On 2007-04-05, Usenet User <usenetuser@hotmail.co.uk> wrote:
> This requirement to get a Porting Code from your current supplier is
> also there to protect the supplier you are potentially in a
> contractual relationship with. If you could just call up a new
> provider and take your number with you, you're making it easy to get
> out of (or at least side-step) your contractual obligations to a
> minimum term.

In the USA your contract is solely a financial obligation. If you
hate them enough that you are willing to pay for early contract
termination to be rid of them, they don't get to hold your number
hostage to keep you. If you don't pay them (whether you take your
number or not) they have your credit report and debt collectors to
punish you with. This seems sufficient.

> Exactly. The only option here then would be to have some government
> entity manage the call routing -- and we can all imagine what a
> useless system that would be.

Are you sure? In the USA a private contractor maintains and distributes
call routing data. When you buy new mobile service it usually takes
an hour or two to complete the number port, after which your relationship
with the old carrier is terminated. I was surprised when a friend
told me it took (I think) a week of overlapping service to move a
number over in the UK. Could it really be worse?

Dennis Ferguson