The first directory service that claims to be able to find any British mobile phone number starts next week so you’d better be ready to get calls from strangers!
It will cost a £1 and then 118800.co.uk will be able to connect customers of its service to any of Britain’s 42 million mobile phones.
The directory, which goes live on June 18 already contains “millions” of mobile numbers and their owners names, is the first of its kind in the UK.
It will work kinda like old-fashioned telephone operators did: users will call the service and ask to be connected to the mobile phone of a person. The service calls that mobile phone and asks for permission to connect the call.
The service has been developed using data bought from market research businesses. People not wishing to be included on the list must inform the directory by text or phone that they wish to opt out.
That’s fair enough but you’ll be charged your standard network rate (surely it should be free?) and face a wait of four weeks before their number is excluded.
Are you happy about this? Let me know in the comments.
Watch the report from ‘Working Lunch’ below:
Related articles by ZemantaPrivacy fear for mobile directory (news.bbc.co.uk)
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Jay, Bill from 118800.co.uk here.
Just to reassure you that we’ll never actually give out anyone’s personal details. When you search on 118800.co.uk, we’ll send an SMS message to the person you’re looking for, giving them your contact details – and it’s up to them to call you back.
And the £1 charge only applies if the person chooses to accept your call.
We’ve also added a section on our website where you can make yourself ex-directory: http://www.118800.co.uk/removeme/remove-me.html
We haven’t actually launched yet (we launch next Thursday), so we’re genuinely interested in getting peoples’ feedback so that we can shape the service to make sure people are comfortable with it, and for it to be as useful and reliable as possible.
Bill
118800.co.uk
Hey Bill
Many thanks for your comment – I think that once all the facts are out the general populous will become more accepting on the whole.
Like a lot of new things (Google Street View for example) happen that appear to dip into our privacy bubble the first reaction is to protect oneself.
Again, thank you for clearing this up.
J
Websites like this which “blog” or spread rumours should be shut down. I wasted my time and effort because of this site finding out, and calling 118800 to find out the FACTS, only to be told they don’t give numbers out, which kind of puts your headline of “118800 Has Got Your Mobile Number and Will Give it To Anyone for £1″ down the pan doesn’t it? Guy, you are clearly a moron who is uncapable of finding out the correct information before you publish it, get a proper job or find something more constructive with your time.
Hey Geoff.
First, thanks for finding my blog.
If you read above I have actually had a representative from 118800 comment on my post and outline the official guidelines of the their service which may have saved you that phone call.
I pride myself in the fact that I try my best to offer an informative and straight-talking site (that I update between being a professional musician which is my actual job).
In the chance that you return to my site – I hope that this clarifies any misunderstanding and you are more than welcome to visit again.
All the best with kindest regards.
J