Cell C introduces porting via SMS
Available 24 hours a day only to prepaid customers, SMS Porting enables potential customers to join the Cell C network without having to go via the call centre or physically walking into a Cell C store.
SMS porting comes live nine months after the much-anticipated launch of mobile number portability (MNP) – which effectively freed customers from being restricted to one network operator in order to retain their mobile number.
Said Shenanda Janse van Rensburg, Executive Head of Corporate Communications, Cell C: “In the interest of fair competition, we believe that customers’ choices of a cellular network provider should be based on quality service offerings and value for money products to suit their lifestyle and needs as well as on freedom from being tied to any one network. It is for this reason that we have enhanced the porting method by introducing SMS porting.”
The new SMS porting requires a few steps by the subscriber:
- Buy a Cell C starter pack at any Cell C participating outlet.
- Send a port request via SMS as follows: “#portme” together with the “mobile number” printed on the Cell C starter pack purchased i.e. “#portme#084 123 4567” to 084PORT2US (084 76 78 2 87).
- The customer will immediately receive an SMS notification confirming receipt of their port request.
When the request to port is sent during working hours, subscribers receive feedback on whether their port request has been accepted or rejected.
Only once they receive an SMS notification confirming that their port request has been successful or approved can they remove their current SIM card and activate the Cell C starter pack to start enjoying the services unique to the Cell C network.
It is important to note that ported customers will retain their old number. The Cell C starter pack is simply a means of linking them to their new network operator.
Since the launch of MNP, Cell C and its joint venture partner Virgin Mobile South Africa (VMSA) have consistently remained net-gainers with over 40,096 customers having ported into the Cell C network.
“We have introduced a variety of products and services to ensure that our customers derive maximum value from being part of the Cell C family. This is evidenced by the growth in the company’s total subscriber connections which improved by 27% to 3, 4 million active subscribers during the first half of 2007. We are confident that the customers who switch to Cell C will find immense satisfaction from our newest and most popular Woza Weekend offering, which allows subscribes to talk for free on weekends," concluded Janse van Rensburg
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