collision detection: Verizon sez: You can't sell phone numbers

February 17, 2004

Verizon sez: You can't sell phone numbers

By now, you've probably heard about the guy who put his mobile phone number -- 867-5309 -- up for sale on Ebay. Since that's the number made famous by the Tommy Tutone hit song, it has been receiving massive bids: When I last checked in, it was going for $80,700. When I blogged about this a few days ago, I noted that customers do not actually own their phone numbers, and suspected that the phone company might step in and say, "hold it, we ought to get any cash for the sale here."

Whaddya know. In an interview with Newsday, Verizon said such sales aren't allowed:

But there's a question of whether the number can even be transferred to the winner once the auction ends Feb. 22. Verizon says there's no question: It can't. Individuals do not have ownership of the numbers given to them, a Verizon spokesman said.

... and sure enough, if you check the item itself, it's been taken down.

(Thanks to Boing Boing for this one!)

Posted by Clive Thompson at February 17, 2004 11:30 AM

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Comments

It should be written on the contract or decided in a precedent case (for you anglo-saxons) if you can't sell the rights the contract grants you.

But I guess there will be a small note somwhere saying "...All the rights not explicitly mentioned are not granted..." So, probably, they would win in a court of justice...

Any lawyers around?

Posted by: Mario at February 18, 2004 3:38 AM

I'm not a lawyer, but yeah, I'm pretty sure you're right on this one.

Posted by: Clive at February 18, 2004 10:35 AM

I'm sure that Verizon was well within their rights to prevent the sale, but it would be nice if more American companies could loosen up a little and learn to have fun. They can always change their minds and disallow the practice of selling numbers if it turns out that people are getting into phone number speculation, but it would be fun to see some famous ones go up for auction every few years. It would also bring the cell phone companies some free publicity, and positive publicity at that! They can't even pay for that these days...

Posted by: Anonymous at March 12, 2004 11:33 AM

From a marketing standpoint, Verizon was pretty stupid for blocking the sale. I mean, out of $80,000 they could've at least promoted the heck out of it for half that -- make a deal with the subscriber, split it in half, make a promo gig out of it or something. But, NO, the idiots at Verizon had to prove they had sticks up their butts. I hated GTE, and I hate Verizon. ON NEXTEL, ON CINGULAR, ON SPRINT, ON AT&T--TO THE TOP OF THE CHARTS, TO THE TOP OF THE WALL, NOW DASH AWAY, DASH AWAY, DASH AWAY ALL!

Adi�s, Verizon!

Posted by: Jimmy at May 3, 2004 4:53 AM

Hi,

We sell all models of mobile phones at cheap and affordable prices, please feel free to contact us for further details.

Regards,
Jennifer.
nokiacellworld@yahoo.com

Posted by: jennifer Alex at July 7, 2004 11:59 AM

Mens agitat molem - The mind moves the matter. (Vergil)

Posted by: Anonymous at July 7, 2004 4:24 PM

You can't sell your mobile phone number
BUT YOU CAN SELL OUR UK NUMBERS!

New business opportunity reselling UK toll free, local rate and premium rate non-geographic numbers.

FREE to join affiliate programme and white label business proposition at www.Lamtha2Telecom.co.uk

Posted by: Lamtha2 at August 6, 2004 8:57 AM

I just want you to know that this ad is a scam.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Hi,

We sell all models of mobile phones at cheap and affordable prices, please feel free to contact us for further details.

Regards,
Jennifer.
nokiacellworld@yahoo.com
Posted by: jennifer Alex on July 7, 2004 11:59 AM
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Posted by: Secret at August 24, 2004 9:39 AM