Paul
We dropped the old 1190 Directory enquiries number in 1999 moving to 5-digit 118XX numbers
The regulator didn't bother requiring that complicated system of announcements. Each phone company could announce whatever they liked.
E.g. eircom always announces:
This is a recorded message from eircom, the number you have dialled XXX XXX XXXX is not in service, please check the directory or call our directory enquiry service on 11-8-11
While O2 will give you "Your call could not be connected. Please check the number or call O2's prefered Directory Assistance on 11-8-50."
I know that Comreg (the regulator) debated doing something like that or using a system where when callers dialled 1190 they would be read out a randomly assigned DQ provider's number. In the end it was decided it was just far too complicated and the new entrants turned out to be well able to get market share.
The only thing is that over 4 years there was a massive shake out with only 2 main stream DQ providers surviving.
The mobile phone companies all dropped their own directory enquiries numbers and advise customers to call 11-8-50 (the main non-eircom provider.. Conduit, they also operate 118888 in the UK and various other services in Europe)
11-8-11 Eircom's DQ service has also remained very popular.
There are some other 118XX numbers but no one uses them.
The reality of it is that people will only remember 2/3 of these codes at most and once they're available from their mobile and landlines they'll stick with them.
Both of the above services can do the following:
Call completion.
SMS advice of the number you require.
Golden Pages Talking. (Yellow pages)
and provide various information services like traffic, lotto, etc etc.
11811 also co-ordinates pay as you go teleconferencing facilities.
... 11811 have started to introduce a little voice recognition technology to the service too.
When you call the number a pre-recorded greeting from the operator is played "welcome to eircom 11811 xxx speaking ..." they then look up the number and it then asks you do if you wish to be connected (voice recognition of yes or no) If you say no the number is read out by machine (male or female voice depending on the operator). If you say yes you just get "thank you for using 11811.. connection costs XXX.. please hold while we try to connect your call.. "ringing...
11850 does a similar service but uses key presses rather than voice commands.
