Kenya to get Mobile Number Portability

According to the Communications Commission of Kenya, mobile number portability (MNP) was to be introduced in that country in July 2010 and I sincerely hope it is a success for consumers in that lovely country, especially after a frustrating 30 minutes spent trying to port my prepaid number at Menlyn in Pretoria today. The highlight was being informed by one of the official Vodacom outlets that porting can only be done on weekdays, 8am to 5pm! Kenya's version of our subscriber-registration diktat (RICA), which caused some of my problems this morning, seems a bit more rational. According to Safaricom's website, post-paid contract customers do not need to do anything (since, logically, Safaricom already has their details) and students may use a student card to register. A once-off fee, presumably regulated, of around R18 is to be charged for porting in Kenya. Haba na haba, hujaza kibaba.

Sources

http://www.cck.go.ke/news/2010/news_30june10.html
http://www.safaricom.co.ke/index.php?id=1442

Meksiko kan per SMS selfoonnommer registreer, 25m doen dit nie

In Meksiko, soos in Suid-Afrika met die RICA-wetgewing, moet nuwe selfoongebruikers hulle persoonlike gegewens by die regering registreer en het bestaande gebruikers tyd gekry tot 'n bepaalde datum om dít te doen. Alhoewel Meksikane dié registrasie kon doen deur net 'n SMS te stuur met hulle federal ID-nommer (die sogenaamde CURP), is 31% van die lyne in Meksiko nie geregistreer nie en die sperdatum was Saterdag die 10e. Volgens 'n berig in La Jornada moet die selfoonmaatskappye nou begin om ongeregistreerde gebruikers se diens te beëindig. Dit kan natuurlik maklik wees dat die 25m lyne ter sprake grotendeels tweede of derde SIM-kaarte verteenwoordig en nie primêre gebruikers nie, wat 'n baie interessante refleksie sal wees op die statistieke waarmee die selfoonmaatskappye só graag spog.

Die prentjie hierbo is deur die Flickr-gebruiker Venturist en die twee webbladsye in Spaans waarna verwys word, is ook beskikbaar by http://www.webcitation.org/5ovObv6Uf en http://www.webcitation.org/5ovOpIDoH.