BOSTON-The Yankee Group estimates 10 million to 12 million wireless customers will switch providers in the year following the Nov. 24 implementation of wireless local number portability.
The group expects 7 million to 9 million customers to port numbers during the first four months the service is available and predicts a rocky introduction. “WNP introduction will probably be the least cross-carrier tested mass-market launch the United States has ever seen,” the firm stated.
The holiday shopping season, which traditionally kicks off the day after Thanksgiving-just four days after the implementation of the service-will present additional complications for carriers, which will already be dealing with high volumes of customers and potential customers, according to the Yankee Group.
The firm recommends carriers prep call center staffs and hire third party companies to bolster that staff. The group suggests enterprises wait to consider porting numbers and recommends consumers avoid high sales traffic times and days. In addition, both enterprises and consumers should visit carrier stores rather than mass retailers for concerns regarding WLNP, according to the group.
