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Cell Numbers To Be Added To 411
darthC0der writes "Looking for a friend but don't have her phone number with you? For now, you can call directory assistance for her home number, but her wireless digits are off limits from 411. Not for long. The cellular providers are now getting close to making the cellluar numbers available to 411 callers. Here's the link to a CNN article. I don't about you guys but I personally do not want my cellular number to be made available so easily."
But where I am, this has been do-able for quite some time. It's actually an optional service for which the cellular provider here (yes, that's singular) charges the customer, to the tune of (iirc) $6.95 cdn PER MONTH. I work for a retailer that activates phones for the cell provider in my region, and I can't remember a single instance in which a customer actually wanted this feature.
It says, on the third paragraph down:
The centralized database of wireless numbers would be off limits to telemarketers, and consumers would be able to choose whether to have their numbers listed or unlisted, according to people familiar with the process.
I think the above makes their intentions clear
Even if they do, luckly in Missouri, we have a "no call list" law that has TEETH in it. In two years, I've had only ONE telemarketing call, and when I filed a complaint, about 9 months later, I received a letter from the Attorney General of Missouri (form letter) stating the amount they had been fined. Once in a while, they come up with a law that works :)
I don't about you guys but I personally do not want my cellular number to be made available so easily.
I'm curious to know if you read the article. I doubt most of the respondants here will, either, so I quote for you:
The centralized database of wireless numbers would be off limits to telemarketers, and consumers would be able to choose whether to have their numbers listed or unlisted, according to people familiar with the process.
Regardless of whether or not you believe the telemarketers won't get access to it, you can apparently choose not you have your number included. Now, what it doesn't say is if being listed will cost money, as unlisted land-line numbers do now.
411 is just people running database searches once companies have the databases the cat is out of the bag
You will have Cell Phone Number Portability once the FCC makes them. I think it next comes under review this fall.
In the US, you're charged for calls you receive on a cell phone, regardless of where the call originated.
If Verizon (my provider) want's to put my number on 411, they can pay for all incoming calls (or at least the first minute - Sprint _used_ to do this). I know that there are currently plans (from Nextel I believe) that only bill you for outgoing calls.
There is no longer anything that can be done with computers that is nontrivial and clearly legal. -- Paul Phillips
Well, try a country with a real telecommunications system.
Here in Oz, the caller of a cellular gets the phone bill, not the receiver. Telemarketers can call my mobile all they want; in fact, I never give out my home phone number if I can help it.
"Software is too expensive to build cheaply"
In Germany, they just passed a law which requires the carriers to let you keep it. Taking it over to another carrier costs a fortune though.
There has been an option for some time now where people can opt to have their mobile number in the phonebook instead of a normal landline.
Basically directory assistance for us uses the same database as the phonebook. Also if you have your number unlisted in the phonebook, it should not show up in directory assistance.
But that does not stop the telemarketers. The only times a telemarketer has called me up on my mobile is when they were from the mobile carrier that I have the service with.
Recently they have taken to bombarding people with SMS messages to try and drum up business.
When I worked for a telemarketing company, a regular feature of the sales campaigns was cold-calls to cel-phones. The data-gathering systems they had were crazy intrusive - every last bit of number indicative data buyable or attainable through any method was in the massive databases, and refreshed as soon as a call cycle was complete. I always remember this converstaion I monitored: Sales Rep: Hello Miss, this is Shelly on behalf of yadda yadda yadda Called Lady: You know that this is a cel-phone, right? Sales Rep: I understand that this is a cel-phone, right? And that's why we're calling today with this great offer, RIGHT! Called Lady: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! (hangs up) *Shudder* 411 means nothing, they already have your number (unless you're from Missouri, heh)
Sig master! Sig master! Sig... faster?!
In the United States, it is a FEDERAL CRIME for a telemarketer to call your cell phone. Your number being "listed" does nothing to change that.
This is a "non-issue", at least with regards to telemarketing....
siri
In most states, it's illegal for telemarkters to call a cellular phone.
In my state (Colorado), it's illegal for telemarketers to call me because I signed up (online) for the Colorado no-call list. Check if your state has one. If a telemarketer calls me, they're liable for up to $500. Unfortunately, non-profit organizations and politicians seem to be exempt. I got 5 calls a day in the three weeks leading up to the last election.