The author argues that cellular phone number portability, which allows one to change service providers without changing one’s phone number, is not such a big deal as the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and others would claim. However, it seems to me that the author does not feel the pain of ordinary cell phone users.
Cell phones were invented over thirty years ago. Due to the prohibitive cost of providing or enjoying cell phone services in the past, it was not until a few years ago that these phones became affordable and popular. The more one uses a cellular phone, the more one comes to depend on it; it would be very annoying, and even painful, to be forced to change one’s cellular phone number. A new business card would have to be printed. Many friends would need to be notified. Important business calls could be lost.
In view of the problems that arise from changing numbers, most cellular phone service providers devote their energies to attracting new subscribers. Providing after-sale services to old customers is not on the priority list. If a customer is not satisfied with the services, and changes his or her service provider, he or she has to put up with the inconvenience of changing their cellular phone number. Thus cellular phone number portability is a true blessing for customers. It really is a big deal.
The author points out eight realities to explain why we should not get too excited about number portability. Some realities are quite convincing, while others are less so. For example, the author argues that most people have managed to survive quite well without number portability. Well, our ancestors survived quite well without TV, cars, or the Internet. However, the author has a point when arguing that the FCC goes too far in requiring that customers be able to take their landline phone number if they want to switch to cellular. People usually get a new cellular phone number when they want to go cellular. The landline is kept for home use.
There are some editorial mistakes in this article. For example, the seventh reality is missing, and there is a word missing (after foggiest) on the first page.
