What is Wireless Local Number Portability (WLNP)?
Today, when customers of one wireless phone company — also known as a “carrier” — switch service providers, they have to change their cell phone number as well. Under a new federal mandate known as Wireless Local Number Portability (WLNP), customers will now be allowed to transfer or port their current cell phone number when changing wireless carriers.
Wireless LNP is a wireless consumer’s ability to change service providers within the same local area and still keep the same phone number. Wireless LNP allows consumers to switch from one wireless carrier to another within the same general metropolitan area. It does not allow consumers to keep the same phone number when moving to a new town or city. Wireless LNP also allows consumers to move a phone number from a wire-line phone to a wireless phone in some cases. • How long will the transfer take? For a wireless-to-wireless transfer, the porting process should take approximately two and a half hours from the time the porting request is made of the old carrier but, in some cases it has taken 1-10 days or even longer. For a wireline-to-wireless port will probably take longer to complete, and could take several days. Before porting between wireline and wireless phones, consumers should ask their new service provider how long the process will take.
Wireless LNP is a wireless consumer’s ability to change service providers within the same local area and still keep the same phone number. Wireless LNP allows consumers to switch from one wireless carrier to another within the same general metropolitan area. It does not allow consumers to keep the same phone number when moving to a new town or city. Wireless LNP also allows consumers to move a phone number from a wire-line phone to a wireless phone in some cases. • How long will the transfer take? For a wireless-to-wireless transfer, the porting process should take approximately two and a half hours from the time the porting request is made of the old carrier but, in some cases it has taken 1-10 days or even longer. For a wireline-to-wireless port will probably take longer to complete, and could take several days. Before porting between wireline and wireless phones, consumers should ask their new service provider how long the process will take. During the transition your old phone will
