I'll admit that I have not dialed '411' on my phone - ever. But I have heard of Google's GOOG411, and Microsoft's Bing411 - however in some quick research I just learned that GOOG's 411 service stopped last year - and Bing's 411 actually is being shut down as of today (6/1/12). Both are pushing their smart phone application instead.
So even more curious, I did some more quick research, and learned that Sprint customers still use our 411 more than 70K times per week! I have to ask WHY! maybe I'm spoiled and grew up in the smartphone world, but I just don't see the need for 411 in our world.. and another interesting fact - of those that use our 411, most use it multiple times per week. Maybe it's a segment of the market that #1 doesn't own a smartphone, or #2 doesn't know how to use their contact list to save numbers, or #3 has more money than they know what to do with. And one more interesting fact - those on CL(corporate) accounts use it 10x more than IL accounts... so maybe it's cause the company pays the bill.
Am I the only one that has never used our 411 service?
And oh yea - here's the tech note that brought this conversation up today:
Effective 6/1/12 at 12:01 am EDT, 411 directory assistance calls which are routed through certain switches will no longer be able to receive call completion with their listing request.- For example, if a Customer calls 411 to receive the phone number to Southwest Airlines, the 411 operator will not be able to connect the Customer to Southwest Airlines directly.
- Instead Customers will hear the phone number repeated twice by automation, then hear “a text message will be sent to you free of charge” and call will end.
- An estimated 3,500 to 6,500 calls per day may be impacted.
- A resolution date is not yet known; however, Sprint is working diligently to fix.
- Apologize for the experience. Suggested language “We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and can assure you this feature will be reinstated as soon as possible”
- Issue credit(s) accordingly.
Forward the complaint to 411Listings email distribution so the 411 team can monitor impact.
Corporate people use it more cause they are lazy. There... I said it.
ReplyDeleteThey are used to hitting a button to their secretary... "Please get me Southwest Airlines on the line"
411 is their secretary.
I myself never use 411.
ReplyDeleteI look it up on the internet, tap the #, and it brings up the phone with the #.
Oh wait... that's why I had to wait so dang long for my Evo4glte. Hahaha
Last month my grandfather racked up about $80 in 411 calls. He is 90 and can hardly figure out how to use his basic flip phone. I assume he could not figure out how to use 411 either because a bunch of the calls were something like 5 calls in four minuets. Sprint was cool about it i guess they refunded like half the calls and gave me a form i could have his doctor fill out to get free 411 calls.
ReplyDelete