Progressive Wednesday

How to Dial 411 Progressively

I remembered yesterday, when I was on the road and needed to know the digits of a local drug store, that there was a way, as free as a Frisbee, to find out the info.

Instead of using the typical (and costly) information services available through land-lines and cell phones you can just dial 800-FREE-411. (This translates to 800-373-3411.) What you’ll get is this:

• A free, voice-automated directory assistance.
• No need to fear telemarketers.

Typical 411 services range from $1.49 to as much as $3.49 per phone number. So how in the name of all that is holy and sacred is this new one gratuit? The whole thing works a little like a radio station. You end up listening to two incredibly brief audio advertisements. One comes before you ask for a listing, and the second comes right before you hear the listing. That’s it.

In the words of Jingle Networks, Inc.:

Our sponsors cover the service cost by playing short advertising messages (about 15 seconds) — ads usually based on your search request. Say you’re looking for a local pizza place. We might play you a special offer from Dominos. And we’ll even connect you for free. Of course, you can always just get the original number you requested. Best part is, a typical call to us lasts about the same amount of time as a paid 411 call.

For more of the F.A.Q. about 800-FREE-411, just click this sentence. Then add the sucker to your cell phone’s contact list or speed dial, baby. (By the way, lest we forget, it’s totally legit.)

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Editor’s Note, Part I: Just for the sake of full disclosure, we will add this: Google is trying to launch a similar service. But, as we’ve pointed out here, here, and here, we’re getting a little sick of the ways Google is trying to seep into as many aspects of American lives as they can, and we’re also always trying to look out for new, privately held, start-up companies like ourselves.

Editor’s Note, Part II: In doing our research, we found out about 1-800-411-SAVE, but since we’ve never used it, and don’t plan to, we can’t vouch for its efficacy.