[kaosv10]

I apologize in advance for my general naiveté regarding this subject matter. My situation is as follows:

Personal phone: T-mobile Motorola V300, contract expired
Office phone: brand new Cingular BB 7100g with BES and large voice plan

I would like to terminate my T-mobile service since my office phone is free and has a more than adequate plan. I would like to port my T-Mobile phone number to work on my BB with Cingular. However, Cingular says it cannot assign a ported number to a device that has an existing number; nor can it assign the number to the device even if I deactivate the current Cingular account and start a new one. The only solution offered is to get another BB or other mobile phone and port my T-Mobile number to it.

Is this true? Do I have any other options?

Thank you!
Newbie

[Aroc]

No your rep is clueless. You'll probably have to pay some extra fees (maybe have to another $36 activation and some other charges related to a number port, since BB has been active for a while) but you can port it over anytime.

I'd ask to be transferred to a new rep with a clue or find the number for the number portability department and call them directly.

[earpon]

That is the most crappy information I've ever read. You should be able to port another number and replace an existing number. We always do that in T-Mobile.

[kaosv10]

Thank you both for the help. I called and asked for a portability specialist this morning. The port took 8 minutes to order and should be complete within 4 - 6 hours. I also asked the lady to inform the customer service rep I spoke with yesterday (recorded in Cingular's call log) that he doesn't know of what he speaks. The funny part is that a supervisor was listening in to the call placed yesterday and she didn't correct the rep either.

Oh - $.02. T-Mobile has been great. They waived my early termination fee and were very helpful. The service for the year or so I've had T-Mobile has also been very good. I hope Cingular lives up to that standard.

Thanks again for the help. I had a feeling I was getting bad info from Cingular the first time and I'm glad I posted here.

Best,
BB Newbie