China Unicom launches mobile directory services

CHINA Unicom's 116 114 mobile directory service, has launched in 31 provinces around the country this week.

Unicom's national number database has been integrated with and extends the original voice-based 116 114 directory service. The service could prove to be an interesting proposition, as there are only costs for bandwidth charges - no information service fees are charged. During just one week of testing, visits to 116 114's WAP portal totalled over 200,000, whilst the client application for the service was downloaded more than 10,000 times.

In terms of functionality, the new service offers a variety advantages over basic voice directory services - users can look up local phone numbers and numbers in other cities. The service also allows reverse enquiries - where users knowing only a phone number can look up the company associated with the number. At this stage, as mobile directory services go, this service appears to be tailored for use from a mobile, rather than a service which provides access to a mobile number’s database.

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