directory assistance (for traveling in the U.S.A.)

[PaulFromJingle]

Hey everyone,

Full disclosure: this is Paul from 1-800-Free411. I'm not here to advertise or disrupt the community, but rather I just wanted to share some helpful information for those traveling to the U.S. We've discovered in our research that some of the people who are *still* calling 411 are those traveling through the States from other countries, and because 411 used to be free in the U.S., most of these people aren't aware that they're now being charged about $2 per 411 call. Because travelers are so often the ones who are both away from computers and badly in need of information, they're the ones who are getting gouged the most.

Our number -- 1-800-Free411 -- is just as free as the name implies. Of course, there are other free directory assistance services as well, and perhaps responders can mention them.

Thanks for letting me share this information, in the hopes of saving travelers a bit of cash.

Cheers,
Paul

[marc873]

Thats great info, but SO Spam!

[PaulFromJingle]

Written with full disclosure and respect for the community, offering pertinent and helpful information to travelers, and inviting responders to mention competing services. That's not spam. Spam is nonsensical, intrusive, irrelevant, and often malicious -- none of that is in the message.

[TheJake]

so what's the catch? How can ya'll offer a free service like this? Do I have to tolerate a brief advertisement before being able to get the information I need? Cause I actually use Sprint 411 alot on my cell and it does add up to an additional 10-20 bucks a month in charges.

[marc873]

Originally Posted by PaulFromJingle

Written with full disclosure and respect for the community, offering pertinent and helpful information to travelers, and inviting responders to mention competing services. That's not spam. Spam is nonsensical, intrusive, irrelevant, and often malicious -- none of that is in the message.

I dig that! We just get a lot of spamming around here. Thanks for the info

[PaulFromJingle]

You guessed it. An ad plays at the beginning of each call. It's typically 12 seconds long. Well worth saving ten to twenty bucks a month, I hope.

[mbo108]

I prefer sending text messages to Google. If anyone has an SMS-enabled cell (just about all of them these days), you type in a text query, such as "Pubs, Philadelphia, PA" and text it to "G-O-O-G-L (46645)". You get answers back almost immediately. Standard text messaging rates apply. Its great in a pinch. You can do a lot more with it but i can't keep it all straight. i think they talk about it at www.google.com/sms

its not totally free, but its convenient.

[TheJake]

Nice. That's a solid suggestion right there.

[xanthuos]

Hey Paul,

Sometimes I have difficulty reaching 1-800-FREE-411 (which I use and like) from payphones. Can you explain why? I get a fast busy when I have the problem.

[PaulFromJingle]

My bad. I should have mentioned that the service doesn't work from pay phones. From all other phones, though, it works just fine.

[Sijuki]

I have used free411, and the ad isn't too bad, and actually find it is more relevant than calling standard information. I can handle a quick ad to get some information.

I have heard of the google text, and have tried it a couple times, but in the same never kept it straight, but it's also a useful feature.

Quite frankly, anything that saves money is pretty damn useful.

[PaulFromJingle]

Hey everyone,

I just wanted to revive this old thread in order to provide an update:

You can now get driving directions via 1-800FREE411. Follow the voice prompts and then receive turn-by-turn directions to your destination.

Hopefully that's pretty handy for anyone out on the road in the U.S. this summer.


cheers,
Paul

[lauren313]

Is this where that weird American expression for "the lowdown" comes from?! As in "OMG that guy is hot, I need the 411 on him right now!"

[PaulFromJingle]

"411" is slang for information, so I think you'd say something like, "I need THE 411 on him right now."

[Esterina]

Good info thanks !

I think this post would better fit the US or techno forum, to help more travelers. Any available mod around ? Sorry, I can't help my old reflex !

[travelpunk]

Got it, E. Thanks !