Canada Cell Phone Users Set Free

It is a happy day for Canadian mobile/landlines users. Finally, Canada enables all phone customers to change carriers but keep their existing numbers. As long as it's within the same calling area, you can switch your carriers (with the best calling plans) and keep your existing phone number. The change, mandated by the federal regulator 18 months ago, frees us from the shackles of their current wireless providers. It is probably old news to most developed countries, but today we finally catch up with the rest of the world.

Canada's wireless phone industry is dominated by three major players: Telus, Bell, and Rogers, but also includes smaller carriers such as Virgin Mobile. Bell refused comment on the impact of number portability, Rogers said it will be "business as usual" while Telus called the change a "positive" opportunity. Virgin's Branson respond with his latest stunt to promote business by going in a tiny jail cell suspended by a crane and "break himself free". Can't find any Youtube/Google Video yet (that would be good for viral marketing).

On a side note, many people probably do not know that Canadian cellphone users are paying more than people in any other developed country. A study shows that the average cellphone bill in Canada is one-third more than it is in the United States and the highest of 30 countries in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.

The wireless service costs slowed the widespread use of mobile phone, with only has 56 cellphones in use for every 100 Canadians. The United States has 75 in use for every 100 Americans, while Britain and Germany have 102.2 and 86.4 in use per 100 people respectively.

I'll search for a better calling plan with other carriers now :)