If you own a cell phone, whether you realize it or not, you're stuck. Switching wireless phone companies -- also known as "carriers" -- not only means buying a new phone, but also giving up your phone number. Whether it's poor service or just a better deal elsewhere that spurs you to switch, your carrier owns your phone number, hoping you'll put up with spotty coverage, an expensive calling plan or an obsolete phone just to avoid the hassle of changing a number that is well known by friends, family, colleagues and business contacts.

Free at last, free at last!
But portability will come to most cell phone users just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday. Under a new federal regulation scheduled to take effect November 24th, wireless phone customers who live in the 100 most populated areas will be able to take their phone number with them, subject to some limitations, when changing carriers. The rest of the country will be eligible by May 24, 2004. The new rules are what the telecommunications industry and government regulators call "Wireless Local Number Portability," or WLNP for short. Once it is implemented where you live, phone numbers can be "ported" between wireless carriers, enabling you to take your phone number with you if you switch providers, just as you can keep your home phone number when you switch long-distance, or in many cases, local phone companies.

If you want to keep your phone number, don't move cities …
There are some limitations to number portability, mostly based on geography. You may not be able to take your phone number with you to a new carrier if you've moved out of the local area where you originally established your service (typically defined by your billing address). That's what the Local in Wireless Local Number Portability means. So if you want to keep your cell phone number when you change carriers, don't change your billing address until after you've transferred your phone number to your new carrier.

And don't disconnect your current service!
Also, if your service has been disconnected, even very recently, you won't be able to take your phone number with you to a new carrier. If you want to keep your phone number, keep your current service active until after you switch carriers. Also, you should be able to keep your phone number even if you owe a balance on your current account, but transferring your number will likely go smoother and faster if you have paid your bill in full.

Mind the gap …
Another cautionary note: don't attempt to switch your service at a time when you think you'll have a critical need for your cell phone (for example, if you're leaving for a trip). While carriers are supposed to be able to process a switch request within three hours, there's a chance it'll take up to several days due to unanticipated issues between the carriers.

New phone, better service, same number
Keep in mind that number porting only applies to moving your phone number from one carrier to another. All the other restrictions on cell phone service still apply; if you try to switch carriers before you current calling plan commitment runs out, you'll be hit with an early-termination fee. Additionally, you probably won't be able to use your current phone on a different carrier's wireless network.

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