Starting Nov. 24, a new rule will go into effect that will revolutionize the cell phone industry, making it possible to switch cell phone services without losing your digits. The original mandate, which was passed by Congress in 1996, will make it so customers who want to change services will no longer also have to change phone numbers.

“The simple truth is that having to change phone numbers presents a barrier to switching carriers, even if not a total barrier, since consumers cannot compare and choose between various service plans and options as efficiently,” said Judge Harry Edwards in a response written for the U.S. Court of Appeals, according to the consumer affairs Web site.

The ruling for Wireless Local Number Portability (WNP) was upheld by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in June 2003, however many wireless companies, including Sprint, did not like the decision.

“The money we have to invest in (number portability) is money we can’t invest in more coverage, more services and better products,” said Sprint spokesman James Fisher in the Wired magazine Web site.

The Cellular and Telecommunications and Internet Association, a lobbying group, says the FCC mandate will cost service providers approximately $500 million per year. Yet while most cell phone companies will feel this financial hit from the change, the ruling is certainly pleasant news for consumers.

“The beneficiary will definitely be the customer,” said Firas Smadi, assistant manager at the Cingular Wireless store on Newbury Street. “However, we were one of the companies that voted for it with the FCC, so we think it will positively affect us. We’re confident in our service.”

Smadi said the company planned to use the new law as an incentive for consumers to switch over to its service.

“[The change] makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside,” said Matt Bouchard, a freshman chemical engineering and physics dual major. “I just got a new number and I don’t want to change it again anytime soon.”

Cell phones are nearly an essential part of life now, said freshman graphic design major Greta Merrick. Many who have never felt the need to own one are beginning to realize the benefit, she said.

“Originally I was opposed to the idea [of having one] because it makes you reachable at all times,” Merrick said. “Now, I’m slowly being convinced otherwise because of how convenient it is, especially as a college student.”

Many students have felt the woes of switching phone numbers, a process which entails notifying not only friends and co-workers, but organizational contact information as well. Knowing a person’s phone number and being able to reach them when needed is becoming a more prevalent need.

“I went from AT’T to T-Mobile,” said Joe Amnawah, a freshman physical therapy major. “It was pretty complicated because I had to transfer my number over and tell people what [the new one] was. If I could have kept my original phone number I would have, but I didn’t have that option.”

Before the ruling customers had to relinquish their old number and take on a new one that would oftentimes wind up being someone else’s old number, creating a hassle for many who were involved.

“I thought about switching services once because I wasn’t too happy with mine,” said Katie Hall, a freshman pharmacy major. “But I was deterred by the fact that it would force me to change my phone number. I always hear stories of people getting new numbers and having random people call them looking for who used to have the number. That would be annoying.”

While many people aim to keep their number, there are some situations where one would want to make a change. When the ruling goes into effect, one will not be forced to keep an old number; there will be complete freedom when it comes to one’s phone number.

“When I moved up here from Atlanta, I decided I should get a ‘617’ number,” said Bouchard. “Verizon made it really easy; they have a whole switching department and I just had to give them authorization.”

The Management Network, a consulting firm, estimates about 24 million customers are expected to change providers by June 2005, according to their Web site. This means that approximately one-sixth of the cell phone market could be shuffled, helping some companies while potentially putting others out of business. In the long run, however, this decision should improve the quality of service consumers can expect out of their wireless carrier.

The ruling will be in place in 100 metropolitan areas, including Boston, starting Nov. 24, and will take effect nationwide on March 24.