So is this good or bad news for the consumer? One can only hope that the absent price wars between the major companies will heat up. With the threat of losing customers to better service/costs on another carrier, we could see new deals for existing and new customers that we haven’t seen in Canada for a while.

In reality there are three fundamental reasons why consumers will decide to change carriers: a) Better phones elsewhere, b)better service elsewhere, and c) better prices elsewhere. In the States consumers flocked not to necessarily better phones or plans, but better service. Verizon Wireless reaped the benefits of wireless number portability by a wide margin. We’ll have to see how Canadian carrier respond.

In the meantime, let’s analyse some of the pros and cons to wireless number portability.

Cons: All portability moves must be done in sequence. That means to plan to port your number while STILL connected with your existing carrier. Cancel one service contract for another without going through the porting process and you’ll loose your number.

Portability is no good if you have time left on your existing contract. You still need to honour your wireless contract for x many more months. If you choose to terminate you will face penalties as per usual.

Chances are carriers will introduce a portability charge. That means even if you don’t port your number you’ll pay a new service charge. (They have to gouge you somewhere right?!) This also means the ‘activation’ fee you paid will likely exist on the new carrier. If you get away from ‘activation’ fees be prepared for the ‘portability’ fee when you actually make the transaction. Hopefully consumers won’t get both.