Mobile number portability for just Rs 19

Norelin

Editor

posted on 13 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

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PM flagged off the nationwide roll-out of mobile number portability on Thursday.

New Delhi: You can finally dump your mobile service provider and move to a better one without changing your present number all for Rs 19.

A total of 700 million Indians use cell phones. With mobile number portability kicking in across the country on Thursday, many customers, especially pre-paid ones, might abandon ship.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh flagged off the nationwide roll-out of mobile number portability on Thursday, a move that will allow users to switch operators without losing their phone numbers and will force telecom providers to improve the quality of their services.

"I think its a great step forward for the consumer, as it enhances choice and brings in more competition, because the more efficient you are as a service provider, the more likely that consumers will choose you," Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal said on Wednesday.

MNP services were first launched in Haryana in November last year. Nevertheless, companies like Idea Cellular and Vodafone started marketing their services to subscribers in other parts of the country that are looking at switching operators even before MNP services were rolled out.

Idea Cellular, which started the 'No idea? Get Idea' campaign to woo the subscribers of rival telcos, has also set up a toll-free line to assist customers looking to switch operators.

More operators are expected to undertake similar activities to retain their subscribers, with competition likely to heat up following the nationwide roll-out of MNP services, with telcos poaching their rivals' subscribers.

Here is a list of the mobile service providers in your area. Which one will you go for?

Delhi (Metro): Airtel, Vodafone, Idea, Aircel, MTS, Reliance

Mumbai (Metro): Airtel, Vodafone, Idea, Aircel, MTS, Videocon, Uninor, BPL Mobile

Kolkata (Metro): Airtel, Vodafone, Idea, Reliance, Aircel, MTS, Uninor

Chennai (Metro): Airtel, Vodafone, Idea, Aircel, Videocon, Uninor

Andhra Pradesh: Airtel, Vodafone, Idea, Aircel, MTS, Videocon, Uninor

Assam: Airtel, Reliance, Aircel, S Tel

Bihar: Airtel, Vodafone, Reliance, Aircel, MTS, Videocon, S Tel, Uninor

Gujarat: Airtel, Vodafone, Idea, Videocon, Uninor

Haryana: Airtel, Vodafone, Idea, MTS, Videocon

Himachal Pradesh: Airtel, Vodafone, Idea, Reliance, Aircel, Videocon, S Tel

Jammu & Kashmir: Airtel, Vodafone, Idea, Aircel, S Tel