The Computer Society of Bermuda (CSB) has given the thumbs up to Government's plans to enable phone users to keep their existing numbers if they transfer networks.

The Ministry of Energy, Telecommunications and E-Commerce, Terry Lister, last week said that the industry working group for the implementation of Local Number Portability - a wireless consumer's ability to change service providers within the same area and retain the same phone number - had agreed on a plan to implement the service in Bermuda using an off switch solution with a central reference database.

But the CSB has warned that there were still some hurdles to be overcome, including cost and switching between providers.

"This is a positive sign that telecommunications is moving forward," the CSB said in its latest "Tidbit" e-mail.

"It is especially good to hear they are listening to the consumers. The only thing that would kill number portability is price."

The CSB said that users would be less likely to utilise the service if the carriers offer voice service decide to set the price high at $60 to $120 per line and should follow the lead of the Cayman Islands, where it is reported charges have been limited to $10 for an initial port and 80 cents per line monthly fee.

It reckons that landlines would be the easiest to change, with the user calling their network to cancel their service and move to another provider and being made to pay a fee to have their number released. Mobile phone numbers would be more challenging, where contracts are concerned, with customers under contract being asked to pay between $400 and $600 to pay off the deal, depending on the provider, and they will also have to unlock their device.

The CSB carried out a survey of its newsletter subscribers, which showed that, of the 100 percent respondents who had a home or mobile phone, 55.6 percent of home phone users were interested in moving their service compared to 88.9 percent of mobile customers.

Meanwhile, 30.4 percent of home users expressed an interest in dropping the service altogether, with 69.6 percent of mobile customers wanting to keep it.