India on Thursday ushered in Mobile Number Portability that will allow cellphone users to switch operators without changing numbers, with Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal launching the service in Haryana.
The consumer friendly service was mooted over two years ago and was planned to be implemented by end of 2009.
Mobile subscribers in Haryana will have to pay Rs 19 to switch between operators present in the state.
The rest of India would get to use MNP from January 20, next year.
The all-India launch date took a while to be fixed due to differences between the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the GSM mobile industry.
While DoT was adamant over the launch of MNP by December 20, GSM companies had been asking to postpone the date by a month to January 20.
TO shift, send an SMSfrom your phone to 1900. Your present company will reply with a unique porting code. Use that code while filling out a detailed form for the company you want to shift to. Within 48 hours, that company will take over all your cell services. The fees, about Rupees 19.
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