Number portability - how can you tell the rate?

vinnyfitz

Comreg have finally realised that the operators are not rushing to spill the beans and warn you that you are going off network if you phone someone who has changed from 08X to 08Y.

Now they are asking us what we all think?

(Deadline end of October) They say they will decide in November.

Cork

It is up to the user to find a package that offers the same prices to what ever network.

I think networks will not go out of their way to let you know.

iano

It is up to the user to find a package that offers the same prices to what ever network.

I definitely do not agree with you, Cork.
The current situation is the result of a conscious decision of ComReg to introduce mobile number portability first and sort out the details afterwards.

We are not the first country in the world to introduce portability and they would have been well aware of the issues.

As with all decisions to enhance competition, the incumbents will find technical and organisational reasons why it can not be done or will try to preserve their market position by making it as difficult and impractical as possible for users to switch provider.

I expect to see all sorts of wonderful contributions like playing a long-winded recorded message informing the caller that the called party has switched network and that different charges may apply. (What business or individual would want their callers to have to listen to such crap every time they called. It would certainly encourage you not to change networks.)

Also, do you inform a caller when their call is cheaper (i.e. the called party has moved onto your network).

Don't forget that Eircom has a different land-line price to each mobile network, so its not just mobile <--> mobile calls.

In theory, ComReg could insist on a uniform tariff but that would hardly encourage competition.

The submissions and eventual ComReg decision should be interesting!

wheresmybeaver

I thought I heard somewhere that o2 were gonna play a little tone just before the dialled number started ringing to inform you if the person was on a different network. I don't think I've ever noticed any beep though, or is this gonna be implemented at some later stage?

Another problem is text messages, will either be 11c or 13c but you'll never know which network unless you ask the recipient.

carrotcake

meteor customers can text a number to 50004 for free and they'll let you know if it's a meteor number or not

rabbitinlights

at the moment If a person ports from o2 to voda, everytime you ring them that ladys voice says "the person you are calling is not an o2 customer" it could not be any clearer than that.

jesus_thats_gre

I heard this briefly today, Vodafone and introducing a tone at the beginning of calls when calling off network soon. I only heard it briefly so I am not sure of the exact details.