From the O2 web site:

Please note that you will need to obtain a new mobile number as we cannot transfer an existing O2 business number to an iPhone. We’re sorry for the inconvenience.

(Click on the “Business and Corporate Customers” tab to see it.)

What an extraordinary statement. What’s so special about business users that their numbers can’t be portable to an iPhone? And why on earth would O2 want to give the business users - the ones that tend to pay more money - a lesser service?

Saying “we’re sorry for the inconvenience” probably won’t be enough. Most business people depend on their phones, and they depend on their established phone numbers too.