Changes in Cellular Phone/Land Line Services

[OneFinger]

They just had a report on the local news about changes in cellular phone numbers. Apparently there is a new federal law that requires cellular phone companies to allow you to keep the same phone number EVEN IF you switch providers.

 

For example, let's say you currently use Sprint and change to Verizon. You can now keep your same phone number with Verizon. Great idea.

 

However, land line carriers (Qwest in my area), is now going to consider some calls to cell phones to be long distance. So, many of my friends who previously called me as a local call will now incur long distance charges. Unfortunately, Qwest isn't yet releasing info on which cellular phone pre-fixes are considered local calls and which ones are long distance.

 

Has anyone else heard about this? Am I getting my shorts in a bunch over something that is no big deal?

[Michael]

Yes, "number portability" is a good idea, but the ridiculous thing is that they are going to *charge* you for the privilege.

[LovesYng]

I heard this change will start in Nov., and I can't wait to see what bargins they will come with so you don't change.

 

When in doubt I whip it out:+

[Rick Munroe]

>let's say you currently use Sprint and change to

>Verizon. You can now keep your same phone number with Verizon.

 

That's great news. I have Sprint and I like their service, but some of the other carriers have nicer phones, and I want a nicer phone, dammit. How cool that I'll be able to switch.

[OneFinger]

>...I have Sprint and I like their service, but some of the other carriers have nicer phones, and I want a nicer phone, dammit.

 

Perhaps I'm wrong but I thought you could use any cell phone with any carrier. I thought they only reprogrammed the internal firmware depending upon your carrier.

 

Are you sure you are only limited to phones sold by Sprint?

[+ deej]

That's pretty much the case. The rub is that a lot of the cool new features coming available are service-specific. You can get that cool new phone, have it reprogrammed to work with your carrier, and find that the cool features you wanted simply aren't supported by your carrier.

 

You'll generally get a better feature match if you stick with the phones your carrier sells.

[Rick Munroe]

>You

>can get that cool new phone, have it reprogrammed to work with

>your carrier,

 

Who does zis, how you say, reprogramming? Je ne comprends pas. I also don't know why I'm speaking French. :+

[ready182]

Actualy you cannot use any phone with any carrier. My tech info is a few years dated, but this should give you an idea:

 

Analog: oldest US technology, and available in two frequencies (I think 800 and 1600, but don't quote me). Alot of new phones still support at least one of these frequencies.

 

TDMA: This was AT&T's digital standard. Not sure if they still use it or not. Probably two frequencies, but don't quote me.

 

CDMA: This is the digital standard used by Verizon. Again there are two frequencies. A Verizon "tri-mode" phone supports both frequencies of CDMA, and also one Analog frequency.

 

Modified CDMA: Sprint used a modified version of CDMA for "Sprint PCS", not compatible with other CDMA phones.

 

GSM: The Europeon digital standard - not compatible with those above.

 

Add to this confusion, data standards like 1xRTT, and by now you should get the idea ...

 

 

Still Ready

[+ deej]

Bend over, Rick.

 

We'll see how well you receive French. :+

[Guest fukamarine]

>Bend over, Rick.

>

>We'll see how well you receive French. :+

 

Isn't that known as Greek? or am I missing something?

 

fukamarine