Free directory enquiries

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Five years after BT's 192 Directory Enquiry service was replaced by an array of 118 paid-for telephone number retrieval services, a new 0800 number could mean the days of high-price telephone information services are numbered.

A company called Free Directory Enquiries, backed by private investors, has launched its 0800 100100 service, which is funded through advertising.

Consumers will no longer have to pay as much as almost one pound per minute for finding a telephone number or being connected at an inflated cost, but will have to listen to a 20-second advert before being given the number requested.

Calls from a mobile will be charged at that network's standard tariff.

By using the new service, callers will be able to save up to 272 million pounds a year, according to price comparison service uSwitch.com.

There are 378 million calls per year to directory enquiries and the average charge for a one minute call is 72 pence. Yellow Pages is most expensive at 93 pence, and 192.com the cheapest at 55 pence.

Steve Weller, head of communications services at uSwitch.com, said: "There are over 100 different 118 providers in the UK, but just two of these are free.

Other directory enquiries services will need to think laterally about the way they are funded if they are to avoid the risk of becoming extinct."