True number portability comes to Singapore
John Chan | Apr 16, 2008
Are you unhappy with your mobile operator, but unwilling to change because you don't want to change your phone number? If you are in Singapore, come June 13, you'll be able to say goodbye to your operator and still keep your number, thanks to the full number portability service initiated by the island-state's communications regulatory body, the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA).
The way things work currently is that you receive a new number from the operator you switch to, and all the calls and text messages made to your old number will be forwarded to the new one. The disadvantage to this is that your contacts still have to be informed of the new number as that's the one which will show up on their phones' caller ID. With full number portability, you keep your number even when you switch operators, plain and simple. The process takes about a day to complete and gives customers greater flexibility when choosing which telecom company they'd like to sing along with.
Those who are already on the older call forwarding service will be getting a call from their operators in the coming months to allow them to decide if they want to keep their old or new number. This could prove to be a slight inconvenience for those who did not bother to inform their contacts of the new number and depended on the forwarding to get their calls. On the bright side, it forces you to complete the transition so those you call won't get confused by a number they don't recognize anymore.
For those who are on operator contracts and still bound to them (either fulfill the duration of the contract or pay a penalty for breaking it), you can expect the telecom companies to be more aggressive in trying to keep their current customers. This can only mean better re-contract deals and more attractive prices and promotions. So if you are contemplating changing operators, wait just two more months for the appointed day of freedom to do so. Tell us what you will be doing in the comments below.
Number portability is not new and is already in use in Australia, the US and many other countries in Europe. Plans to implement it in Singapore have already been discussed for some time. It may not be as prevalent in Asia, so for those not in Singapore, check with your operator if it's available in your country.
Image credit: M1 Singapore
Talkback
victorboi says...
i have a problem now... i have a old starhub number for long than i change it to singtel with number portability service, so i have a new number given by singtel. and i like my old number very much (from starhub). so i going to choose which number going to keep. but i have given my new number (from singtel) to all my friends and customers. if i choose to keep my old number. than i can't receive any call from my new number (singtel) anymore already lo! :-(
Apr 17, 2008 01:49
i have a problem now... i have a old starhub number for long than i change it to singtel with number portability service, so i have a new number given by singtel. and i like my old number very much (from starhub). so i going to choose which number going to keep. but i have given my new number (from singtel) to all my friends and customers. if i choose to keep my old number. than i can't receive any call from my new number (singtel) anymore already lo! :-(
Apr 17, 2008 01:49
joyeux says...
Probably won't be changing telco cos after comparison based on my needs, the cost savings from switching telco is not significant. Furthermore, I lose my Singtel loyalty discount if I switch telco or even change my plan to one that offers free incoming calls. Can anyone shed some light on whether free incoming calls will be here to stay? Thanks.
Apr 17, 2008 05:11
Probably won't be changing telco cos after comparison based on my needs, the cost savings from switching telco is not significant. Furthermore, I lose my Singtel loyalty discount if I switch telco or even change my plan to one that offers free incoming calls. Can anyone shed some light on whether free incoming calls will be here to stay? Thanks.
Apr 17, 2008 05:11
osiris says...
My contract is up, good to know that, I will wait for the day to come
Apr 17, 2008 12:03
My contract is up, good to know that, I will wait for the day to come
Apr 17, 2008 12:03
tat2sailor says...
There's no way to tell the adv and disadv now, but for current lines without contract, it is convenient to retain the old number. And for those who paid to bid for their numbers, this is a +++ if there's intent of switching operators. Not sure of other Telcos but M1 had put up a site for this. Disadv: Telcos may extend contract period, say from 2 to 3 years. Adv: More loyalty rewards for loyal customer, cheaper plans, cheaper phones....etc Guess there's more good than bad, certainly hope so.
Apr 18, 2008 00:48
There's no way to tell the adv and disadv now, but for current lines without contract, it is convenient to retain the old number. And for those who paid to bid for their numbers, this is a +++ if there's intent of switching operators. Not sure of other Telcos but M1 had put up a site for this. Disadv: Telcos may extend contract period, say from 2 to 3 years. Adv: More loyalty rewards for loyal customer, cheaper plans, cheaper phones....etc Guess there's more good than bad, certainly hope so.
Apr 18, 2008 00:48
irvinquek says...
i have the same situation as "victorboi". currently subscribed to singtel but i have a old m1 number tag to it. called 2 telcos, they told me if i want to hold on to 2 numbers, i need to take up another plan. asked them if i can have the one of the number converted to a prepaid number (for the one which is less prefer to use - but need to maintain to ensure that if someone is to call that number - i can still trace them). the answer is no. so, is this true number portability if one cannot go from postpaid to prepaid or vice versa?
Apr 18, 2008 16:43
i have the same situation as "victorboi". currently subscribed to singtel but i have a old m1 number tag to it. called 2 telcos, they told me if i want to hold on to 2 numbers, i need to take up another plan. asked them if i can have the one of the number converted to a prepaid number (for the one which is less prefer to use - but need to maintain to ensure that if someone is to call that number - i can still trace them). the answer is no. so, is this true number portability if one cannot go from postpaid to prepaid or vice versa?
Apr 18, 2008 16:43
multan says...
Well, guess the telcos will be coming out with another price war. The red umbrella covers bigger than the orange one.. Or the doggy will come running everywhere around the whole neighbourhood... Hahahaha... But guess the consumer will be the winner... For the telcos to retain their customer base, they would just have to come out wif a better plan, shorter contract period, or cheaper handset upgrade or better loyalty programs. Can't wait till June... =)
Apr 19, 2008 12:58
Well, guess the telcos will be coming out with another price war. The red umbrella covers bigger than the orange one.. Or the doggy will come running everywhere around the whole neighbourhood... Hahahaha... But guess the consumer will be the winner... For the telcos to retain their customer base, they would just have to come out wif a better plan, shorter contract period, or cheaper handset upgrade or better loyalty programs. Can't wait till June... =)
Apr 19, 2008 12:58
farhaantariq says...
mobile number portability.......and now in singapore!!!!!!...so late????? i mean singapore is considered as technology hub in asia but this feature is arriving so late in there?...i m amazed.....here in Karachi, Pakistan we have been using this feature since more than one year now.....Pakistan is developing country but i m surprisingly amazed that we have been enjoying advanced mobile services since long ago and better than most technological advanced countries!.......anyways....belated...congrats singapore!
Apr 19, 2008 22:58
mobile number portability.......and now in singapore!!!!!!...so late????? i mean singapore is considered as technology hub in asia but this feature is arriving so late in there?...i m amazed.....here in Karachi, Pakistan we have been using this feature since more than one year now.....Pakistan is developing country but i m surprisingly amazed that we have been enjoying advanced mobile services since long ago and better than most technological advanced countries!.......anyways....belated...congrats singapore!
Apr 19, 2008 22:58
philim says...
last sat, went to the starhub shop at plaza sing to get a new line for my bro. he was on prepaid for 2 weeks, and we thought that getting a postpaid line will be more cost effective. we thought we could re-use the prepaid number, but was told that you can only port prepaid number to prepaid, and postpaid to postpaid. sigh. i think that's similar to what irvinquek said above. "half true portabililty"
Apr 22, 2008 09:43
last sat, went to the starhub shop at plaza sing to get a new line for my bro. he was on prepaid for 2 weeks, and we thought that getting a postpaid line will be more cost effective. we thought we could re-use the prepaid number, but was told that you can only port prepaid number to prepaid, and postpaid to postpaid. sigh. i think that's similar to what irvinquek said above. "half true portabililty"
Apr 22, 2008 09:43
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Junhao
Does it mean that I will have 2 numbers that can be use to contact me? The old and the new one.
Apr 16, 2008 21:52
tat2sailor
No, it means you get to keep your existing HP number even if you switch operators. If you're on call forwarding service, you're given the option to retain only either one.
Apr 16, 2008 23:04