FONGO_kris wrote:I'll see what can be done about a number eligability check of some sort, I certainly see it's usefulness. It's a matter of finding someone with enough time to spare to have it built and kept updated, sinec we're in the middle of a big transition, spare time is scarcely had by anyone.
Kris: I would second this, even if it is a tax on resources, as it would be EXTREMELY useful for potential customers to check to see if they are ELIGIBLE to port.
As for the database, the initial set up would be the hard part, but the maintenance should be simple if it is done as POP's are added, and as the tariff is updated --- I am assuming that whatever has been put in place to update the tariff could also parse the data of new NPA-NXX's in POP'd-areas, so that a simple NPA-NXX lookup would determine eligibility .... and tied into the tariff system, adding a new POP (which would add the LCA to free calling) would also be easy ...
I hope I am not oversimplifying things ....
Obviously, there is the raw data somewhere .... so then you would have an output something like this:
<NPA><NXX><PROV><R-CTR><CARRIER><LCA><RATE><POP Y/N><PORT Y/N>
604--594--BC--Newton--Telus--METRO VANCOUVER--FREE--noPOP--port
604--831--BC--Vancouver--Telus Mobility--METRO VANCOUVER--FREE--POP--port
604--850--BC--Abbotsford--Telus--ABBOTSFORD--FREE--noPOP--noPORT
604--795--BC--Chilliwack--Telus--CHILLIWACK--$0.02--noPOP--noPORT
Or something along those lines ....
Someone would need to know things, such as that in the Metro Vancouver area, even though FPL POP's are only technically in the ratecentres of VANCOUVER, RICHMOND, NEW WESTMINSTER, NORTH VANCOUVER, WEST VANCOUVER, there is full portability within the WHOLE LCA, and numbers out of NEWTON for example, can be ported to/from VANCOUVER or any of the other cities within that LCA .....
But those fine points aside, yes, an online checker of eligibility would be awesome and should receive serious consideration, even if it is AFTER the big transition is done!
And --- we do need to somehow get the tariff up to speed too -- poor Steve is still manually bailing out the leaky ship!