"That would be awesome. I would definitely like that." Bree Fahrenfeld is talking about wireless number portability (WNB), being able to keep the cell number you've given out to family and friends when you switch wireless companies.

You can't do that yet. But come Thanksgiving, unless Congress grants a new delay, it will happen, and the frenzy may begin. Some analysts suggest a lot of people have wanted to change wireless companies because of poor coverage or customer service, but didn't because they would lose "their" number.

Under the current situation, wireless companies are "given" a pot of numbers to use and track by the company that oversees all of the telephone numbers in North America. And when you trade in your Cingular service for Sprint, the number stays with Cingular to be re-issued. It's their number to have and to hold. That changes with WNB.

Brian Belforte works for Acumen Solutions, a Northern Virginia communications consulting firm. It's helping wireless companies get ready for number portability. He says the wireless companies must change the way they've been doing business, educate their employees and the public. And all of this has a price tag. "The industry alone will spend upwards of a billion dollars to implement the functionality initially, and then possible spend up to 500 million dollars each year thereafter just maintaining the functionality."

The wireless industry has successfully delayed number portability for several years, and still insists it will divert money improving wireless networks and in providing locator information to 911 centers when people call in on cell phones. Tom Wheeler heads the Cellular Communications and Internet Association (CTIA): "There is a finite amount of money available out there. Are you going to spend the money on public safety, or are you going to spend that money on consumer convenience? And you gotta make choices."

The FCC is not inclined to grant another stay. FCC Chairman Michael Powell told a news conference that "I am going to be committed to the notion that we not going to delay anything prematurely. We're not going to vary from this path."

Who will pay for it? Belforte and others suggest companies may ask us to sign longer contracts, maybe three years. They also may raise and strictly enforce early termination fees, and perhaps charge a fee to transfer the number to the new carrier. I asked cell phone user Tonya Nelson about paying to keep the same number. (IJ) Would you be willing to pay to be able to switch and keep that same number?

"Depending on what the price is. If it's 5 dollars, yeah. But you know, if they want to charge you 20, outrageous prices, no," said Nelson.

The FCC mandate also permits moving your wireline number to the wireless world, and twenty-something Ana Ryan likes the idea: "I can just go wherever I want, and I don't have to worry about an answering machine, and anyone can reach me at any time."

A couple of technical and legal problems have to be worked out to make that happen, but it's probably will, as telephone numbers go flying from carrier to carrier, from wired to wireless and vice versa.