A few years ago there were only few mobile phone operators in the mobile market, but in the past couple of years the number of service providers to a number of more then ten. To survive the competition some service providers are offering cheap call rates, others are offering amazing connectivity and some other providers want to be loyal to their services. From a couple of years or so people have been using two numbers just in case the signal of one network does not catch the other comes in hand. The mobile phones with dual SIM option are in demand too.
mobile number portability
But the dual SIM has its own troubles like paying two separate bills, number juggling, and for those who cannot afford two mobile phones have the added effort of carrying two mobile phones. To ward off these troubles we now have the MNP or the mobile number portability, it is of great advantage to the customers all around with the freedom to change their mobile service provider without changing their number.
This was first advertised by the service provider Idea Cellular campaigning to get Idea and Vodafone followed lead. Now all other service providers are also offering the portability. The portability has brought joy to customers all around the country and now they can switch to their favorite network at affordable rates.
The service was first launched on january 20, 2011 in Haryana and made its way to 22 other places. Both the pre paid and paost paid customers can access the facility, only 10 % of the post paid users are using this facitlity but they are contributing one third of the revenues generated.
However there are a few limitations to MNP. For the users who want to convert from GSM to CDMA they can do it easily but they have to change their handset too. One more limitation is that customers who have spent more than 90 days or more only with a particular service provider can avail the MNP.
This service is definitely hiking popularity. So, for mobile service providers to avoid customers from changing their service to other service they have to spend good amount of money and energy to ensure excellent connectivity across the country, good rates and plans that fit customers.
This service was first introduced in 2003 in US and was well appreciated. This is on a fast track now in India too.
