Beware 118 for Mobiles

Controversial mobile phone directory 118 800 fails to connect on its first day
By Sean Poulter Daily Mail 19th June 2009

Generally, mobile phone numbers are private and only given to people known to the handset user - either friends and family or work colleagues. However, 118 800 will allow complete strangers to find and call you on your mobile.

Mobile phone networks have been inundated with calls from customers worried that their private numbers have been passed on to the company running the new service. In fact, the company behind it, Connectivity, has bought the numbers from list brokers who in turn buy personal details from market research firms and online stores. To date, the company claims it has collated a list of 16million mobile numbers - around 40 per cent of the 42million in regular use in the UK. However, it plans to build the list to cover the majority of users. Individuals will also be able to volunteer to place their numbers with the mobile directory enquiry service.

Critics claim the people whose numbers appear in the directory were never told their numbers would be bought and sold in this way.

Connectivity insists it is able to protect the privacy of the public because it does not hand over the mobile phone numbers to users of the service. Rather it acts as an intermediary to put the caller in touch with the person they are trying to find. Callers should be able to dial the 118 800 service and give the name and home area, preferably an address, of the person they are looking for. The company will then search for that person on its database.

The system for calling mobiles failed yesterday, on its first day.

Readers should be aware that their mobile number may not be as secure as they thought!

Shelley, APA