Are The US Wireless Markets 411 Ready?

Many people like the fact that their US wireless cellular phone numbers are not part of a public directory. A recent US survey, however, seems to indicate that the US wireless market might be ready for 411 cellular service.

The same US survey indicated that only a small percentage of the US market is overly concerned about the privacy of their wireless cellular phone number.

The Pierz Group (US) studied a representative sample of the US wireless phone markets and found that 52 percent would be willing to list their cellular phone number in a US directory assistance database. Eleven percent said they would be willing to list their US cellular phone numbers even without privacy protections. A year earlier, only two percent said they would list their US wireless phone number under those circumstances.

These numbers indicate the US cellular markets are changing.

Some US consumers and wireless privacy protection groups fear that a database of cell phone numbers will open the US wireless markets to Spam and even sales calls. US Consumers appear less worried about this since the National Do Not Call Registry was implemented for landlines. Perhaps they trust that someone is looking out for them and their US cellular phone.

The Pierz Group, an independent consumer research firm that studies US wireless markets, said that the better the privacy policies that are in place, the more likely people are to participate in a US directory service. Getting numerous US wireless service providers to agree on privacy policies might be the biggest obstacle to a cellular 411 service in the US.

US Number portability may make the creation of a database for the US wireless market more feasible. The average US wireless customer changes phones every 18 months. In the past, that meant changing US numbers every 18 months as well.

Also See: cell phone glossary.

About The Author:

Wendy Whittaker is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.1st-in-cell-phones.com. A cellular phone industry resource featuring articles, comparisons and reviews of cellular phone and service plans.