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.
Now that we've thrown 'em off the trail, use the form below to get in touch with the people at Engadget. Please fill in all of the required fields because they're required.
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.