Qatar residents will soon be able to switch mobile phone providers without losing their numbers, ictQatar has announced.

Acknowledging that the process has taken longer than expected, an ictQatar official said mobile number portability should happen by the summer of 2012.

“We initially thought we could do it by the year-end,” the official told Gulf Times.

“It is a multi-stakeholder process. Systems for number portability will have to be implemented. We are in the final stages of implementing those (systems) with the respective operators (Qtel and Vodafone).”

Interesting development! I think I’d be more likely to try out Vodafone services if I didn’t have to go through the hassle of getting/sharing a new number with everyone.

Is this a game changer for anyone else?