Mobile Number Portability (MNP): Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

[kshah 452]

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You've made the point of India that people stay in Voda/Airtel only due to compulsion and never by intent.<br />

<br /><br /><br />

Not by intend but voda and airtel do compell people to choose them.

They both are polite

Both have good network perhaps best amongst GSM gang. Though not comparable to RCDMA.

They have created brand image of proud ownership. I know people who are proud to be voda user (premium)

Reliance some how is not a recognized brand for upmarket users. Its brand of poor and their handsets reinforces belief.

Worst, rude and powerless customer care and thick skinned CC managers.

Image of cheaters due to initial billing issues and inheritant CDMA problem of call timers of handset. Almost all non CDMA users believs that reliance charge meter start as soon as it starts ringing. CDMA will be saved only because of locked handsets. I believe many subscribers will leave CDMA when they will have to change handsets. They will rather go for MNP and GSM.

[kesav 127]

I believe you're completely loaded against CDMA and very particularly against RCOM.

Even if I bring stories after stories on how much Airtel & Vodafone cheats their customers, you'll put up counter arguments.

Fortunately or unfortunately both of us are correct wrt our own space and time.

Telecom experience is a function of time and space and each user will have different experiences on different operators.

You want see RCOM's peanuts as pumpkins;Airtel's pumpkins as peanuts. There's no cure for that.

Let me tell you one universal truth.

"Not all popular brands are quality brands. Not all quality brands are popular brands"

In developed countries the above truth applies to 10% of total brands.

But in India it applies to almost 70% of the brands. It's because average Indian never cares to research before buying. Most often he blindly believes the words of his friends/relatives. Hence most often you'll end up having first market entered brands as popular brands in India.

Edited January 28, 2011 by kesav

[P. K. Daga 3]

I am sending sms to port from my R-GSM (MAH) since last 4-5 days. But I am not getting the Port Code. Instead getting a sms from 1901 stating that "Dear Reliance Customer, Your Request could not be processed. Please try after some time. Thank you."

Any body using R-GSM from Maharashtra has got the port code ???

Please ensure the word Port is written in Capital letters.

Please ensure, the phone from which you are sending the message, auto signature is switched off.

Still if you are not getting the UID, you may call the CC and inform them that you are willing to port out and they will create an SR for UID creation.

[KanagaDeepan 1,084]

Hence most often you'll end up having first market entered brands as popular brands in India.

Very TRUE... And often Late entering people are having good tariffs.. I always prefer them over the old ones unlike most people...

I got Airtel, when they entered TN when Aircel and BPL are old ones, and got better tariffs from Airtel , well during their launch.. Then when BSNL entered, I throw Airtel (now converting it to BSNL) and got BSNL and got better and good roaming tariffs.. When BSNL got network issues and RCom entered I changed BSNL as my second number and used RCdma and got still cheaper roaming tariffs.. When RCdma cheated and TataCdma entered and gave me a DIAMOND NUMBER for FREE, I throw RCdma and used TataIndicom as my main number and got best roaming tariffs.. Now MTS entered and since Tata doesn't improve EV-DO coverage and programming their number in foreign handsets is like pain in WHERE YOU KNOW, I am thinking of changing to MTS, with the same fancy number.. When Videocon improves coverage PanIndia or when MTS cheats, I may think of moving to Videocon again, thanks to MNP..

What I want to tell is "THE ONE WHO IS FROM THE BEGINNING IS NOT NECESSARILY GOOD".. "If YOUR SERVICE PROVIDER STARTED TAKING YOU FOR GRANTED, PUNISH THEM IMMEDIATELY".. "Now since MNP has arrived, that will be still easy, imho"...

Further if the provider of your choice had poor network/in-building coverage in your area, then force them to provide REPEATER in your building for FREE... This can be accomplished easily from a new operator, even if you are NOT a bulk customer.. I have seen TataCDMA doing same in our town...

[pasumark 51]

I am trying to port without changing my account to my personal name from company. Because even if I change to my personal name Airtel is treating as a new connection and I will have to wait another 90 days

Meanwhile thanks to all guys who clarified me.

They r lying to you............

You can complain or write a letter to the nodal officer of both the companies means airtel & new company which u want to port in............and also write to TRAI.......

They would give u a better reply and also ur request wud be taken as a complaint against the employee who said this to you.............

But give full details to them with whom u had talked, and why do u want to port the number.........

I also feel they are lying. So I have gone ahead to port my number to Aircel pre-paid. If they put some hurdles, I will sure take action as said by you.

The reason for moving out of Airtel is 'No coverage' in my office. It is a long story. Airtel used to have perfect coverage in my office. The cell site was just 50 meters from my office. But due to dispute with the land owner, the cell site became in-active and for the past 1 and half years I have been fighting with Airtel to re-activate the tower or install new one. Just got fed up and so moving out to Aircel which has good coverage in my office. Vodafone too has good coverage in my office. RCDMA has installed a repeater free of cost in my office

I tried to port out my Airtel no. which is in my company name, to Aircel pre-paid with NOC from my company. But I have received msg from Aircel stating Bharthi has rejected my request due to contractual obligation from the subscriber agreement

[pasumark 51]

Mr Ganesan, first convert your Airtel numbers to Prepaid.. This can be done within 2 days after getting NOC from your co.. Then go for porting.. This is what I have done with my Airtel number...

But the TataIndicom guys are as lazy as a dead pig... I have got my PORT IDs for both Airtel and Vodafone numbers, but they are saying the forms are coming.. Wait for a week..

Dear Kanaga,

Just I wanted to know if your port out from Airtel to TATA has been through (After converting Airtel postpaid to pre)

Was your Airtel in company name and CUG?

[digitalnirvana 646]

I believe you're completely loaded against CDMA and very particularly against RCOM.

Even if I bring stories after stories on how much Airtel & Vodafone cheats their customers, you'll put up counter arguments.

Fortunately or unfortunately both of us are correct wrt our own space and time.

Telecom experience is a function of time and space and each user will have different experiences on different operators.

You want see RCOM's peanuts as pumpkins;Airtel's pumpkins as peanuts. There's no cure for that.

Let me tell you one universal truth.

"Not all popular brands are quality brands. Not all quality brands are popular brands"

In developed countries the above truth applies to 10% of total brands.

But in India it applies to almost 70% of the brands. It's because average Indian never cares to research before buying. Most often he blindly believes the words of his friends/relatives. Hence most often you'll end up having first market entered brands as popular brands in India.

Hi Kesav ji, no offence but points mentioned were valid. RCDMA is seen as cheap since Rs 501 scheme they launched, and abundance of low end handsets but no mid range or premium handsets. RCDMA does not promote BB or data services as much as GSM operators do. Call timer issue was valid in initial days and people used battery pull. There is a general perception CDMA is not beneficial as it ties down the user with locked handset, this has resulted in low growth for TI and RCDMA. They could have actually used this to their advantage by giving high end network locked handsets with bundled tariff - with no upfront payment for handset. This would have built up huge premium customer base. RCDMA has failed to be number 1 inspite of better network, and inherent advantage of CDMA technology. I do not know if CC of GSM players are good but it is for sure that RCDMA CC should be better.

Sorry this is off topic.

[phonegeek 588]

Mr Ganesan, first convert your Airtel numbers to Prepaid.. This can be done within 2 days after getting NOC from your co.. Then go for porting.. This is what I have done with my Airtel number...

But the TataIndicom guys are as lazy as a dead pig... I have got my PORT IDs for both Airtel and Vodafone numbers, but they are saying the forms are coming.. Wait for a week..

Dear Kanaga,

Just I wanted to know if your port out from Airtel to TATA has been through (After converting Airtel postpaid to pre)

Was your Airtel in company name and CUG?

I am too waiting for your conversion results.....

I too migrated from post to pre and its not very clear that whether I can port out right away or do I need to wait for 90 days....

Please enlighten.

[rajanmehta 4,056]

Everyone wondering about whether conversion from postpaid to prepaid with your current operator makes you wait for another 90 days for MNP...

Here is my interpretation...

The Exact Clause in TRAI MNP Regulations,

Every subscriber shall be eligible to make a request for porting his mobile number:

Provided that---

(a) a period of ninety days has expired from the date of activation of his mobile connection in the case of a mobile number not ported earlier; or from the date of activation of his mobile number after its last porting, in the case of a mobile number which has been ported earlier, as the case may be;

Date of Activation of mobile connection is the key word here..

Simplest thing will be to ask your current operator whether they consider your converting to prepaid

-As a new mobile connection

-Or change of mode in providing service.

-Which date they will consider as date of activation for your connection in their records after you convert to prepaid?

And Whether in converting from postpaid to prepaid, Were you required to Fill Up the CAF form again and submit identity and address proof?

Answers to the Above makes the situation clear...

[manishag 17]

Everyone wondering about whether conversion from postpaid to prepaid with your current operator makes you wait for another 90 days for MNP...

Here is my interpretation...

The Exact Clause in TRAI MNP Regulations,

Every subscriber shall be eligible to make a request for porting his mobile number:

Provided that---

(a) a period of ninety days has expired from the date of activation of his mobile connection in the case of a mobile number not ported earlier; or from the date of activation of his mobile number after its last porting, in the case of a mobile number which has been ported earlier, as the case may be;

Date of Activation of mobile connection is the key word here..

Simplest thing will be to ask your current operator whether they consider your converting to prepaid

-As a new mobile connection

-Or change of mode in providing service.

-Which date they will consider as date of activation for your connection in their records after you convert to prepaid?

And Whether in converting from postpaid to prepaid, Were you required to Fill Up the CAF form again and submit identity and address proof?

Answers to the Above makes the situation clear...

but operators consider post to prepaid conversion as new activation because they create a new account. in postpaid number is linked to customer id.

[KanagaDeepan 1,084]

Mr Ganesan, first convert your Airtel numbers to Prepaid.. This can be done within 2 days after getting NOC from your co.. Then go for porting.. This is what I have done with my Airtel number...

But the TataIndicom guys are as lazy as a dead pig... I have got my PORT IDs for both Airtel and Vodafone numbers, but they are saying the forms are coming.. Wait for a week..

Dear Kanaga,

Just I wanted to know if your port out from Airtel to TATA has been through (After converting Airtel postpaid to pre)

Was your Airtel in company name and CUG?

No... I have put the process of porting my Airtel number to TI on hold as I am now thinking of porting all my (10) TI numbers to BSNL now, because of pathetic 1x plans...

So as a trial I am just going to port my Airtel-Pre to BSNL-pre this month and if everything goes fine, I will port all my Tata-Post to BSNL-Post for sure...

And sorry Ganesan sir, my Airtel migration from Post to Pre has happened more than 90 days back... So I now think the conversion from post to pre is TAKEN AS NEW ACTIVATION ONLY as we need to fill new CAF form... Very very SORRY sir, for confusing you earlier...

BUT I AM 100% SURE ABOUT ONE THING... CUG, CORPORATE CONNECTION or ANYTHING CAN'T STOP YOU FROM PORTING... I got UPC codes for all my TI connections on CUG + My co's name... I AM SURE AIRTEL IS NOT AT ALL WILLING TO GIVE GOOD OFFER AND STILL LET GO THE CORP CONNECTION users... So go and threaten them or please complaint to ddgpg-dot@nic.in and ca@trai.gov.in (courtesy: TelecomTalk) reg their mischieves...

[kesav 127]

Dear Rajan,

Kindly update the FAQ section with above 2 mail ids for our users to complain to DoT and TRAI about the irregularities/mischiefs committed by the donor operator.

ddgpg-dot@nic.in and ca@trai.gov.in

[pasumark 51]

Mr Ganesan, first convert your Airtel numbers to Prepaid.. This can be done within 2 days after getting NOC from your co.. Then go for porting.. This is what I have done with my Airtel number...

But the TataIndicom guys are as lazy as a dead pig... I have got my PORT IDs for both Airtel and Vodafone numbers, but they are saying the forms are coming.. Wait for a week..

Dear Kanaga,

Just I wanted to know if your port out from Airtel to TATA has been through (After converting Airtel postpaid to pre)

Was your Airtel in company name and CUG?

No... I have put the process of porting my Airtel number to TI on hold as I am now thinking of porting all my (10) TI numbers to BSNL now, because of pathetic 1x plans...

So as a trial I am just going to port my Airtel-Pre to BSNL-pre this month and if everything goes fine, I will port all my Tata-Post to BSNL-Post for sure...

And sorry Ganesan sir, my Airtel migration from Post to Pre has happened more than 90 days back... So I now think the conversion from post to pre is TAKEN AS NEW ACTIVATION ONLY as we need to fill new CAF form... Very very SORRY sir, for confusing you earlier...

BUT I AM 100% SURE ABOUT ONE THING... CUG, CORPORATE CONNECTION or ANYTHING CAN'T STOP YOU FROM PORTING... I got UPC codes for all my TI connections on CUG + My co's name... I AM SURE AIRTEL IS NOT AT ALL WILLING TO GIVE GOOD OFFER AND STILL LET GO THE CORP CONNECTION users... So go and threaten them or please complaint to ddgpg-dot@nic.in and ca@trai.gov.in (courtesy: TelecomTalk) reg their mischieves...

Thanks Kanaga.

I will complain my case to TRAI and DOT.

Meanwhile I am converting to pre-paid, so that even at worst possible case I can port out after 90 days

[rajanmehta 4,056]

The FAQ in the First Post is now updated with "What Precautions i should take so that my porting request is not rejected?"

[kesav 127]

Finally, TRAI has released MNP consumer guide.

http://www.trai.gov.in/mnconsumerguide.pdf

:clap:

@Rajan, can we place the link to TRAI's MNP user guide in FAQ?

I'm bit disappointed on missing clarifications in the consumer guide on the following.

(1) Is a prepaid to postpaid conversion of the same operator comes under mandatory 90 days period?

(2) Is conversion from GSM to CDMA or vice-versa of the same dual tech operator comes under mandatory 90 days period?

I plead with TRAI to answer both question as "NO".

Edited February 9, 2011 by kesav

[KanagaDeepan 1,084]

I'm bit disappointed on missing clarifications in the consumer guide on the following.

(1) Is a prepaid to postpaid conversion of the same operator comes under mandatory 90 days period?

(2) Is conversion from GSM to CDMA or vice-versa of the same dual tech operator comes under mandatory 90 days period?

Imho the answers will be as follows:-

(1) NO...

(2) YES..

My guess is, conversion from post to pre is NOT going to be change of operator, imho... But the converted prepaid number will be seen as fresh connection only and the 90-days counter for MNP was again resetted to zero (sorry Ganesan sir)... But the postpaid person may lie saying, minimum 90 days are needed for converting from post2pre.. Then just threaten them "convert me to prepaid or CLOSE MY CONNECTION" and he will surely do the post2pre conversion... Conversion to prepaid is the LAST method postpaid dealers are following to retain their customers (it will NOT be counted as churn customers if post2pre was done).. And many people have converted from pre2post without any issues...

The conversion of G2C or C2G of dual-tech operator will surely comes under mandatory 90 days period... Though it is like change within sister-cos, it is definitely change of operators and hence the 90 days period.. Araae bhai, though dad and son have same blood, they will have seperate mouth and stomach, right??? Again this procedure is followed by postpaid dealers to retain their customers, as change to their sister-co is ALSO NOT TAKEN AS CHURN AND WILL NOT AFFECT THEIR INCENTIVE/COMMISION for that connection and the retention team offered me this choice too... In our town, many TataCDMA postpaid users have been converted to Docomo prepaid due to lack of handset choices... (As a result now I will be like 6 to 7 percentage of Postpaid-TataCDMA market share in Sivakasi, from the 4-5% during Nov-2010)

NOTE:-

This 90days period is MORE HELPFUL to postpaid-dealers than operators as dealers will get FULL COMMISSION for a postpaid/prepaid connection ONLY WHEN THE CUSTOMER IS ACTIVE FOR MINIMUM 3 months in network... This practice has been followed for many years... And this is one of the reasons the postpaid dealer will reject earlier conversion of post2pre and hence you have to threaten them to get converted to pre... Further whatever I have told above holds 100% TRUE for TataCDMA (as my relative is the dealer in my town) and most probably for other operators too, imho...

Edited February 10, 2011 by KanagaDeepan

[me_saket 73]

Tata Docomo has gone one step ahead and now providing online facility to check whether any particular number is using service of Tata Docomo or not

Link

this link is not giving true result.

when i try to check tata indicom number it says "it's on tata docomo network"

also i tried to check one docomo number which is port to idea, but result shows "it's on tata docomo network"

so works, poor show.... :NOTriste: :NOTriste:

[raccoon 53]

Sigh... so like the rest of Tata Docomo's systems, this too is half-baked. Edited February 15, 2011 by raccoon

[gyanesh 0]

Though it is slightly off-track, i have a query.

Is there any way to check the porting status after giving the porting request ?

[rajanmehta 4,056]

If you are a registered user for Online Account Services for various operators...

Can check online under the category of complaints, Service Requests Etc if such an option is available.

Airtel shows service requests with expected resolution time. You will find a service request classified as churn.

For Vodafone You can call on 9820098200 and after selecting relevant IVR options, Can check the status.

Vodafone has one another option (Which did not work for me..) sms on 111 PORTSTATUS <MOBILE NO> <PORTCODE>

[gyanesh 0]

If you are a registered user for Online Account Services for various operators...

Can check online under the category of complaints, Service Requests Etc if such an option is available.

Airtel shows service requests with expected resolution time. You will find a service request classified as churn.

For Vodafone You can call on 9820098200 and after selecting relevant IVR options, Can check the status.

Vodafone has one another option (Which did not work for me..) sms on 111 PORTSTATUS <MOBILE NO> <PORTCODE>

Rajan bro,

It is RCDMA pre-paid and the recepient is Aircel

[abhi.r 95]

When number portability will come for Wired Landlines?

i want to change back to MTNL broadband...

Airtel's FUP on unlimited plans is the deal breaker but cant change my phone number.

[lovable_guy006 0]

I recently got MNP my reliance cdma number to reliance gsm. They charged me Rs.121/- for the same. I want to know that these charges are appropriate or they charged me more.

Operators like idea are charging only Rs.5/- for MNP.

[vivek.onyx 0]

@rajanmehta

Rajan Bhai, mere paas Idea Postpaid k 2 premium number hai jo maine just 15 days pehle hi liye hai. In dono numbers ka 1st bill mujhe mil chuka hai jis me unhone premium number ka charge Rs.1500+Tax lagaya hai aur uska 100% discount bhi as a adjustment kar diya hai. Ab mai in dono numbers ko 90 days complete hone k baad port karana chahta hoon.

Kya MNP Rules/Regulations mai premium number k liye koi restrictions hai?

Kya Idea meri port out request refuse kar sakta hai bcoz of premium number?

Kya Idea Port out karne ke liye mujhse numbers ke charges maang sakta hai?

Plz help me

Thanks in advance

[axxo 0]

Dear Members,

I migrated from RCDMA to RGSM and the 3 months lock-in period is coming to an end at 9th May. I'm using blackberry, the data service is quite good but unfortunately voice ain't good enough & network coverage is biggest issue. I again want to switch to another GSM operator, who provide good blackberry service and better voice plus coverage network. I reside in NAGPUR(Mah)

Please Suggest...

Thanks in advance.