Directory Assistance Question

[NY Tel Guy]

I know that DA is free in the present iteration. What I do have a question about is procedural and will benefit everyone.
When I dial 411 and get the "National Directory Assistance" recorded lady to answer my directory request, the recording offers to connect me for an additional charge by pressing 1.
I know in the past, the telco's charged an additioal 80 cents or so for this service.

Any idea what that actual fee is? I know once you launch, some user is going to:
a. say they didn't know
b. dispute paying the charges

[Brian]

Personally, I've re-routed 411 to go to 8-GOOG-411. Just a suggestion for anyone that hadn't thought of it.

[NY Tel Guy]

Personally, I've re-routed 411 to go to 8-GOOG-411. Just a suggestion for anyone that hadn't thought of it.

I tried that and when I dial 800 466-4411 directly, it works.
When I set up a call route to be 411---->800 466-4411
I get some wacky recording from Google saying they are really busy now and I should try later.

Perhaps their attempt to prevent calls that are forwarded from being completed?

[Brian]

I tried that and when I dial 800 466-4411 directly, it works.
When I set up a call route to be 411---->800 466-4411
I get some wacky recording from Google saying they are really busy now and I should try later.

Perhaps their attempt to prevent calls that are forwarded from being completed?

I just tried and got the same thing...strange...it worked a few days ago.

[usa2k]

I got the same thing -- been setup fine for months.

My 611 to 8005558355 still works OK

[NY Tel Guy]

They probably sniffed out the originating BTN which when it goes to these services is different than your phone number.

Remember they don't "always" get your caller ID at Google, they get the ANI from either Voipo or Level3 which could be the same number each time or it could be distributed on an outgoing basis, so they are doing this so certain companies don't flood the with free DA requests (along with the option to be connected for free).
My tests to an ANI service testing point that I used to use when I worked for one of the big Telco's revealed the following:
1. test one - my correct number was displayed
2. test two - 319 228-9999 was displayed
3. test three - my correct number was displayed
4. test four - 319 228-9999 was displayed
5. test five - 319 228-9999 was displayed

So it seems that perhaps Google has the 319 number flagged in its system to be "ignored".