Phone Number Portability Explained

Phone number portability has changed the way we think about area codes and phone numbers. This service allows you to keep your phone number when switching carriers or moving to a different location.

Introduced in 2003, local number portability (LNP) gives consumers the freedom to switch service providers without losing their established phone number. This has been particularly valuable for businesses that rely on their phone number for customer recognition.

Wireless number portability followed in 2004, allowing cell phone users to keep their numbers when changing carriers. This made the mobile phone market more competitive and gave consumers more options.

The impact on area codes has been significant. Since people can keep their numbers when moving, area codes no longer reliably indicate where someone is physically located. A person with a 212 (New York) area code might be living in California.

This portability has both benefits and drawbacks. While it provides convenience and continuity, it also makes it harder to identify the geographic origin of calls, which can be useful for avoiding spam or identifying local callers.