3 ms·

In the UK mobile networks are required to offer number portability[1]. I don't know if that means a mobile network can take your number away, but just like man

In the UK mobile networks are required to offer number portability[1]. I don't know if that means a mobile network can take your number away, but just like managing the registrar on a domain, you can manage the portability of your number. [1] https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-telecoms-and-internet/information-for-industry/numbering/number-portability-info https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-telecoms-and-internet/inform...

herbst 10y ago
You can in most countries as far as i know. But in my example i quit my account (so made it prepaid essentially) and lost the SIM card, which means i lost my account forever. Now it waits for the simcard to invalidate and then will most likely sell the number again. It was a "easy number" (as in people remember that number after telling them once) so i assume it will be resold rather fast. But just because you can does not mean people want that. Before it became normal to auth everywhere with phone numbers i happily changed my number yearly.
- erelde 10y ago
  Just to offer the other side of this, I, on the other hand, have the kept the same mobile phone number since the beginning.
- icebraining 10y ago
  You can change them, you just have to change them in those services too. Same as with email, or any other authentication mechanism, really.
- richthegeek 10y ago
  You'd be surprised. Number portability is a big pain in the arse for us (determining the network from an MSISDN is important in my industry) so it's always a nice bonus when we come across countries without it. Most recently, Philippines: http://www.prefix.ph/smart-users/updated-philippine-mobile-prefixes-for-2016/ http://www.prefix.ph/smart-users/updated-philippine-mobile-p...
  - herbst 10y ago
    This is a really interesting example! Thank you, i obviously only thought about my rather small digitalnomad bubble & issues. But this is a good example for the same problem on a much bigger scale. Once again it shows you cant just close your eyes and judge from yourself to others.

herbst 10y ago

You can in most countries as far as i know. But in my example i quit my account (so made it prepaid essentially) and lost the SIM card, which means i lost my account forever. Now it waits for the simcard to invalidate and then will most likely sell the number again. It was a "easy number" (as in people remember that number after telling them once) so i assume it will be resold rather fast. But just because you can does not mean people want that. Before it became normal to auth everywhere with phone numbers i happily changed my number yearly.

erelde 10y ago
Just to offer the other side of this, I, on the other hand, have the kept the same mobile phone number since the beginning.
icebraining 10y ago
You can change them, you just have to change them in those services too. Same as with email, or any other authentication mechanism, really.
richthegeek 10y ago
You'd be surprised. Number portability is a big pain in the arse for us (determining the network from an MSISDN is important in my industry) so it's always a nice bonus when we come across countries without it. Most recently, Philippines: http://www.prefix.ph/smart-users/updated-philippine-mobile-prefixes-for-2016/ http://www.prefix.ph/smart-users/updated-philippine-mobile-p...
- herbst 10y ago
  This is a really interesting example! Thank you, i obviously only thought about my rather small digitalnomad bubble & issues. But this is a good example for the same problem on a much bigger scale. Once again it shows you cant just close your eyes and judge from yourself to others.