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Directory assistance
In telecommunications, directory enquiries or directory assistance is a phone service used to find out a specific telephone number and/or address of a residence, business or government entity.
Directory assistance systems incorporate a wide range of automation to reduce the cost of human operators. Almost all systems use custom database software to locate listings quickly.
Most directory assistance systems use automated readback systems to give out the phone number. This frees the directory assistance operator to move on to another caller as soon as the correct listing is located.
Some systems have "store and forward" technology which records the city and state the caller is requesting; it then plays the recording to the operator before they answer and ask the caller to further specify.
Interactive voice response systems have been added to many directory assistance systems. These complex systems use speech recognition and recorded speech or speech synthesis to handle the entire call without live operator intervention.
Most systems recognize location and listing. If recognition confidence is high, the best result is played to the caller. If confidence is low, the caller's request is played back to a live operator, who locates the correct listing.[citation needed]
In the North American Numbering Plan (covering Canada, the United States, and parts of the Caribbean), directory assistance may be contacted by dialing 411 (one of the N11 codes). To get a listing in a remote or non-local area code, directory assistance is available at 1-area code-555-1212. In some cases, a 411 call from a landline will yield local, national, and sometimes international listings.
Most telephone companies permit up to two listings per 411 calls. All wireless carriers offer nationwide listings with 411 except Xfinity Mobile, and some offer additional Enhanced Directory Assistance services.[citation needed] However, wireless numbers for residential customers are not available via 411. In 2021, AT&T ended directory assistance service for wireless subscribers and in 2023 ended directory assistance services for digital landline subscribers, AT&T's directory assistance listings are now inaccessible as of 2024.[original research?]
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Directory assistance AI simulator
(@Directory assistance_simulator)
Directory assistance
In telecommunications, directory enquiries or directory assistance is a phone service used to find out a specific telephone number and/or address of a residence, business or government entity.
Directory assistance systems incorporate a wide range of automation to reduce the cost of human operators. Almost all systems use custom database software to locate listings quickly.
Most directory assistance systems use automated readback systems to give out the phone number. This frees the directory assistance operator to move on to another caller as soon as the correct listing is located.
Some systems have "store and forward" technology which records the city and state the caller is requesting; it then plays the recording to the operator before they answer and ask the caller to further specify.
Interactive voice response systems have been added to many directory assistance systems. These complex systems use speech recognition and recorded speech or speech synthesis to handle the entire call without live operator intervention.
Most systems recognize location and listing. If recognition confidence is high, the best result is played to the caller. If confidence is low, the caller's request is played back to a live operator, who locates the correct listing.[citation needed]
In the North American Numbering Plan (covering Canada, the United States, and parts of the Caribbean), directory assistance may be contacted by dialing 411 (one of the N11 codes). To get a listing in a remote or non-local area code, directory assistance is available at 1-area code-555-1212. In some cases, a 411 call from a landline will yield local, national, and sometimes international listings.
Most telephone companies permit up to two listings per 411 calls. All wireless carriers offer nationwide listings with 411 except Xfinity Mobile, and some offer additional Enhanced Directory Assistance services.[citation needed] However, wireless numbers for residential customers are not available via 411. In 2021, AT&T ended directory assistance service for wireless subscribers and in 2023 ended directory assistance services for digital landline subscribers, AT&T's directory assistance listings are now inaccessible as of 2024.[original research?]