Yes, there is already quite a bit of flexibility to move with your number. Maybe "loyalty" is not the best word.
What I meant to say is that, right now, my provider is the one who has substantial control over my main id of communication, i.e. phone number. This adds additional friction to move to a different provider, but also move across borders and so on. As my way of communicating moves onto other services, the telcos do not control my id anymore. Everything becomes easier and less friction.
For example, if I could, I would probably buy a data plan from one telco and a phone number from another, and I would experiment with my data much more, shop around etc.
> there is already quite a bit of flexibility to move with your number
Oh yeah?
I've been paying for number portability for I guess at least 30 years.
I was just told by my cell provider this week that as of next month the 3G networks are being shut down and I have to buy a new phone from them.
I said sure, I already have an unactivated no-contract phone I got on clearance, let's transfer my number to that one.
They said, sorry, no can do, you can only transfer the number to a phone you bought from us.
I said wait I've been paying for number transferability, something I didn't even want, for literally decades, and you're saying I can't do it?
In the end I bought a $15 flip phone, switched carriers, and now have a stupid new number.
Number portability is a fiction and a scam. I paid that fee for 30 years and it did nothing. Fuck everyone involved in making me pay for that scam. Almost but not quite as bad as insurance, another total scam that never pays and is designed for suckers.
Are you in the US? I assume not because I have never heard of a "number transferability" fee, in the US it is required that carriers allow numbers to be ported out by law, for free
