Switching mobile phone operators and keeping the same number

Tech, TV, Mobile, Internet and Geek Corner
1
Hi,

I wasn't sure whether to put this in the Complaints Corner or here, but the story is this:

I had a pre-paid Orange sim (bought off a Mobilezone shop) and I wanted to change my service provider to Swisscom without having to change my number. So I went to a Swisscom shop and told them the story and the guy said it could be done. I signed a Power of Attorney letter for the transfer and got myself a one-year contract. I was told that I would use the same sim and that the change would happen overnight with me getting an sms saying your service provider is now Swisscom.

That didn't happen. So I went to the shop the next day explained the situation to this new guy who checked in his system and told me it could not be done (I double-checked) and that I have to call 0800-wateva to find out why. I called and was told I was not found in the system and that I should go back to the shop and ask them to call for me.

So back to the shop I went and was greeted by a third person whose response was: 'It will be done after the 31st of December and you will receive a new sim with the same number.'

Has anyone been through this? What does happen? If I wait until January to find out it really cannot be done and that I could've just bought a new number a month ago, I'll be seen in the Compalints Corner for sure!

2
It is impossible to change network providors without changing the SIM. The person gave you the incorrect information. Importing a number from another network will always take a while, and this is dependent on the old providor.

If you filled in a form to import to the new network then you should get a letter stating the date that the number will be ported.

3
http://www.bakom.ch/dokumentation/me...en&msg-id=2319

Number portability between telecommunications providers

Biel-Bienne, 29.02.2000 - Customers can keep their present number when changing to a different carrier. As of 1 March 2000, consumers will be able to change their telecommunications provider without having to give up their present telephone number. It will be possible to maintain the subscriber numbers for mobile phones, land-line connections and value-added services when changing to a different carrier. This represents another important step in opening up the market for the benefit of the consumer.

Until now, when customers decided to use a different telecommunications provider they received a new telephone number. Number portability now ensures that they can maintain their present number, even if the telephone connection is provided by a new carrier. The number is "ported" to the new carrier.

This number portability option is an important factor in achieving effective competition in the telecommunications sector. It removes an obstacle which has been a cause of dissatisfaction for many users: having to give up their present subscriber number when changing to a different carrier.

Portability is relevant to a change between telecommunications providers within the same category of telecommunications services (for example between mobile phone numbers). This should be distinguished from the geographical portability of a number which applies, for example, when moving house. In this case, the number can only be maintained if the provider of the connection offers this service and if the customer is relocating within the same prefix area code.

Following extensive technical preparation by the telecommunications providers, customers now have the opportunity of subscribing to a different provider for their connection whilst maintaining their present subscriber number. Should customers wish to change to another carrier, they must contact this provider and request the transfer (porting) of the present number. The new provider will then co-ordinate all the administrative and technical aspects relating to the transfer of the subscriber's number from the old to the new connection.

Subscriber numbers for mobile phones, land-line connections and value-added services (e.g. freephone 0800 numbers) can be maintained by customers when they change to a new telecommunications carrier.

However, a precondition for transferring the subscriber number for a land-line connection (e.g. +41 (0)1 765 43 21) is that the new provider has its own connecting line to the customer in question, something which at present is often only the case for larger companies.

====Address for enquiries: ====Peter Fischer, Deputy Director of OFCOM Tel +41 (0)32 327 55 99 Publisher

Federal Office of CommunicationsInternet: http://www.bakom.admin.ch

4
Confused by your post jrspet of course the number can be ported to another network. Even the original poster said that. The SIM will still need to be changed.

5
I agree, you can port your number from Orange to Swisscom, but would need a new SIM card from Swisscom. Sounds like the Swisscom customer service people seem confused about it. Guess it's not something that they do every day. Personally, I would just get a new number from Swisscom and inform all your contacts of your new number. People recognize the 079 prefix as Swisscom. If you have an 078 prefix, but a Swisscom account, it may confuse people who have "internal network pricing" (ie: calling within the Swisscom net for 50rp/hour). You know what I mean?

6
Some of you know where I work... so I can tell you clearly:

You can carry on your number from and to any provider within Switzerland. My private number is an old Sunrise 076 now on Swisscom.

Good news: you can keep your number .

For technical reasons, you will need a new Sim card issued by your new provider. This can take some days to produce and send and cannot be done via SMS or any other way "over the air".

Bad news: you will need to get a new Swisscom SIM .

Why the folks at the shop cannot tell you this I cannot tell you...

7
I don't mind getting a new sim at all, as long as I do get it eventually and to be honest I was overwhelmed when I was told it would be done overnight without even changing the sim. The guy must've been new to the business.

Anyway for jrspet, when the second guy told me 'it cannot be done', he meant it cannot be done for me in particular and that I need to call customer service to find out why. No arguments on whether its possible or not in genral.

And I've just realized that my permit is due to expire in August 2009. That can be a reason for them not to give me a one-year contract, can't it?

8
My permit expires around that time next year like you Khawaja and was still not a problem 2 weeks ago to change from a Sunrise prepaid number to an Orange prepaid number ( which was not registered in the system as I bought it off Ebay ) - did it at Zurich HB Orange outlet, received my SMS and was working within a 4 days.

9
Yes, but I've asked for a post paid number (hence the 12-month contract).

10
Never had postpaid number, so can't help you out on your question of permit validity to cover your contract period.

But as for prepaid, the validity period of the permit is not an issue at all.

11
No surprises there. Maybe I should've gone for a prepaid connection. Anyway its wait and see for now.

12
I think they were simply not very competent. It might sound strange as most companies would put competent people in the shop and the less trained staff in a call center but this is not the case at Swisscom: There, the knowledge is actually in the call center. So I am sure he wanted you to make a call there, they can send you the SIM directly to you as you already signed the paperworks I guess...

13
You can also get a postpaid mobile number without a contract.

14
Really? From Swisscom? How does that work?

15
Not from Swisscom.

16
Oh. See I've just got my hands on an iPhone that'll work only with a Swisscom connection

17
You are stuck with Orange or Swisscom i'm afraid.

18
Only Swisscom actually. I already have an Orange sim that does'nt work with that phone.

19
The iPhone needs to be unlocked ( jailbroken ) and if I am not mistaken requires a data plan. There is a huge iPhone thread here which might help you.

20
Long story, but its sort of half-unlocked! Works fine with a Swisscom sim, but only that! Which is why simply (thats what I thought!) switching to Swisscom would be less of a hassle than to try to jailbreak it.