Japan to finally get number portability
By Chris Ziegler 
posted Aug 28th 2006 8:11PM
posted Aug 28th 2006 8:11PM
All of us at Engadget HQ are sticking out our collective tongues in the general direction of the Pacific Ocean today upon hearing that Japan, purveyor of all things higher-tech than our own, is just now getting number portability come October of this year. For anyone looking to keep count, we've had WNP here in the states for some two-odd years now -- even longer in major metro areas -- giving American mobile customers one small victory against their Japanese counterparts. Not to suggest we aren't still being embarrassed by things like carriers releasing twelve phones in a single day or 2.5Gbps 4G data tests, but hey -- baby steps, right?
Shed a tear for your Canadian readers, who have until September of 2007 before the sweet sound of cancelled landlines floods the land.
/me sits crying in a corner, muttering "12 more months..." over and over again.
I don't think it's as big of a deal as it is in the US, in that it mostly only affects the big three mobile phone carriers. Telephony markets in Japan have different number schemes. Fixed line numbers have 10 digits; cell phone numbers have 11 digits and begin with either 090 or 080; PHS (Wilcom) has 11 digits and begins with 070; IP based telephony numbers have 11 digits and begins with 050.
My understanding is that numbers can't be transferred out of their class, so it'll mostly benefit the legion that will be switching to Softbank when they roll out their UMA service later this year...or will they be switching to AU because of their great handsets...Though technically speaking, I should someday be able to move my Yahoo BB-phone number to Skype.
Actually number portability in the states isn't quite what it's made out to be. My friend had a Virgin Mobile number and when he switched over to Verizon they wouldn't let him keep his number.
I have yet to take advantage of WNP. When I left Verizon I let them keep the number and I did that mainly because I had the same number for 6 years and by getting a new number anyone who previously had it who probably shouldn't now can't call me.
Sorry this number has been disconnected or is no longer in service. BAWHAHA
Erm I'm not familiar with this or maybe I am i just dont know the term.
Whats number portability? lol =P sorry.