Tech Four major mobile providers to improve mobile number portability

[thomas]

NTT Docomo Inc., KDDI Corp., SoftBank Corp., Rakuten Mobile Inc. and some low-cost mobile virtual network operators agreed on facilitating the procedures to switch to another mobile phone provider without changing phone numbers. They decided to implement simplified procedures for the "mobile number portability" (MNP) system, which allows customers to switch carriers while keeping their phone numbers, from late May. Users are currently required to do paperwork with both their current carrier and the new one when changing.

Users are currently required to do paperwork with both their current carrier and the new one when switching. The difficulties include customers having to obtain an MNP reservation number with their current carrier. They then must sign a contract for a new subscription with their new carrier using that reservation number. It takes time and work for anyone hoping to switch. Mobile providers also usually try to stem customers' exoduses to other carriers, which would make it difficult for the MNP system to take off. Under the new system starting from late May, however, users will only need to visit the carrier to which they are switching. They can also receive explanations regarding canceling their current provider with their new carrier. This eliminates any need to work with their current carrier, enabling a one-stop transfer.

We switched to a new mobile phone provider last year who took care of all the required procedures. To be sure, it took over three hours (including upgrades to the latest model), but they kept the paperwork to a bare minimum.

The communications ministry has requested that switching be simplified to spur competition in the mobile phone market. The ministry hopes the new system will make it easier for the elderly to switch mobile carriers, too. [...] In October that year, mobile carriers were also banned from locking cellphone SIM cards, in principle, which otherwise would have restricted customers to only certain companies' communications.

New setup to let users more easily switch carriers, keep numbers | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

 

[Majestic]

Mrs. Majestic did this once about 4 years ago, and it wasn't particularly troublesome, although it did require a visit to the AU store. I think she was so happy with the new low-cost service, that the visit to the shop was quickly forgotten. Anyway, if the process will become even simpler, so much the better.