As the Nov. 24 deadline to implement wireless local number portability closes in, carriers are hashing service level agreements to smooth the porting of consumers’ phone numbers between them. The latest agreements are among T-Mobile USA Inc and the five other nationwide carriers.
An agreement between AT&T Wireless and T-Mobile USA includes business rules and trouble-shooting procedures. AT&T Wireless said it is in the final stages of testing its LNP-related systems with other wireless carriers.
“Today’s announcement marks our first porting agreement with another carrier,” said Doug Brandon, vice president of federal affairs for AT&T Wireless. “It is the latest of the many steps we have taken to prepare for LNP.”
Cingular Wireless also signed an SLA with T-Mobile USA. It is Cingular’s second SLA.
“We’ve spent tens of millions of dollars readying our systems, networks and customer care personnel, and we continue to work cooperatively with carriers to agree on standards that are in the best interest of our customers,” said Adam Vital, vice president of wireless operations and support at Cingular Wireless.
In addition, T-Mobile USA signed an agreement with Nextel Communications Inc. that defines the process the carriers will follow when porting phone numbers. Nextel describes this deal as its third SLA on WLNP.
“With less than a month to go before the deadline, Nextel is doing everything it can to make sure customers can easily port their phone numbers with confidence,” said Mark Schweitzer, senior vice president of marketing for Nextel. The other carriers that have signed SLAs with Nextel include Spint PCS and Cingular Wireless.
T-Mobile also signed agreements with Verizon Wireless and Sprint PCS.
