Thanks to handy numbers deal, cellphone users ring in new era
By Beth Teitell
Wednesday, November 26, 2003
A friend and I were hiking Newbury Street on Monday when we heard a cellphone ringing. ``Is that you or me?'' she asked, as we rummaged through our respective backpacks.
``It's me,'' I said.
Well, not me me. But the familiar chirp that's practically part of me.
Jobs end, marriages break up, even Paris Hilton's publicity run will draw to a close.
But now, thanks to rules that went into effect on Monday, allowing mobile customers to switch providers while keeping their phone numbers, your number will always be with you, whether you change from chirp to chimes.
``It's like your Social Security number, but even more important,'' a cellphone addict told me.
As my husband said, thinking of one of his friends with a killer mobile number, ``He's so lucky - he'll have that number for the rest of his life.''
The rest of his life, I thought. That's better than a pension plan (and more certain, too).
Becoming obsessed myself with the national obsession with numbers, I called a marketing executive who once worked for a wireless company and asked him about the psychological importance of number portability.
``Think about it,'' he said, ``The cellphone number stays with you through thick and thin. It's like a friend. You can change jobs and stuff, but it's always there. It always helps people reach you.''
Although he hasn't worked in the wireless industry in a while, I could tell he was starting to get kind of choked up. (Either that or his cellphone signal was fading.)
``It provides continuity,'' he said. ``The older you get, and the more places you live, after a while you start to forget some of your own former numbers. Except for the two pillars: Your family number when you were a kid, and your mobile number.''
Not only can you remember it, of course, but others identify it with you, and not just because they're calling it. The growing number of caller IDs out there means your number often precedes you. It's your calling card.
I was starting to get kind of choked up myself, thinking about what a wonderful wireless world we live in, when a colleague with a healthy relationship with her cellphone - she considers it just a way to communicate with others and nothing more - happened by my desk.
As far as she's concerned, number portablity is fine, but she'd prefer address portablitity. ``If you once lived in Louisburg Square - even with roommates - you could keep that address on your stationery,'' she said.
Now if Verizon could make that a reality, I'd stay with them forever. Or at least until another provider offered me more anytime minutes.
