Verizon Wireless has taken to heart the old adage that goes “if you cant beat em, join em.” The nation’s largest carrier broke rank with the industry last week when it said it would make local number portability easy for customers and urged its competitors to do the same.
This is not the first time Verizon has been on the opposite side of the rest of the industry on wireless issues. The carrier two years ago stopped fighting legislation that would ban driving and dialing. Meanwhile, industry-via CTIA-continues to push education over legislation.
Verizon’s LNP strategy is pretty smooth because it allows the carrier to appear responsive to consumer interests (most people say they are in favor of LNP) and still have industry fight the LNP battle. Keep in mind Verizon had been dogged in its pursuit to stop mandatory LNP. Only once it became obvious that LNP was going to be put into effect Nov. 24, did the carrier say it was time for everyone to stop whining. Up until that point, Verizon had been one of the biggest whiners of all, taking its LNP cause to court and even trying to take it to Congress.
Verizon’s about face likely irritated more than a few others in the industry. Word has it there was a scathing CTIA conference call denouncing Verizon after its CEO Dennis Strigl made the announcement.
There is some legitimacy to CTIA’s complaint. At the same time CTIA was on the Hill lobbying for a senator to sponsor a bill that could stop LNP from being implemented, the association’s largest member was jumping ship. In the future, the wireless industry may find it more difficult to find a congressman to carry its torch because the industry appears fragmented. Meanwhile, lobbyists trying to woo a congressman to take on their cause look plain silly.
On the other hand, PCS player Leap Communications International Inc. went out on a limb early on in the LNP battle and has always been in favor of number portability for customers. Still, Leap doesn’t hold the same cache as Verizon.
Verizon, perhaps, has the most to gain from LNP because the carrier has a good network. But there are still valid arguments about LNP that need to be addressed. Most significant is whether people will able to take their wireline numbers with them to wireless carriers. It’s a legitimate question and one CTIA is left to fight, but without one of its biggest guns.
