Number portability: Coming to Japan

August 28, 2006 – 1:19 pm

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to our RSS feed. Thanks for visiting Planet Cell Phone!

In my country, Bangladesh number portability does not exist in the mobile phone industry. So, when we change a mobile phone operator we get a new number and then we have to give everyone we know the new number. I know it’s a haste but most countries in the world does not have this facility either. Singapore was the first country to introduce it and number portability exists in US, EU, Canada and Australia. I am shocked to know that even Japan does not have it yet. October 24 is going to be the historic day when number portability will become a reality in Japan.

Now, the top mobile operators in Japan are trying their very best to attract customers ahead of the number portability. The second largest operator, KDDI Corp. is going to introduce 12 new handsets for the consumers after 3 weeks. The goal is to attract customers of other mobile operators. 12 handsets at a time! This is a great treat for the mobile phone users in Japan. Reuters has reported about the sets:

The new models include the first KDDI high-speed phone made by Sharp Corp. (6753.T: Quote, NEWS, Research), and a Sanyo Electric Co. (6764.T: Quote, NEWS, Research) handset that allows more than four hours of digital TV streaming.

Japanese operators are aiming to roll out new services and handsets to win market share ahead of the introduction of number portability on Oct. 24, when customers will be allowed to keep their phone numbers even if they change operators.

Japan has more than 90 million mobile phone users. I think it is after China, US, Russia and India. KDDI Corp. has nearly 28% of the market share while the leader DoCoMo Inc. has 56% market share. I am just happy that Japanese mobile phone users are at least going to enjoy number portability. I wonder when it will come to my country.

If you enjoyed this post, grab the Planet Cell Phone Full RSS feed!