The Change Mariner

One Phone Number for Land and Wireless?

Silicon Valley.com

Taking any phone number with you wherever you move is a new twist to the number portability rules being scrutinized by federal regulators.

In November, cell phone customers will be able to keep their numbers if they change wireless carriers. Now, the Federal Communications Commission is considering allowing customers to keep the same number if they move from a traditional phone service to wireless.

If the FCC approves the change, wireless carriers can woo customers away from using wired service.

Those are fighting words to traditional phone carriers.

``You can't do it,'' said Richard Notebaert, chief executive of Qwest Communications, the Denver-based phone company. ``It's not technically possible.''

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