Cell phone users no longer are tied to their carriers because of their phone number. Now, they can switch carriers and take their phone number with them.

Starting today, people within the 100 largest metropolitan areas in the country, which includes DeKalb, can switch wireless carriers and keep their current phone number.

Everyone else will be able to switch carriers while keeping the same number starting March 24.

The Federal Communica-tion Commission is allowing cell phone customers to switch from one cell phone service to another and transfer a cell phone number to a landline or a landline number to a cell phone in the same local area through wireless number portability (WLNP).

Local cell phone stores expect a rush of sales next week.

“Now is the best time to buy a cell phone,” said Tim Norris, co-owner of The Phone Store, 1022 W. Lincoln Highway. “Cell phone companies are getting aggressive with their promotions.”

Because of the WLNP plan, many companies are providing additional promotions to attract new customers and keep their current ones, Norris said.

Not every phone number will be eligible for portability.

“It depends on the market they are in and where the customer lives,” Norris said.

In order to transfer your cell phone number to your home phone number, your cell phone line has to be based in the same area your home line is located in, said Tracy Stholle, director of external communications for Verizon Wireless in Illinois.

Changing from one wireless carrier to another will take only about two-and-a-half hours. But switching landlines and wireless numbers can take several days.

Students who live in the residence halls do not have the option of using room phone numbers as cell phone numbers.

“The NIU number is not a residential number to which the FCC ruling applies,” said Elizabeth Leake, associate director of Information Technology Services Customer Support Services. “It is a business number that residents use when they are assigned to an NIU residence hall room.”

If using residence hall room numbers was an option, some students would consider it.

“I would because it would be convenient to have one number,” said Jessica Knudson, a junior early childhood major.

Cell phone stores suspect the interest in number portability will be mostly from cell phone to cell phone rather than switching landline and cell phone numbers.

“It will affect all carriers because there are always customers angry with the carriers for some reason,” sad Rich Kakkuri, store manager of Advance Communications, 2900 Sycamore Road.

Customer satisfaction varies with the carrier and customer preference.

Monique Gomez plans on changing her carrier from T-Mobile to U.S. Cellular as soon as number portability begins.

“My reception is really bad, and my phone always turns off on me,” she said.

Other cell phone users are satisfied with their current carriers.

“I chose Verizon because I heard that they were good in this area and they have been,” said Amanda Feledy, a senior community health and environmental science major.

Customers who have signed a long-term contract with a carrier will have to pay early termination fees to switch carriers while still in a contract. But no customer can be refused number portability because of a contract or high balances.