Cingular Wireless Helps Consumers Prepare for Wireless Local Number Portability
21 Mai 2004 - 4:09PM
PR Newswire (US)
Cingular Wireless Helps Consumers Prepare for Wireless Local Number
Portability Leading wireless carrier offers tips, suggestions prior
to availability in most markets ATLANTA, May 21 /PRNewswire/ --
Most wireless consumers nationwide will be able to change carriers
and keep their numbers when Wireless Local Number Portability rules
come into effect May 24, 2004. In an effort to make sure customers
can maneuver through that process, Cingular Wireless has created a
helpful consumer checklist called "The A to Z of WLNP." "Cingular
has worked tirelessly to streamline the number portability process
since WLNP became available in the top 100 metropolitan areas last
November," said Faith Seiders, Director of LNP Strategy and
Operations at Cingular. "But we know from experience that WLNP can
be confusing. We encourage consumers who are considering the switch
to take the time to prepare. The result will be a much more
positive and efficient experience." Customers of small and rural
wireline and wireless companies, in particular, should understand
the porting capabilities of their service providers. Larger
carriers have had months to fine-tune automated systems, streamline
processes and resolve operational issues. For many small or rural
carriers, porting will be a new experience and some do not have
automated systems for inter-carrier ordering. Processing transfer
requests and responses to and from these carriers will involve
manual options. "It is important that customers in the smaller
markets have realistic expectations about the porting process,"
said Seiders. Cingular has been an industry leader in consumer
education about WLNP and provides the following tips and
suggestions to help consumers avoid surprises: - Not all numbers
can be ported. Some small wireline and wireless companies in rural
areas have asked for and received a waiver or exemption from state
regulators and are not required to participate in WLNP. If your
carrier is exempt, you can still switch companies, but you will not
be able to keep your number. - Know the details. Bring a bill from
your existing carrier to your new one. If you don't have a copy of
your bill, know the exact details of your account, including name
(is it listed as "Bill Smith" or "William Smith"), address, account
number and phone number. - Leave some time. The process can take a
few hours, a few days or in some cases, a few weeks. Larger
carriers have had months to fine-tune automated systems, streamline
processes and resolve operational issues. Many small and rural
carriers do not have automated systems for inter- carrier ordering.
Processing transfer requests and responses to and from these
carriers will involve manual options. Cingular provides most
customers with an activated phone, so they can place calls as soon
as they leave the store. Once the porting process is complete, the
phone will be in the customer's hands and incoming calls can be
received. - Don't cancel your service. If you want to bring your
number to a new carrier, don't cancel your current service
beforehand. If you do, you may end up losing your number. Your new
carrier will work with your prior wireless provider to close your
account. - Are you a free agent? You may be under contract with
your existing carrier, who may charge you an early termination fee
if you cancel your existing service while still under contract. -
Do your homework. You may need a new phone when you switch
carriers, even if you are keeping your number. Familiarize yourself
with your new carrier's rate plans, coverage area and features,
too, because you will need to make some decisions. - The "L" in
WLNP. Local means when switching carriers you will be able to take
your number within the same geographic area, but you may not be
able to take it if you move to another area. Customers may learn
more about WLNP at any Cingular Wireless store, or by visiting
http://www.cingular.com/customer_service/LNP About Cingular
Wireless Cingular Wireless, a joint venture between SBC
Communications (NYSE:SBC) and BellSouth (NYSE:BLS), serves more
than 25 million voice and data customers across the United States.
A leader in mobile voice and data communications, Cingular is the
only U.S. wireless carrier to offer Rollover(SM), the wireless plan
that lets customers keep their unused monthly minutes. Cingular has
launched the world's first commercial deployment of wireless
services using Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE)
technology. Cingular provides cellular/PCS service in 43 of the top
50 markets nationwide, and provides corporate e-mail and other
advanced data services through its GPRS, EDGE and Mobitex packet
data networks. Details of the company are available at
http://www.cingular.com/ . DATASOURCE: Cingular Wireless CONTACT:
Annette Teter of Cingular Wireless, +1-972-982-3214, or Web site:
http://www.cingular.com/
http://www.cingular.com/customer_service/LNP
Copyright
Bellsouth (NYSE:BLS)
Graphique Historique de l'Action
De Juin 2024 à Juil 2024
Bellsouth (NYSE:BLS)
Graphique Historique de l'Action
De Juil 2023 à Juil 2024
Real-Time news about Bellsouth Cp (New York Stock Exchange): 0 recent articles
Plus d'articles sur Bellsouth Cp