1881: New number for Telenor's directory services from February 15, 2002

Press release
Fornebu
3 minute read
Telenor's directory services, Opplysningen 180, will be given a new number from February 15, 2002. The new number will be 1881. The present number, 180, will be closed down as of May 1, next year.
"We are pleased that we have been allotted the number 1881, as a replacement for Opplysningen 180. We initially applied for nine different numbers that we thought would be suitable. Now we will continue to develop the content for these services, and our aim is still to deliver the best directory services in the country," said Erling Cristoffersen, sales and marketing manager at Telenor Teleservice.

Research shows that 180 is Norway's best known and most frequently dialled phone number. A total of 93 per cent of Norwegians admit that they are familiar with the services, and many use 180 rather than the emergency numbers 110, 112 and 113 when they need urgent assistance.

From February 15, 2002 the Norwegian rights to run directory services will be opened for competition. This will enable competing businesses that have been allotted new numbers today by Post og Teletilsynet (the Norwegian supervisory body for post and telecom services) to go into business. Telenor aims to have its new services, with the number 1881, operative on February 15. From then and until May 1, both 180 and 1881 will be run together as one service. After May 1, the three-digit number will be closen down. In the course of the coming weeks Telenor will make a decision on the foreign directory services, which will also be given a new number. This will replace today's foreign directory services, Opplysningen Utlandet 181.

"We are looking forward to meet the competition. Our directory services have always been competing with various printed directories and digital services, now we are given the chance to show that we provide competitive manual services at a good price. We believe our competitors will find it hard to provide better services," said Erling Christoffersen at Telenor Teleservice.

Today's directory services in Telenor operate from 12 different locations in Norway. Around 900 employees answer almost 67 million yearly inquiries. More than 90 per cent of the staff are women. A typical inquiry lasts for about 30-40 seconds and costs between five and six Norwegian crowns (NOK).