[baldrick]

Ok, if everything goes to plan I should be moving to the US for 2 years with work.

I'm currently 4 months into an iPhone contract and I'm wondering if anyone knows what the options are for freezing a contract etc... as I don't want to loose my current number?

[planetzed]

Apart from speaking with the service provider and seeing what deal they will cut, the next best option is to port the number to virgin payg, have it set to pay by direct debit (this doubles the timeout) then a call only has to be made once a year to keep the number active. I mention virgin becauce it has the longest timeout, some are 3 months others 6.. and being payg, pay by direct debit you only get charged for the calls you use and there is no worry about having to top up.
cheers
j

[dds14]

Originally Posted by baldrick

Ok, if everything goes to plan I should be moving to the US for 2 years with work.

I'm currently 4 months into an iPhone contract and I'm wondering if anyone knows what the options are for freezing a contract etc... as I don't want to loose my current number?

they might freeze it given your situation but given that the contracts available in 2 years when you return will most likely be far superior then you'd be paying a lot for a much reduced contract.

seeing as you're moving with work, you should ask them to pay it off (after all, you can't help moving) then do the suggested advice above to get the number on PAYG so you can keep it.

[baldrick]

Originally Posted by planetzed

Apart from speaking with the service provider and seeing what deal they will cut, the next best option is to port the number to virgin payg, have it set to pay by direct debit (this doubles the timeout) then a call only has to be made once a year to keep the number active. I mention virgin becauce it has the longest timeout, some are 3 months others 6.. and being payg, pay by direct debit you only get charged for the calls you use and there is no worry about having to top up.
cheers
j

Is it then quite simple to port back?

[planetzed]

yes, you can port your number from one provider to another whenever you like.. I've moved my originaly orange number several times, there may be a minimum period (check the TnC of the provider you port to) but if you plan 2 years there should be no problem