
While it's not handing out free passes to dial 411,
AT&T is trialing a free directory assistance program catering to folks looking for a business or service rather than a long-lost sibling. Essentially, users in dire straights, or as AT&T puts it, "at a critical moment in their purchasing decisions," can ring up 1-800-YellowPages to "request a listing for a specific business or type of business." Callers would then be forced to sit through "short audio ads" relevant to their request, or they can be directly connected if they know the specific firm they're looking to spend money with. The trial will present
advertisers with several options of
harassing helping consumers, with the ability to deliver "category / redirect ads, requested ads, or sponsorship ads" depending on the nature of the call. Although details of the deal (read: how much coinage AT&T garners from each successful connection) weren't readily available, this has the makings of being a win-win scenario for businesses needing that extra allure, and folks in Bakersfield, CA, Oklahoma City, OK, and
Columbus, OH can see what the buzz is all about right now.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Robert @ Dec 17th 2006 1:35PM
already gone live, although it be with another company, I been using it for months.
1-800-free-411(1-800-373-3411)
Brian @ Dec 17th 2006 2:13PM
I agree it already went live with 1-800-free-411, and its not just business but for residental listings too. I just starting using it and its really cool. My advice DUMP 411, it cost too much. But heres a bad thing about using 1-800-free-411 it does not work on pay phones, already tried it. It does work on house phones and cells.
Charles @ Dec 17th 2006 5:14PM
free411 is great, and, in addition to telling you the number, it'll text it to your phone :)
Andrew @ Dec 18th 2006 4:23PM
http://www.google.com/intl/en_us/mobile/sms/