Mobile Number Portability from Nov. 1

 

Finally the long wait will come to an end next month. Yes, the Mobile Number Portability would be made available from Nov 1 onwards said Indian Telecom Minister A. Raja reported The Hindu. After the recent announcement of 3G services by the mobile operators, the Mobile Number Portability's arrival surely promises pleasant days ahead.

A. Raja, Telecom Minister for India, said, "November 1 onwards MNP would be operational partially... We wanted to inaugurate it in Haryana."

Mobile Number Portability facility will let mobile phone subscribers to retain their ten digit phone numbers if they wish to go for different or any mobile operator's service. For instance, if you are Airtel subscriber, then you can retain your number after applying for MNP and change to any other cellular service you want.

Under the MNP process, users will have to apply for number portability and pay nominal fees to retain their ten digit phone number. Licences have been given to Syniverse Technologies and MNP Interconnection Telecom Solutions, a 74:26 joint venture between U.S.-based Telcordia and Deepak Talwar Consultants, to implement MNP in India.

Mobile Number Portability will be rolled out in phases in different regions. Stay tuned for more updates on the MNP facility rollout and other details.

We've noted that few mobile operators have started requesting documents for re-verification and identification. This is applicable to all mobile phone owners who've bought GSM or CDMA connection before Jan 1 this year.

Several consumers have started receiving emails to send across their document copies again. Here's the snippet from the email:

Dear Customer,

In view of the current law and order environment, the Government of India has advised us to update/re-verify the identities and addresses of our customers who have taken their mobile connections before 1st January 2010 (Please refer to ad released in Times of India on 16th September 2010). Therefore, we request you to submit your recent verification documents at any of the document collection centres within next 3 days.

We value our relationship and your prompt response will allow us to continue with the same without disruption.

In case, if we do not get your documents in next 3 days, we will be bound to suspend your service till proper documents are received.
We'd like to apologize and say that pleasant days of using mobile connection aren't here just yet. We're sure many would have to under go loads of issues related to document re-submissions. However, the three day deadline is way too short. What are you thoughts on this move by mobile operators? Do let us know in the comments section below.