Number Porting in Germany

[petkow]

Thanks so much for that excellent further explanation.

That is a real shame though! So it's not possible to even port any number to one of the newer cheaper MVNO's. I wonder how Tschibo, Aldi, Blau and Fonic feel about this? After all surely they are aiming at people as a contract replacement and who are already established mobile phone users and are likely to have a number they wish to keep! I wonder who is blocking this then. If it is the other networks, surely this is a case of the bigger networks stifling the competition? If so perhaps it is a case for him to send a letter to the EU Directore-General for Competition? (Well if they have managed it against Microsoft, why not T-Mobil or Vodafone )

[hrgajek]

Hello,

Originally Posted by petkow

Thanks so much for that excellent further explanation.

no problem, you're welcome

[quote]
So it's not possible to even port any number to one of the newer cheaper MVNO's.

It's a question of not working IT systems. Mobile phone companies are cutting staff and costs so everything you don't need (or they think you don't need) is going slowly or not at all.

You can export your number from Tchibo, Aldi, Blau and Fonic
but you cannot import another number to their cards at the moment.

It's on the agenda for later, they told me.

If so perhaps it is a case for him to send a letter to the EU Directore-General for Competition? (Well if they have managed it against Microsoft, why not T-Mobil or Vodafone )

Could be interesting. EU-Comissioner Viviane Reding will read your letter with interest

[inquisitor]

There's a quite unknown MVNO on the E-Plus network called solomo, who support importing numbers, have very cheap international rates, very cheap roaming rates, low data rates and reasonable domestic rates - all that as a prepaid service.

Phone calls to the UK (and the rest of Europe) cost € 0.09/min, respectively € 0.29/min to mobile networks.

Domestic also cost € 0.09/min, respectively € 0.18/min to mobile networks.

International SMS are billed at € 0.19 where as domestic ones are charged with € 0.14.

Incoming roaming calls within Europe cost between € 0.05 and € 0.10 and outgoing roaming calls within Europe cost between € 0.29 and € 0.39.

The price for data is € 0.24/MB.

All in all very attractive for foreigners in Germany in my eyes.

[Motel75]

Originally Posted by hrgajek

So it's not possible to even port any number to one of the newer cheaper MVNO's.

Not quite true -- you can port to Solomo, and at the moment they're not charging the usual fee for it: http://www.solomo.de

Looks like Inquisitor beat me to it!