People dissatisfied with their cellular phone service but unwilling to change their phone number will soon be able to switch companies without sacrificing their current information.

The Federal Communications Commission has given the OK to allow local number portability, also known as LNP, beginning Monday. Once it takes effect, LNP will offer cell phone owners more freedom and more control over their cellular service. People will also have the option to rely on either a cell phone or a landline by allowing the transfer of either number to the other phone.

The start date for LNP had been delayed several times due to industry opposition to the system's original purpose, said Carolyn Schamberger, spokesperson for Verizon Wireless. Verizon initially opposed the FCC's proposed plan — which was to encourage competition within the cell phone industry — and fought LNP alongside other companies, but was later one of the first companies to accept the FCC's decision, Schamberger said.

Verizon realized "this was going to happen," Schamberger said, and decided "to devote all its resources to making the process as easy and seamless as possible for customers."

Lou Brazzoni, U.S. Cellular's director of sales, agreed that in planning for LNP's start date, cell phone companies should focus on the customer and on being fully prepared once the practice is allowed.

U.S. Cellular spent $50 million preparing new computer programs and employees, Brazzoni said. Sales representatives at stores around the country also went through "extensive training throughout the year to help prepare" for LNP.

At Verizon, Schamberger said, $60 million has been devoted to making the company LNP-ready. A new call center was built in Tennessee with "additional staff who are specially trained to handle problems" that occur with LNP, she said.

"We'll be ready come Nov. 24," Schamberger said.

Other cellular companies will also be prepared for LNP's launch. T-Mobile USA, Inc., employees were rigorously trained to handle the company's new LNP-geared computer system.

Daniel Ossenfort, a retail sales representative at the T-Mobile store in Mayfair Mall in Wauwatosa, said he and other sales representatives had to take training courses and quizzes to ensure their proficiency with the new programs. However, they "haven't had time to test the system yet" and are not sure how well it will adjust to the initial influx or outflow of customers.

"I'm assuming it'll be kind of a headache" at first, Ossenfort said.

If a customer does decide to switch cellular companies or change their landline number to their cell phone number, it will take some time before the change is made. Ossenfort said it would take a few hours to switch cellular companies, and up to a few days to complete the landline transaction.

Customers are also encouraged to be out of contract with their previous company before switching to a new one, Ossenfort said. If they are still under their former company's contract, they may face cancellation charges ranging from $150 to $200.