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Is There A Cell Phone Directory?

Every few months I will either receive or be handed an email with the announcement that cell phone numbers will be released to telemarketers or that they will be released into a cell phone directory.

While there are some who would enjoy that possibly of cell phones being part of a directory, at this point that idea is nothing more than an email floating around and upsetting some users.

A few years ago there was a movement to create a cell phone directory. While many of the cellular carriers were in favor of this, VerizonWireless from the beginning was against the practice. With concerns from the public being raised to their governmental legislators and the lack of support from a couple of the major carriers that idea died.

Even if a cell phone directory does happen, it is not planned for anytime soon. Also the cellular industry is concerned about preserving the privacy of the users and having a listing in a cell phone directory would require the user to approve its insertion.

There are a number of reasons that cell phone customers are opposed to a Wireless 411:
• They prefer their privacy and want to know that their cell phone numbers are available only to those to whom they provide them. They don’t want other people being able to obtain their cell phone numbers without their consent or knowledge.

• They are concerned that their cell phone numbers will be sold to telemarketers.

• They see one of the goals of the Wireless 411 service as a ploy to spread cell phone numbers to wider circles of friends and acquaintances, who will then place calls to cell phones and thereby force cell customers to pay for additional wireless minutes.

The wireless companies behind the proposed Wireless 411 service contend that their service will be beneficial to cellular customers and that they have addressed those customers’ major concerns:
• The service would save money for the millions of customers who have cellular phones and currently pay to have their cell phone numbers listed in phone directories.

• The Wireless 411 service will be included in the directory only if they specifically request to be added and there is no charge for requesting to be included or choosing not to be included.

• The Wireless 411 information will not be published in a book or on the Internet. It would be made available only to operator service centers performing the 411 directory assistance service.

Even if a directory were established it would not open up telemarketer to be able to call cell phones. It is illegal for marketers who use an auto-dialer, very few do not, to call wireless telephone numbers.

Some versions of the email state that cell phone users need to add their number to the national Do-Not-Call Registry and erroneously state there is a specific deadline for getting listed.

Since its inception the DNC list has allowed people to add their cell phone numbers and there has never been a deadline. There is not a separate list for cell phones.

Telephone numbers can be added to the list at anytime by either calling a toll-free registration number from the telephone to be added or using the on-line form. Once entered it remains on the list for five years. The list was started in 2003. (The FTC has put a hold on the automatic removal of numbers after the five year period, pending a possible change in legislation concerning the Do-Not-Call List by Congress.)

Business numbers cannot be entered into the Do-Not-Call list. The list does not prohibit marketing to businesses by other businesses.

Entering yours or the boss’s number to the Do-Not-Call list will not prevent a marketer from calling, nor would you have any lawful recourse against them.

© 2007 Steven G. Atkinson – All Rights Reserved

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Reprinted from Steven G. Atkinson’s book Technology Tips for Small Business. Many more tips are available in the book.

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