Wireless Local Number Portability

Top Questions About Wireless Local Number Portability

1. What is Wireless Local Number Portability (WLNP)?
2. Can I use my current phone with my new wireless carrier?
3. Can I transfer my home telephone number to my cell phone?
4. Can I keep my number if I move to another city?
5. What if I have a contract with my current wireless carrier?
6. When should I cancel my current service?
7. How long will the porting process take?
8. Will I get charged for porting my number?

Q. What is Wireless Local Number Portability (WLNP)?
A. Under a federal mandate known as Wireless Local Number Portability (WLNP), customers are now allowed to transfer or "port" their current cell phone number when changing wireless carriers.



Q. Can I use my current phone with my new wireless carrier?
A. Probably not, since different wireless carriers operate incompatible network technologies. Additionally, most cell phones are programmed to work only on the network of the carrier that supplied the phone.

Q. Can I transfer my home telephone number to my cell Phone?
A. Yes. You can transfer your home or office phone number to your cell phone, as long as the wireless carrier you switch to provides coverage in the location of your conventional phone line -- also called a landline or wireline. Under FCC rules, local phone companies are allowed up to four business days to transfer a phone number between carriers so you may have to go several days without cell phone service if you make such a switch.

Q. Can I keep my number if I move to another city?
A. No, not unless you are moving within the same local geographic area where the phone number is currently assigned. Even within the same telephone area code, you may be outside the boundaries of the local calling area that determines if your cell phone number is portable.

Q. What if I have a contract with my current wireless carrier?
A. You are required to honor the full term of your current contract or you will be charged the termination fee that is specified in your subscriber agreement.

Q. When should I cancel my current service?
A. You should sign up with your new wireless carrier and complete the number porting process BEFORE canceling your current service. Canceling your current service before the porting process is complete will cause you to lose the ability to keep your current phone number. Requesting a number transfer to a new carrier should automatically cancel your previous service, once the transfer is complete.

Q. How long will the transfer take?
A. The FCC has provided the telecommunications industry with guidelines stating that the porting process should be completed within 2 hours. However, wireless carriers expect that up to 80% of number transfer requests will not be processed automatically, and will require some manual intervention on their part. Because of potential glitches, the number transfer process may take up to 4 days to complete, some carriers warn.

Q. Will I get charged for transferring my number?
A. A portability cost might be charged by carriers to recover costs associated with portability.