As Verizon Hikes 411 Cost, Rival Offers a Free Tryout

By Peter J. Howe, Globe Staff | March 28, 2005

As Verizon prepares to nearly quadruple the price for calling 411 Friday, to $1.25, a North Carolina company that sells a discount directory-assistance alternative plans a big promotion: free calls for everyone in Massachusetts for the day.

Starting Friday, barring a highly unlikely last-minute intervention by state regulators, Verizon is raising the price for calling 411 to $1.25 from 34 cents. Customers will, however, continue to get 10 free calls a month before they start paying the fee.

In response, 411Saver, a company based in Maggie Valley, N.C., plans to offer unlimited free directory assistance calls to Bay State residents between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Friday. It is setting up a special number for the day: 1-866-MASS-411 (1-866-627-7411).

[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Here at the Digest, we offer a directory assistance alternative which is quite affordable and easy to use. Plus which, the Digest benefits from your use of the service.

DIRECTORY ASSISTANCE JUST 65 CENTS ONE OR TWO INQUIRIES CHARGED TO YOUR CREDIT CARD! REAL TIME, UP TO DATE! SPONSORED BY TELECOM DIGEST AND EASY411.COM SIGN UP AT

!

Just as an example of how it works, at the above link, you register the telephone number or numbers you normally call from. Then ANI is used to capture that number each time you use the toll free number. It is a real, live, up to date service bureau, meaning changes and new additions are updated at least once per day. To hear a sample directory assistance call, listen to

You just dial the 800 number (maybe assign it to a speed dial position) then give your one or two requests. Your credit card (based on the information you give them when you register for the service) gets billed 65 cents each time around, in reasonable billing increments with no minimum charges of any kind. Instead of dialing '411' for directory, you use our 800 number. And, the Digest gets a few cents 'commission' on each call you make. No equipment or any changes needed to your phone system, except you may with to put it on a speed dial entry. Let me know how it works for you if you choose to use it. PAT]