How to change mobile operator while keeping your number

What to do before changing operator

To ensure the operator change goes smoothly, before submitting your application, check:

• details of the contract with the current operator. The number must be issued to you, all data in the passport and the contract must match. If your last name or other passport details have changed since the conclusion of the contract, go to the office of the current operator and update the information;
• the region in which the SIM card was registered. Changing the operator while maintaining the number is only possible in the same region (subject of the Russian Federation) where the SIM card was purchased. If you're not sure, check with your current carrier's website;
• no debt or number blocking;
• period of use. You must use the services of your current operator for at least 60 days;
• number format. You won't be able to change your operator while keeping your landline number. First you will have to transfer it to the federal format, and only then submit an application for transfer.

FAQ

How to transfer contacts to a SIM card of Huawei, Samsung, Lenovo, Xiaomi, Meizu, etc.?

Transferring contacts may differ between different phone models and different versions of Android OS. But most often the procedure is performed in the following way:

1. Open your contact list
2. Look for settings or options on the contacts screen (the button may appear as a menu, or three vertical dots)
3. In the settings, look for the “Export” or “export contacts” tab
4. Then select the contacts you want to export and specify the location where to export (for example, “to SIM”).

Some phone models cannot transfer contacts.

Where are contacts stored on the phone, where is the contact file?

The contacts file is stored at /data/data/com.android.providers.contacts/databases.

In this case, access to the file without superuser rights is impossible. The simplest and most accessible way to extract contacts without root rights is described in the instructions “Import/export phone book“.

How to save contacts in Google?

Use the “Sync using Google account” method.

How to find contacts in Gmail?

Contacts are synchronized with the account - Gmail mailbox. Synced contacts are located at contacts.google.com. For more details, see the Google Contacts article.

How to transfer via USB?

You first need to export your contacts to a file with the VCF extension. How to prepare a file and transfer it via USB is described in detail in the instructions “Import/export phone book”.

How to save contacts in phone memory?

• Open the directory application.
• Go to Settings or Import/Export menu.
• Select Import Contacts.
• Specify where to import contacts - phone, as well as the source of import, for example SIM card.
• Mark the contacts you want to transfer and confirm the import.

How to check the memory of an Android SIM card?

1. Open the directory application.
2. Click on the button with three stripes or dots.
3. Select the settings section.
4. In a new window - SIM card memory.

Important! The name of the items in different phone models, as well as the procedure, may differ.

How to apply to change operator

There are two options for applying:

1. In the office of a new operator . Take your passport and 100-200 rubles depending on the operator’s conditions. You can see the specific conditions and amounts of different operators in the table below. At the office, you will need to write an application to change the operator and conclude an agreement for communication services, after which you will receive a new SIM card.
2. On the website of the new operator . Fill out the form on the operator’s website or application. After submitting your application, a consultant will contact you to help you choose a tariff and clarify the necessary information. A new SIM card and contract will be delivered free of charge by the courier at a time convenient for you.

A new SIM card with a temporary number can be activated and used from the moment it is received. You can also still use your old SIM card. After the transition, it will turn off, and the new one will change the temporary number to yours.

Trim the SIM card yourself

It should be borne in mind that this method often leads to the failure of the SIM card.

On the Internet you can find a ready-made template and the exact dimensions of a Micro and Nano format card. All that remains is to mark the SIM card and cut it using improvised means. If at this moment you accidentally touch the contact pad of the card, it will fail. The only way to restore your number is to contact your mobile operator. Everything will go there as described in the first paragraph of this article.

The salon can also cut the SIM using a special tool - this significantly reduces the risk of damage to the card. However, old-style SIM cards with a large contact pad cannot be made smaller than Micro, and they can also be damaged in cell phone stores.

How long to wait for a number change

In most cases, the number is transferred within 8 calendar days. If you need to change your number later, for example, you want to spend money on your account, you can select a different transfer date. The only thing is that it must be no later than 180 days from the date of conclusion of the contract.

If you do not have time to spend the money in your account, it will not be transferred to the balance of the new SIM card. You can return them by applying with your passport to the office of the previous operator.

During the transfer you should receive several SMS notifications:

1. Gratitude for using the service and the date of the planned number porting.
2. Results of preliminary verification of the number. If all the data from the first point matches, the check will be successful.
3. Reminder to change SIM card. This SMS arrives a day before the number is transferred and reminds you at what time this will happen.

Do not plan important calls during the transfer: at the time of the operator change, outgoing calls and SMS may be limited for 30 minutes, and receiving incoming calls and SMS – for six hours.

The above conditions and restrictions are the same for almost all operators. However, there are still slight differences between them.

What to do on the day of number porting?

Within a few hours or days of writing the transfer application, the new operator will send you an SMS indicating the exact time of the transfer. Until this day, you can continue to use your old operator or install a new SIM card - it will have a temporary number.

Message about the date of number transfer from Yota.

Number transfer usually occurs at night - for the convenience of the subscriber. For example, if it is scheduled for Monday, then on Sunday night, remove the old SIM card from the phone and install a new one. In the morning you will be able to use the services of the new operator with the old number. You can throw away your previous operator's SIM card.

What conditions do different operators provide?

I can’t say goodbye: why mobile operators are in no hurry to let customers go

Mobile operators are increasingly trying to retain their subscribers. Every second person who wants to change their service provider but keep their number is denied. Companies sabotage the client's transition to competitors or offer more favorable conditions. These are the statistics from the Central Research Institute of Communications. Vesti FM correspondent Marina Kostyukevich found out how legally, but with benefit for yourself, you can change your telecom operator.

“You can’t be nice by force” – mobile operators are ready to argue with this statement. They are reluctant to let go of subscribers who suddenly decide to go to competitors. According to the Law “On Communications”, the user can do this voluntarily by paying a maximum of 100 rubles. And the new operator must begin providing communication services no later than the 8th day from the date of conclusion of the contract. But as soon as the statement is written, the subscriber perceives an insistent request to stay. Often, to port a number, you need to make more than one attempt. There are several formal reasons, says lawyer and telecommunications law expert Anton Bogatov. And operators actively use this. BOGATOV: Usually operators refuse quite legally. Another thing is that they are in no hurry to deal with this. It is clear that it is beneficial for the operator that the user does not leave or leaves as late as possible. I've encountered this myself. The most common reason for refusal is errors in the passport database. And in this case, the operator quite legally refuses the transition.

A mismatch in passport details, an error in the contract, unpaid bills are reasons not to let the subscriber go to a competitor. And completely legal. The difference of even one letter makes the transfer impossible, confirms press secretary Anna Aibasheva. Hence the not 100 percent satisfied transfer requests. AIBASHEVA: Many people at one time had data entered incorrectly into operator systems. Accordingly, when “Operator 1” sends a request to “Operator 2” and asks that “Operator 2” subscriber transfer to him, there is a data mismatch. Even one letter or number matters.

This is the case when the letter decides a lot. Legally, this is a reason to keep the subscriber with the previous operator. And companies use it. However, subscribers are not lagging behind. Many also use the MNP (number portability) service to negotiate favorable conditions for themselves, says Sergei Potresov, an independent expert in the field of telecommunications and mobile communications. POTRESOV: People write an application to switch to another operator only for the previous operator to offer something. If nothing is offered, then he simply cancels this transition - “well, that means it didn’t work out.” But, as a rule, if it brings money to the operator, then they offer some kind of discounts and special tariffs.

Around what or who are such passions boiling? Why does the subscriber leave for another? There are several reasons: dissatisfaction with the quality of communication (especially when changing regions), a desire to unite with relatives or a wide circle of acquaintances in the same network. But the main reason, of course, is financial. Most are looking for where it is more profitable. And this, of course, annoys mobile operators. Although they “keep face”, assuring that the service is not so popular as to specifically “bind” someone. Only 2% of those who applied. This may be true, but we must admit: not all subscribers, even from this small number, are ready to say goodbye to all subscribers, notes Sergei Potresov. CONCERNS: Subscribers with good monthly income will experience more problems when trying to switch to another operator. If a person pays 3 kopecks a month for one call, then they will also kiss him on the cheek and say: “Goodbye, dear!” And if a subscriber brings 600 - 800 rubles, or even more, then, of course, the operator is extremely uninterested in letting him go.

Some companies, however, honestly admit that it is not easy for them to let clients go to competitors. And they can reject applications for no apparent reason – sometimes even without indicating the reason for the refusal. After all, sometimes clients, after yet another unreasonable refusal from MNP, simply give up and remain with the old operator. Companies don't see any drama in this. They fight for subscribers using accessible and legal tools. They give the subscriber time to change his mind, offer new favorable conditions or a discount. In some cases, this approach works - the client remains with his old operator. Moreover, porting a number is associated with a number of inconveniences. For example, during the first few days, not all SMS may reach the subscriber. Among them are messages from banks, including confirmation codes for card transactions.

What keeps subscribers from switching to a competitor is the rather long period of number porting - it takes from 3 to 7 days. And all this is according to the law. The conditions are always specified in the contract, lawyers remind. Therefore, it is advised to approach the choice of operator very carefully and read all the points.