When number portability for cell phones was introduced late 2003, early 2004, it was a great move for consumers. You could switch carriers and not think about having to call every single one of your friends to let them know about your new number. It basically allowed you to have a number for life.
I believe it was also around the same time that they started introducing the 2 year cell phone contract. Get a 2 year contract and save extra money on the phone. I believe 1 year was the norm back then. Then, the 1 year contract started disappearing, it was the providers way of locking you back into their system.
These days, it’s really difficult to get a 1 year contract. Try going to Cingular or T-Mobile’s website. Everything on there is a 2 year contract. Sure, you can still get a 1 year contract, but you have to call them and then no deals on the phones at all. Not even a prorated discount. I think Verizon is the only one that has a 1 year option on their website.
I’m writing all this because my phone is dying. My 2 year contract is ending sometime in October, which leaves me about 2 months from now. I don’t need a 1 year contract, I’ll be happy with an 18 month contract. How about giving consumers a choice? I’ll gladly pay a little bit more for the phone if I can get an 18 month contract.
I don’t think anything is going to change from now until October when I’ll be signing another 2 year contract, but it’s nice to dream at least.