some other plan you can switch to in case they don't play ball.

edit: when I first signed on with sprint, it was atleast 4 years ago.

 

[Bound_Vortex]

November 24th is the date.
Some providers may charge a handling fee (like $1 a month for the number): AT&T, Sprint, and Nextel come to mind here. One company (I think is Verizon) is pressuring the others to waive the fee, as they do not charge anything for keeping your number and leaving their network.

Edit: Linky

 

[dman]

in June 2001

For instance, AT&T Wireless reported 15.7 million consolidated subscribers in its 100-percent-owned-and-operated markets for the first quarter. After partnerships and affiliates were added in, however, the carrier's customer base surged to 17.9 million. The higher figure is a more accurate reflection of AT&T Wireless' total U.S. market share, analysts say?and it made AT&T Wireless the third-largest wireless phone company in the country, ahead of Sprint PCS, with 11.7 million subscribers. Verizon is No. 1 with 27.1 million subscribers; Cingular is No. 2 with 20.5 million.

All those subscribers (2yrs old data) with $1+ monthly recurring fees. I'm thinking the cellular co's will be raking in the $$$ thanks to this. I can't see how they could lose money. Crazy. They already do that in foreign countries, so they probably already have the technology on HOW to do this they just need to implement it. I can't believe it'll cost anywhere near $1/user/month for this. ICBW, but, it sure sounds like a bunch of crap to me.

 

[yukichigai]

Yes, November 24th is the date it's law. Several of the bigger networks already have the equipment in place however.

 

[Fatdog]

After the 24th, I'll be dumping AT&T for Verizon. Much better coverage around here, and I won't have to play the number change game. I don't have a land line and use my cell exclusively, so this will be perfect for me.

 

[Thegonagle]

A Verizon CSR told me that they were ready to go with it already, but they are just waiting for the date for all the celular companies to start cooperating.

Check your Sprint bill. Look for a line that says "regulatory program fee," or something like that, for $1-2. I think you'll find that you're already being charged. They're unfairly charging everyone (at least every new customer) for number portability, rather than just the people who wish to take advantage of if. This is NOT a tax. It is not going to the government, it is going straight to the company.

AFAIK, Verizon is the only major cellular company that is not charging their customers exrta.

 

[KingNothing]

Hmmm...so if I waited until November 24th, do you think I'd stand a better chance of dealing with Sprint? When I called Verizon and told them I was thinking of switching from Sprint to them, they plan they offered me was the same as my current Sprint plan, except on a network with much better coverage. Nothing really special price-wise, and I haven't found a phone/PDA combination device as nice as the Samsung I-300 for Verizon's network.