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Sunday, June 19, 2011

Mobile Number Portability

Mobile Number Portability – A system that allows mobile customers to switch over to any operator without changing the number.

Recently I tried my hand in this system (MNP) to switch from Vodafone to Airtel.

Result: Success on fourth attempt

Lesson learned !:
Even if the procedure of MNP authored by TRAI appears to be simple there are certain extra ‘numbers’ to be used by the customers to make one’s hard work for MNP successful.

If you are a cell phone user, wildly waiting to switch (ditch!) your carrier service provider without changing the number; here are the steps to be followed that may help you to avoid multiple attempts for port out/port in:

1. If yours is a post paid connection make sure it’s is not a corporate plan; if yes change the plan to a basic plan.

2. If the connection is a prepaid type, maintain a minimum balance of five rupees and if post paid make sure your last bill is cleared and outstanding amount is zero (you can continue making calls as this will be included along with your next month’s bill).

3. Make call to the current operator customer care and check whether you are in a contractual period or not; if yes apply for cancelling the contract through customer care or service provider’s store.

4. Once the above mentioned formalities are done with, walk in to your desired mobile operator’s outlet and apply for port in (19/- rupees for prepaid and no charge for postpaid) using the Unique Porting Code (to generate this code message PORT’SPACE’’YOUR PORTING MOBILE NUMBER’ to 1900.

5. After applying for port in with your ‘dream’ service provider, within two working days you will receive a confirmation message from 1901 and the current operator.

6. Within the next 96 hours (working hours) you will receive again another confirmation message about your port out from your current operator and from 1901 that specifies the port out time.

7. On the port out night you will be receiving two welcome messages from your future service provider.

8. Next morning insert the SIM card that was given by your new operator (that you received at the time when you submitted application) and enjoy trouble free calling.

9. If your new SIM card is not working, it can be because of the wrong SIM card given by your new operator; you can get the right SIM by applying for duplicate SIM card that will get activated within four hours of purchase.

10. For post paid users you will get your last bill from the previous operator's on your usual bill date.

11. And for prepaid users there is no provision to carry your balance/plan from previous operator’s service to the new one.


Hope this article will make your PORT OUT/IN easy-easier-easiest!!