Canadian Number Portability is fast approaching. What exactly does it mean and include? For one, cellular customers who want to take advantage of better service/prices from other wireless carriers can switch while keeping their cell phone number. The major three cellular providers, Rogers Wireless, Telus Mobility, Bell Mobility, have until March 14, 2007 to implement the CNP policies. This date was mandated by the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA), who also suggested that CNP would be released to a limited number of provinces to start (Alberta, Ontario, BC, Quebec.) There is no word whether wireless carriers will go ahead and bypass the minimum mandate and enable the entire country to take advantage of this service.

How does it work? Customers should be able to switch to any service provider in your province (wireline or wireless) and keep your phone number. Hopefully all wireless carriers will enable portability, however, moving from an obscure provider from the East coast to an unknown provider in the West, may prove challenging. In the US customers faced challenges moving great distances, however, the US has many more providers than Canada. Throughout Canada, all wireless carriers will be required to release a phone number to another carrier (port-out customers) and by no later than September 12, 2007, to accept a phone number from another carrier (port-in customers). There is no word on how this will affect prepaid plans/phones.

So is this good or bad news for the consumer? One can only hope that the absent price wars between the major companies will heat up. With the threat of losing customers to better service/costs on another carrier, we could see new deals for existing and new customers that we havent seen in Canada for a while.

In reality there are three fundamental reasons why consumers will decide to change carriers: a) Better phones elsewhere, b)better service elsewhere, and c) better prices elsewhere. In the States consumers flocked not to necessarily better phones or plans, but better service. Verizon Wireless reaped the benefits of wireless number portability by a wide margin. Well have to see how Canadian carrier respond.

In the meantime, lets analyse some of the pros and cons to wireless number portability.

Cons: All portability moves must be done in sequence. That means to plan to port your number while STILL connected with your existing carrier. Cancel one service contract for another without going through the porting process and youll loose your number.

Portability is no good if you have time left on your existing contract. You still need to honour your wireless contract for x many more months. If you choose to terminate you will face penalties as per usual.

Chances are carriers will introduce a portability charge. That means even if you dont port your number youll pay a new service charge. (They have to gouge you somewhere right?!) This also means the activation fee you paid will likely exist on the new carrier. If you get away from activation fees be prepared for the portability fee when you actually make the transaction. Hopefully consumers wont get both.

Expect delays and glitches at the start up, its bound to happen. Also, dont expect your past bills from your old carrier to go away once you switch.

Pros: Taking advantage of the new pricing and plan options from carriers looking to capture competing customers. That means lower prices for you, new contracts only though. You finally have the option of getting rid of the crappy service and show that corporate giant whos boss by voting with your feet.

Existing customers will be given incentives to stay with their carriers, more minutes, features, etc. Switching carriers usually means a new phone (if youre a new customer). If you move to GSM providers youll have two! Porting usually takes a few hours so wait time is minimal.

And finally, once you have your number working on another carrier dont be surprised if you get the same crappy service as before. You can never win it seems at this wireless game. But then again, you may find that the grass is a little greener on the other side. The Pros will hopefully outweigh the Cons, hopefully consumers will see better prices and phone deals in the future.