So, Ofcom has mandated that a central database for ported numbers should be established no later than 1st September 2009. At the moment, calls to a ported number go to the original network and are forwarded to the new network.

With the new database, calls will go directly to the new network. This means that if the previous network fails, the customer can still receive calls on their ported number.

My question is that if you have ported your number before the database is in use, will you be moved over into the database or will the numbers that have already ported have to stick with the old method of having their calls forwarded?

Someone posted on here that when it starts it will be for new ports. Then existing ports will be gradually added. But no mention was made of time-scale. I would imagine this would need to be done very carefully to prevent numbers being lost.

I think the networks would lose millions of customers if they lost their numbers!

not really. If lots of people lose their number then they'll be pretty angry but it's not as if they're going to stop using a mobile.

I don't think the networks will lose any numbers to be honest. I'm sure there'll be backup systems in place and facilities to transfer the numbers into the database.

Or, the numbers might stay as they are, with calls forwarded, and the next time the number is ported from one network to another, added to the database then.

Phone numbers have been changed in the past, and the sky didnt collapse.

The last time numbers changed, there were probably less than a quarter of mobile users compared to the amount these days.