[Electronics-Talk] free 411

Thu Jan 14 14:13:22 UTC 2021

Consumer Cellular doesn't have any forms to get free 411. Thank you for the suggestion though. 

Rob Kaiser Email;
rcubfank at sbcglobal.net

-----Original Message-----
From: Electronics-Talk [mailto:electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Gerald Levy via Electronics-Talk
Sent: Thursday, January 14, 2021 5:29 AM
To: David Waybright via Electronics-Talk <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Gerald Levy <bwaylimited at verizon.net>
Subject: Re: [Electronics-Talk] free 411

Again, unless your primary carrier is AT&T or Verizon, your carrier's
411 directory assistance is likely to be spotty at best or totally useless at worst.  I am not aware of any third party service to which all phone service carriers subscribe that maintains a complete and accurate database of all registered, in-service phone numbers because there ain't no such animal.  This is the fault of the FCC which never adopted rules that would require all phone carriers to submit all phone numbers registered with them to a national registry or database, regardless of whether they are land line or cell phone numbers.  It's just one big mess.

Gerald

On 1/14/2021 8:17 AM, David Waybright via Electronics-Talk wrote:
> To get FREE 411, please contact your carrier's Accessibility office rather this is T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, Comcast, etc.
>
> If they don't have an accessibility office, then reach out to their customer support and mention to them you need someone to reach out to about accommodations. Have them help you sign up for or provide you with forms to send to your doctor to have your doctor fill them out to request free 411.  All carriers are required to offer free 411 as an acceptable accommodation because they can't expect everyone to have access to or the experience to use the internet.
>
> To this day 411 is still useful.
>
> Thanks,
>
>
> David Eugene Waybright
> CompTIA A+, NET+, & Security+ Technician
>
> IT Operations & Secure Infrastructure Specialist
>
>
> Tesla Referral Code: https://ts.la/david55244 1,000 FREE Supercharger Miles & $100 OFF Solar!
>
> ________________________________
> Message: 5
> Date: Wed, 13 Jan 2021 15:54:00 -0700
> From: James Aldrich <jajkaldrich at gmail.com>
> To: Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances
>          <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: Re: [Electronics-Talk] free 411
> Message-ID: <7A0EF9CE-92C6-4A45-A041-6CB8FC6C3F4F at gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
>
> Hi again,
>
> I tried 800-555-1212 and got the message ?This number has been disconnected?.
>
> When I was on ATT, 411 was free unless they placed a call for me. I would pay if they placed a call in my behalf!
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Jan 13, 2021, at 3:33 PM, James Aldrich <jajkaldrich at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> ?Hi all,
>
> I think Free 411 needs a doctor.  It doesn?g sound like it is working properly.
>
> I have two IPhones, one is on Consumer Cellular, the other is on Spectrum Mobile.  I checked Free 411 on the Consumer Cellular  Phone.
>
> If I understood the original question correctly, the man wanted to know how he could get free directory assistance while his internet was down!  Yes!  Free 411 is a good option when it works properly.  Siri, Alexa and Google Assistant can work when one is off line.  I turned off my wi fi and I was able to look up numbers while off line.  You would need to download the Alexa and Google Assistant apps from the app store.  Another app would be the real yellow pages.  This too works off line.
>
> Remember the internet was down!  Alexa and google devices may as well be boat anchors when the internet is down!  They aren?t available!  Luckily the Alexa and google assistant apps can work off line on an IPhone.  I?m certain Android has similar options which work off line. No doubt Alexa and google assistant work with Android.  Sometimes one might have issues with location services when off line. Despite this occasional hindrance, the above mentioned apps work off line.
>
> I think the internet has made directory assistance less relevant.  I can ask my phone, echo or google device about a business and I?ll have the phone number or my devices will make the call for me!  Another case in point, I dialed 411 on my Spectrum Mobile phone.  I did this three times!  Siri dialed it the third time. I got the message ?this number can?t be completed as dialed?.  In other words 411 doesn?t exist on Spectrum Mobile.  I got the same message with 555-1212.  Spectrum Mobile and Consumer Cellular are budget cell carriers.  They cost less than the big boys.  Spectrum Mobile is on Verizon Towers where Consumer Cellular is on either ATT or TMobile towers so I?m told.  As you have heard already, Consumer Cellular still has 411.  If using 411 on Consumer Cellular is the only way I can find a particular number, I?d gladly pay the dollar or so to get that number since I seldom use directory assistance.
>
> Jim
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Jan 12, 2021, at 4:39 PM, Brent via Electronics-Talk <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>
> ?Interesting. One time, when I just paid the fee and dialed 411 from a 
> VOIP provider I have as backup, they gave me a number for the person I 
> asked for, even though I know almost certainly, they don't use this VOIP service.
> However, that provider must either use a third party company that 
> provides them 411, or it goes through whatever carrier they are 
> connected with once your call hits the phone network, coming out of the Internet.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Electronics-Talk <electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf 
> Of cheez via Electronics-Talk
> Sent: Saturday, January 9, 2021 7:13 AM
> To: 'Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances'
> <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: cheez at cox.net
> Subject: Re: [Electronics-Talk] free 411
>
> Thanks for the confirmation.  Nice to know that's still offered.
>
> Vince
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Electronics-Talk <electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf 
> Of Gerald Levy via Electronics-Talk
> Sent: Saturday, January 9, 2021 6:03 AM
> To: cheez via Electronics-Talk <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Gerald Levy <bwaylimited at verizon.net>
> Subject: Re: [Electronics-Talk] free 411
>
>
> Yes, Verizon still offers free directory assistance to blind 
> customers. But as I mentioned previously, it has become almost totally 
> useless, because thanks to deregulation and the proliferation of 
> independent phone companies, Verizon is no longer an absolute 
> monopoly, and therefore, the chances that they will still have a phone 
> number listed for the party you want to contact are probably slim to none, unless that party is still a Verizon customer.
>
>
> Gerald
>
>
>
> On 1/9/2021 7:33 AM, cheez via Electronics-Talk wrote:
>> I haven't checked in some time, but Verizon used to have an exemption 
>> for
> Information when it came to blind customers.  Or, at the least, such 
> customers were granted, [I think] 100 free calls per month.
>> Nonetheless, you would have to go to a brick and mortar in order to 
>> sign
> up for the free service.
>> But I'll check to verify this when Verizon opens later today and will
> report my findings.
>> Vince
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Electronics-Talk <electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On 
>> Behalf Of Gerald Levy via Electronics-Talk
>> Sent: Saturday, January 9, 2021 5:10 AM
>> To: Rob Kaiser via Electronics-Talk <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Cc: Gerald Levy <bwaylimited at verizon.net>
>> Subject: Re: [Electronics-Talk] free 411
>>
>>
>> Here's the problem with directory assistance services, whether it's
>> 800-FREE-411 or the traditional 411.   In the good old days, when big bad
> Ma Bell, aaka the American Telephone and Telegraph Company, actually a 
> collection of separate wholly-owned regional operating companies under 
> the so-called Bell unbrella, was the only provider of phone 
> service,all companies and individuals were listed in their database, 
> so when you dialed 411, an operator could look up the number for you, 
> and there was a better than 90% chance that she could find it.  For 
> instance, before 1982, when Ma Bell was broken up into 7 separate, 
> independent regional Bell operating companies, New York Telephone was 
> a wholly owned subsidaiary of AT&T, so if you dialed 411 in New York 
> City, you could get the phone number for a company located in Los 
> Angeles, because the phone company there, Pacific Bell, was also a 
> wholly owned subsidiary of AT&T.  But today, thanks to deregulation, 
> there is no single phone company or service provider that maintains a 
> centralized list of all phone numbers for every company and individual 
> in the US, so 411 and free 411 services have become essentially 
> useless.  So if your land-line or cell phone carrier is Verizon, which 
> became the successor to New York Telephone through a series of mergers 
> and consolidations since 1982, , for instance, and you dial 411 you 
> will only have access to phone numbers for companies and individuals 
> who are registered with Verizon. If their primary carrier is another phone company such as AT&T or T-Mobile or Consumer Cellular, then you will be out of luck.
> Welcome to the new and chaotic wild, wild west of totally unregulated 
> and fragmented telephone service. What a mess!!!  When you dial 411 on 
> your Consumer Cellular cell phone, they will probably only have access 
> to phone numbers for companies and individuals registered with 
> Consumer Cellular, which is a relatively small number, because most 
> listings are still registered with Verizon, which is the largest phone 
> service provider and the only one which still has a historical 
> connection to the old Ma Bell/American Telephone & Telegraph company.  
> Don't confuse Verizon with today's AT&T, which has no connection to 
> the original company of the same name and is actually the successor to 
> MCI, which was one of the 7 original RBOC's created in 1982. If all 
> this sounds confusing, you're right.  You need a Philadelphia lawyer to figure all this out.
>>
>> Gerald
>>
>>
>>
>> On 1/8/2021 11:50 PM, Rob Kaiser via Electronics-Talk wrote:
>>> I don't know what list to send this to, so, I'll try this 1. I'm 
>>> with consumer Cellular. My internet was down a few days agao & I 
>>> needed to look up a phone number. The only way I could get free 
>>> directory assistance was to use free 411. This is what consumer 
>>> cellular told me. If I used their 411 there was going to be a fee. 
>>> When I called free 411, I wasn't even able to give them a name of 
>>> the business I wanted to look up. Now, I've had problems with free 
>>> 411 before, but this was the worst. Is free 411 not working any 
>>> more? If this is so, do we have any platforms where we can get free 
>>> directory assistance if our internet is down? Or, are we doomed to 
>>> having to either wait until our internet comes up or pay a fee to call Directory Assistance?
>>> Rob Kaiser Email;
>>> rcubfank at sbcglobal.net
>>> _______________________________________________
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> Electronics-Talk:
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>>> ted%40verizon.net
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> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 6
> Date: Thu, 14 Jan 2021 04:00:58 -0500 (EST)
> From: Top Tech Tidbits <enews at toptechtidbits.com>
> To: electronics-talk at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [Electronics-Talk] Top Tech Tidbits for Thursday, January 14,
>          2020 - Volume 790
> Message-ID:
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> <1135235251752.1101643709773.2899.0.2530400JL.2002 at scheduler.constantc
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Phone: (269) 216-4798 ? Email: support at atguys.com ? Skype: atguys ? Twitter: https://twitter.com/atguys (@atguys) ? Facebook: https://facebook.com/atguys ? About: ATGuys.com. Your access technology experts, home for cool gadgets, accessories, and more. Our products are all tested to work great for blind and visually impaired users but also work just as well for anyone. If there's an item you're looking for, or if you have a question, please don't hesitate to send us a message or call (269) 216-4798 ?. Sponsor: John Panarese ? This Week's Classified Ad: A great way to kick off 2021! World renowned Apple trainer John Panarese offers you a way to get involved in the Apple world! Take advantage of his tutorials and courses! John will use your funds to help persons with disabilities to learn more! To purchase your special gift certificate visit https://donorbox.org/macfortheblind today! Director, https://www.MacForTheBlind.com Authorized Apple Business Affiliate Apple Certified Support Professional Apple Certified Trainer Assistive Technology Consultant Sponsor Since: June 4th 2020 Website: https://www.macfortheblind.com/ ? Donate Course Time: https://donorbox.org/macfortheblind ? Email: john at macfortheblind.com ? About: Macfortheblind.com is a place specifically for blind people who are either users or potential users of Macintosh computers or iOS devices, such as the iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, iPod Nano, Apple Watch and Apple TV. I am a blind individual who has used the Mac ever since VoiceOver became available in OS 10.4 Tiger, and I own an iMac, Mac Mini, Mac Book Pro laptop computer, an iPhone 6S, an iPad Air, an Apple Watch and an Apple TV 4th Generation. In addition, I am an Authorized Apple Business Affiliate, and as an Apple Certified Support Professional and an Apple Certified Trainer, I offer training and technical support for individuals, agencies and organizations on the mac and all iDevices, as well as offering assistive technology consulting. Sponsor: Donna Jodhan ? This Week's Classified Ad: High profile educator, podcast commentator, and audio mysteries writer and producer! Donna Jodhan uses her expertise worldwide to ensure that persons with disabilities are not left out or left behind! Visit Donna at https://donorbox.org/author-donna-jodhan. Your donations will help to improve the lives of families with parents and kids with disabilities! Author, Donna Jodhan Publications President, Sterling Creations President, Barrier Free Canada / Canada sans Barrieres Sponsor Since: June 4th 2020 Website: https://www.donnajodhan.com/ ? Donate: https://donorbox.org/author-donna-jodhan ? About: My name is Donna J. Jodhan and I have been blind all my life, but that has not prevented me from living independently as someone who takes care of my own home and garden, travels regularly for my job, and runs my own business. I am an entrepreneur, blogger, author, audio mystery writer, advocate, podcaster, and law student. I enjoy cooking, ice skating, playing chess, composing on my electronic keyboard, and communicating with nature. Sponsor: Dean Martineau ? This Week's Classified Ad: Would you like to learn to control your computer with your voice, or to create documents using your voice rather than the keyboard? There are several tools to accomplish these objectives. I can provide training in their use. Write to me at topdot at gmail.com if interested. Editor, Top Tech Tidbits for Thursday Email Newsletter Sponsor Since: June 4th 2020 Website: https://www.toptechtidbits.com/ ? About: Dean Martineau is the Founder and Editor of the Top Tech Tidbits for Thursday Email Newsletter. Sponsor: Be My Eyes ? This Week's Classified Ad: Accessible Pharmacy, the new, home delivery pharmacy with a blind founder, is bringing its full range of support and services to Be My Eyes. Users of the Be My Eyes app can now call Accessible Pharmacy directly to get support with medication, medical devices, and even home delivery COVID testing. With a fully trained and discreet pharmacy staff on call from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM Pacific, Accessible Pharmacy is the new way for blind and low vision consumers to get an easy, frictionless pharmacy experience. Call today ? and you'll never have to take an Uber to the drugstore again. https://www.bemyeyes.com/blog/accessible-pharmacy-joins-be-my-eyes. Lead Contact: Will Butler, VP of Community Sponsor Since: November 5th 2020 Website: https://www.bemyeyes.com/ ? Download The App (iOS): Be My Eyes for iOS - From the Apple App Store ? Download The App (Android): Be My Eyes for Android - From the Google Play Store ? About: Be My Eyes is a free mobile app that allows anyone who needs video support to get assistance from a dynamic range of volunteers and company customer support professionals from around the world. With more than 4 million volunteers and dozens of companies offering on-demand visual interpretation and support, Be My Eyes is a free, unlimited way to bridge gaps and get access to whatever information you need ? 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in any language. Download the app today from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Sponsor: Vorail Sponsor Since: January 21st 2021 Website: https://www.vorail.com/ ? Download The App (iOS): Vorail for iOS - From the Apple App Store ? Download The App (Android): Vorail for Android - From the Google Play Store ? Mission: Vorail is the only platform in the world for the low vision and blind community where everybody can join conversations by voice on equal footing. Every day members of the Vorail community create ask-alls (questions) about life (news, health, technology, religion, sports and more) that allow us to see the world differently, and connect in a way that is deeper than 'liking' a photo. Vorail is an audio-only experience, voice is the window into a human soul. It does not matter if you are tall, short, wide, thin, white, or black when nobody sees your picture. Without the visuals, what counts is who you are, the person inside. That is the mission of Vorail, to create an extended family where we are judged for who we are, not what we look like. Sponsor: Sprint IP Relay ? This Week's Classified Ad: One challenge someone with a combined vision and hearing loss must address is accessing the phone system without adequate vision or hearing. Individuals with no hearing but vision can access the phone system using a videophone. Those with no vision, but who have hearing can use the phone as it was intended. How would someone with vision and hearing loss continue to call doctors, contact emergency services such as 911, arrange for medical appointments, contact businesses, or friends and family who do not text? One solution, for those living in the U.S. with a form of hearing loss, is Sprint IP Relay. Come learn more at our webinars, specialized for the DeafBlind community. 11/10 at 10 AM EST, 11/12 at 4:30 PM EST, 11/17 at 1:00 PM EST, or 11/19 at 1:00 PM EST. RSVP by November 6th 2020 to deafblind at sprint.com. CART and ASL interpretation will be provided. Sponsor Since: October 22nd 2020 Website: https://www.sprintip.com/ ? Email: scott.davert at t-mobile.com ? Download The App (iOS): Sprint IP Relay for iOS - From the Apple App Store ? Download The App (Android): Sprint IP Relay for Android - From the Google Play Store ? Accessibility Customer Care: (800) 676-3777 ? About: Sprint IP Relay allows people who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind or with a Speech Disability to make or receive phone calls using an internet connection, a computer, tablet or smartphone. Simply type what you want to say to the operator, the operator relays the message to the person you called and then types the caller's response back to you. This process is all done through text, so a user with a braille display, for example, would not need to see the screen or use their voice to communicate with the hearing caller. The Sprint IP Relay service is available at no charge for those who are eligible. Registration is required to verify an individual's identity and residency. If you are a person who is deaf, hard of hearing, DeafBlind or have a speech disability, you will qualify to register for the Sprint IP Relay Service. The user can call anyone at any time within the United States and its territories. Email scott.davert at t-mobile.com with any questions. Sponsor: LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired Adaptations Online Store ? This Week's Classified Ad: Featured Products: Revolution Cane Tip: Standard Roller Tip: $14.50 | Locator Dots: Small Pack of 6 (Clear or Orange): $2.00 | NFB Metal Cane Tip: $3.00 | TMAP - On Demand Tactile Street | Map (set of two maps): $25.00 | Ambutech Aluminum Folding Cane: $35.00 | NFB Chris Park Telescoping Cane: $45.00 | BoldWriter 20 Pen (Individual or 6-pack): $2.00 | Bump Dots: Mixed (50 count): $7.00 | Braille Apple Catalina VoiceOver Guide OSX 10.15 (3 volumes) - Latest Manual: $52.00 | SpeedDots iPhone Tactile Screen Protector, Phone Layout: $12.00 | NFB Chris Park 7-Piece Folding Cane: $50.00 | Visit https://adaptations.org/ to learn more today! Sponsor Since: October 1, 2020 Website: https://adaptations.org/ ? Toll Free: (888) 400-8933 ? Local: (415) 694-7301 ? About: Founded in 1902, San Francisco's LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired promotes the independence, equality and self-reliance of people who are blind or have low vision. Adaptations is your online go-to for tools, technology, and accessible solutions for blind and visually impaired people. Sponsor: American Printing House (APH) ? This Week's Classified Ad: APH's Braille Trail Reader LE refreshable braille display will start your students' braille journey with a positive technology experience that allows them to discover the joys of reading and writing. This 14-cell braille display features a Windows app for easy file transfer between teachers and students. Also perfect for the working adult: users can take notes, and create, edit and read text and braille files. Learn more at https://www.aph.org/product/braille-trail-reader-le/. Website: https://www.aph.org/ ? Toll Free and Customer Support: (800) 223-1839 ? Phone: (512) 895-2405 ? Fax: (512) 899-2284 ? YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/WENRlCNDsxQ ? Free Apps & Actions from APH: https://www.aph.org/free-apps-from-aph/ ? About: Since 1858, the American Printing House for the Blind has operated in Louisville, Kentucky as the world's largest nonprofit organization, creating accessible learning experiences through educational, workplace, and independent living products and services for people who are blind and visually impaired. APH believes that the future belongs to everyone. By offering innovative products and services, APH opens up a door of opportunities for lifelong independence and success. Your Name Here 2 of 12 Sponsorship Packages still available. The Top Tech Tidbits for Thursday Email Newsletter is a leading, not-for-profit Adaptive Technology publication that reaches over 6,500 Adaptive Technology professionals, educators and enthusiasts each week. Over the last 12 months our 100% legally-compliant opt-in subscriber list has had an Average Open Rate of 37%, an Average Click-Through Rate of 42% and an Average Bounce Rate of 2.8%. We now offer 12 Annual Sponsorship Packages which are used to support the ongoing distribution of the publication. There are currently 2 of these 12 packages still available. Secure one of these remaining packages today for only $325.00 USD for the next 3 months, or save $100.00 USD and join us for the year. All Sponsorship Packages are offered on a first-come, first serve basis. Please help us to support the ongoing distribution of this publication. Consider showing your support for Adaptive Technology over the next 3-12 months while enjoying these incredible benefits: Sponsorship Package Benefits: ? 1.) 4 "This Week's Featured Advertisement" Spots Over The Next 12 Months: Each Annual Sponsor may choose (from those dates still available within the Top Tech Tidbits Sponsorship Calendar) up to FOUR (4) "This Week's Featured Advertisement" dates within the calendar year of their sponsorship. That's 4 Issue dates reaching 6,500+ Adaptive Technology subscribers each. ? 2.) 48 Classified Ad Spots Over The Next 12 Months: Each Sponsor is also allocated ONE (1) Sponsor Classified Advertisement in every issue of Tidbits (each week) for the full year of their sponsorship. That's 48 Issues reaching 6,500+ Adaptive Technology subscribers each. And that's not all. 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