Free 411

411 is a service available to phone users to find phone numbers and addresses via a pay-per-call system. Typical charges range from $1.25-$3+, in other words, obscene. Enter: 1-800-FREE-411 (3733-411).

The way it works is pretty clever. You proceed with just like a normal 411 call, the computer asks the location, business name, or type. It then gives you a 10 second pitch from paid advertisers. You can, of course, ignore the pitch. In the link above, there is a video of the service in action at its unveiling. The CEO's example is to ask for Huntington Beach, CA, specifically for Pizza. The computer offers to connect after a short targeted ad. The advertiser? Domino's pizza with a special offer for the FREE 411 user. To take advantage of it, and connect directly, the phone user just dial's "1".

I doubt the personal usefulness of the targeted ads, but I'm absolutely sure I'll be using the free directory assistence. 10 seconds of my time is most certainly worth the equivalent ~$2.

via consumerist

Raul