Optus cuts Vodafone MNP grass - News - Communications

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This story was printed from ZDNet Australia.
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Optus cuts Vodafone MNP grass

By Byron Kaye, ZDNet Australia
September 26, 2001
URL: http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/communications/soa/Optus-cuts-Vodafone-MNP-grass/0,130061791,120260707,00.htm

Australia's second largest carrier, Optus, has chimed in over the MNP activities of rival Vodafone, saying it can switch customers from prepaid to contract billing under mobile number portability rules introduced yesterday.

Vodafone, the country's third largest carrier, yesterday told ZDNet Australia it was -not technically possible" for customers on prepaid accounts to switch to contract accounts without changing carriers - a catch described by the Australian Consumers' Association as -a fabulous way to lose customers".

According government mandate, mobile number portability allows mobile customers to change carriers without changing numbers.

An Optus spokeswoman conceded it was difficult to switch its customers from prepaid accounts to contract accounts internally.

However, she said the company would offer the service, despite difficulties associated with the switch.

The carrier had even set up a support team to instruct customers through administrative processes required to make the switch, she said.

-It's tricky, but we believe it is possible," she said. -It can be done. We can make it happen."

Vodafone was unable to confirm when, if at all, it would be able to switch its prepaid account customers to contracts.

Disclaimer: Byron Kaye is a Vodafone customer.