Iowans may soon have the ability to transfer their cell phone numbers from one provider to another. On Monday, carrying over cell phone numbers from one wireless company to another is supposed to be possible in the nation’s largest markets, but Michelle Groves, U-S Cellular’s Iowa sales manager, says it’ll be a few more months before the change takes effect in Iowa.Groves says only the top 100 markets will begin making the switch on November 24. The change takes effect in Iowa and the rest of the country on May 24. Groves says U-S Cellular has hired one-thousand more employees and trained all sales associates in how to work with customers who want to switch providers but keep their cell phone number. Groves says it will ultimately benefit customers because it offers more choices. The industry is still divided on whether to back the new F-C-C rules and a couple of lawsuits have been filed to try to block implementation of the number switching rules. Some analysts predict snarls if a massive amount of customers switch carriers and try to keep their current numbers.
Iowa's Radio News Network
