Planning to buy RCom's iPhone 5? Here's how you can port your number

For a technology geek and handset enthusiast, the best thing that happened this Diwali could be Reliance Communications' iPhone offer. And, if we go by the voices on the street, many are availing this offer. This means, if Reliance Communication is not your current mobile service provider, you have to switch to it from the current service provider. This is no big deal thanks to mobile number portability (MNP), which allows you to shift service provider without changing your number.

For the benefit of those who want to make this switch, here is a quick guide on MNP:

[caption id=“attachment_1174641” align=“alignright” width=“380”]  Apple’s iPhone 5s is seen in this file photo. Reuters[/caption]

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1) MNP allows you to switch across technology and also retain your current mobile number. You can switch between GSM service providers, from GSM to CDMA and vice versa. You can also port from post-paid to pre-paid and vice versa.

2. Here is the step by step process:

* First send an SMS ‘PORT’ your mobile number to 1900.

* In return you get an eight digit alpha-numeric code and an expiry date for that code. This code is called as Unique Porting Code or UPC.

* Visit any of the outlets of the service provider to which you want to shift. Do all necessary paperwork (address proof, identity proof and copy of last paid bill, etc). Do not forget to mention the UPC and your mobile number on your application form.

* Do this before the code expires.

The operators put your porting request to the clearing house. Clearing house gets into action at the backend, and deactivates your number from the original provider and activates to the new one.

3. Once the clearing house activates your number in the new service provider’s network, you will get an SMS from the new service provider stating the date and time when your mobile phone will experience a no-service period of a few hours, mostly at night. Within a few hours your mobile number will be ported.

4. The entire process would take a week or so.

5. If you are a post-paid customer ensure that you have cleared all the bills till date. If you have any dues pending, your request for porting the number could be rejected. If you are a pre-paid customer, you won’t be able to carry you balance to the new provider.

6. You need not pay a bomb for porting the number, It costs only Rs 19 and you would need to pay that to the new service provider.

Now that you know how to port the mobile number, go ahead and make that switch.