telecom@ucbvax.UUCP (02/11/86)
In article <8602060733.AA12585@ucbvax.berkeley.edu> Mike says: > I've heard that there's a company that's going to market a nationwide > directory assistance database on a CD-ROM for use with your favorite > home computer. [...] France has a nation-wide computerized such system. You hook your Minitel (a special terminal-cum-modem given free by the Telephone Company to any user upon request) to the phone line, dial 11, and then can look up phone numbers anywhere in France according to different search keys, such as name, occupation (e.g., physicians or travel agencies etc...), street address. And the service is free for the 1st 2 minutes or so. Incidentally, many nationwide computerized public and private services now use this Minitel. For instance, banks, which allow one to monitor one's checking account through minitel; train and airlines; real estate; entertainment; dating; and many more. And it works! Michel