Swisscom to withdraw its Connect 1811 operator service

In view of the new regulatory provisions, Swisscom has decided to withdraw the Connect 1811 operator service as of 28 December 2009. The service enabled callers to be connected to a Swisscom mobile phone. The revised Ordinance on Telecommunications Services valid from 1 January 2010 will require Swisscom to share customer data with third-party providers if it wishes to continue providing the service. This would affect the mobile phone data of customers who are not listed in the public telephone directory and who have not given their consent for their data to be shared. Swisscom has decided to maintain its customers' privacy, however, and is therefore withdrawing the Connect 1811 operator service.

Swisscom sought an industry solution that protects customer privacy

Since Connect 1811 was launched in January 2009, Swisscom has sought to develop a joint industry solution that protects customer privacy while at the same time allowing all providers to offer a comparable operator service. Rather than an industry solution, an ordinance has now come into force that only partially takes these proposals into account.

Connect 1811 enabled callers to be connected to the mobile phone numbers of Swisscom residential customers even if the numbers were not listed in the public telephone directory. The numbers were not revealed, thereby ensuring that privacy was maintained at all times.

--- END press release Swisscom to withdraw its Connect 1811 operator service ---

  Swisscom AG (company entry)