Abstract: A method is provided for sending a message to a telecommunication subscriber without revealing their contact information in response to a communication session initiated by a requester. The method includes providing a requestor of non-disclosable wireless contact information of a telecommunication subscriber an opportunity to send the subscriber a message in electronic format. A message is received from the requester which determines available formats for delivery of the message to the subscriber. A message is transmitted to the subscriber in at least one available electronic format acceptable to the subscriber's device.

Abstract: A communication assistance system provides access to information corresponding to a plurality of subscribers. The system includes a telephone switch for receiving calls from a plurality of requesters desiring to access the information corresponding to subscribers. A first database is configured to store the information corresponding to each of the subscribers, including phone numbers. A closing prompt module is coupled to the first database on as to select a closing prompt code associated with a desired closing prompt message so as to provide a selected closing prompt message, where anyone of the available closing prompt messages is provided to a requester. The closing prompt module selects the closing prompt code relating to a subscriber information other than the subscriber information requested by the requester.

Abstract: A communication assistance system provides access to information corresponding to a plurality of subscriber listings. The system includes a telephone switch for receiving calls from a plurality of callers desiring to access the information corresponding to the subscriber listings and a database directory listing for storing information corresponding to each one of the subscriber listings. The information in the subscriber listings include a Rate Plan field associated with billing rates corresponding to each one of the subscribers such that when the system connects the caller to the subscriber, the system employs the Rate Plan Field to determine the billing amount charged to the caller so that the subscriber is not billed for the call.

Abstract: A communication assistance system includes a telephone switch for receiving calls from a plurality of requesters, a call center for routing each of said received calls to an operator terminal, and a first database configured to store said information corresponding to each of said subscribers. The system includes a masking feature that allows it to connect a requester to a subscriber without revealing subscriber's mobile telephone number.

Abstract: A communication assistance system provides access to information corresponding to a plurality of subscriber listings. The system includes a telephone switch for receiving calls from a plurality of callers desiring to access the information corresponding to the subscriber listings and a database directory listing for storing information corresponding to each one of the subscriber listings. The information in the subscriber listings include a Rate Plan field associated with billing rates corresponding to each one of the subscribers such that when the system connects the caller to the subscriber, the system employs the Rate Plan Field to determine the billing amount charged to the caller so that the subscriber is not billed for the call.

Abstract: A communication assistance system provides access to information corresponding to a plurality of subscribers. The system includes a means for receiving incoming communications from a plurality of requesters desiring to access the information corresponding to subscribers and a database directory listing storing information corresponding to each one of the subscribers. The information includes a pre-announcement field containing information indicating whether a requester is pre-announced before a connection to a subscriber is made.

Abstract: A communication assistance system is provided for accessing information corresponding to a plurality of subscribers. This system is comprised of a telephone switch for receiving calls from a plurality of requesters, a call center for routing each of said received calls to an operator terminal, and a first database configured to store said information corresponding to each of said subscribers.

Abstract: A communication assistance system for providing access to information corresponding to a plurality of subscribers includes a telephone switch for receiving calls from a plurality of requesters desiring to access the subscriber information. A listing database is configured to store the subscriber information including a field containing wireless phone numbers of a desired portion of the subscribers and a connect field that stores information instructing the system as to whether to mask the subscriber's wireless phone number to the requester, such that during a process that the requester is being connected to a desired subscriber, the connect field is examined to determine whether to disclose the subscriber's wireless phone number to the requester.

Abstract: A communication assistance system provides access to information corresponding to a plurality of subscriber listings. The system includes a telephone switch for receiving calls from a plurality of callers desiring to access the information corresponding to the subscriber listings and a database directory listing for storing information corresponding to each one of the subscriber listings. The information in the subscriber listings include a Rate Plan field associated with billing rates corresponding to each one of the subscribers such that when the system connects the caller to the subscriber, the system employs the Rate Plan Field to determine the billing amount charged to the caller so that the subscriber is not billed for the call.

Abstract: A communication assistance system provides access to information corresponding to a plurality of subscriber listings. The system includes a telephone switch for receiving calls from a plurality of callers desiring to access the information corresponding to the subscriber listings and a database directory listing for storing information corresponding to each one of the subscriber listings. The information in the subscriber listings include a Rate Plan field associated with billing rates corresponding to each one of the subscribers such that when the system connects the caller to the subscriber, the system employs the Rate Plan Field to determine the billing amount charged to the caller so that the subscriber is not billed for the call.

Abstract: A personalized assistance system maintains a first database having a contact list for the user including at least one contact name and a corresponding contact number. A telephone identification code uniquely associated with the telephone said identification code is transmitted to the system when the user calls. A customer service representative terminal is coupled to the database and the telephone hardware. The telephone identification code prompts automatic retrieval of the contact list to the customer service representative terminal in response to processing of the identification code. The customer service representative terminal searches the contact list in response to a user query to locate a designated contact from the user's contact list and causes the telephony hardware to connect the telephone with the contact number corresponding to the designated contact. The system provides a multimedia message to the user while the user is connected with the personalized assistance system.

Abstract: A method for sending a message to a telecommunication subscriber without revealing their contact information in response to a communication session initiated by a requester, said method comprising the steps of: providing a requestor of non-disclosable wireless contact information of a telecommunication subscriber an opportunity to send said subscriber a message in electronic format; receiving said message from said requester; determining available formats for delivery of said message to said subscriber; transmitting said message to said subscriber in at least one available electronic format acceptable to said subscriber's device.

Abstract: A communication assistance system provides access to information corresponding to a plurality of subscribers. The system includes a means for receiving incoming communications from a plurality of requesters desiring to access the information corresponding to subscribers and a database directory listing storing information corresponding to each one of the subscribers. The information includes a pre-announcement field containing information indicating whether a requester is pre-announced before a connection to a subscriber is made.

Abstract: The present invention is a personalized assistance system for a user of a telephone, comprised of a first database, the first database having a contact list for the user. The contact list includes at least one contact name and a corresponding contact number and including the user's electronic commerce information. A telephone identification code is uniquely associated with the telephone and electronically transmitted to the personalized assistance system, when the user calls the system. A customer service representative terminal, coupled to the database and the telephone hardware are provided where the telephone identification code prompts automatic retrieval of the contact list to the customer service representative terminal in response to processing the telephone identification code. The customer service representative terminal obtains the electronic commerce information in response to a user request to perform an electronic commerce transaction.

Abstract: A personalized assistance system maintains a first database having a contact list for the user including at least one contact name and a corresponding contact number. A telephone identification code uniquely associated with the telephone said identification code is transmitted to the system when the user calls. A customer service representative terminal is coupled to the database and the telephone hardware. The telephone identification code prompts automatic retrieval of the contact list to the customer service representative terminal in response to processing of the identification code. The customer service representative terminal searches the contact list in response to a user query to locate a designated contact from the user's contact list and causes the telephony hardware to connect the telephone with the contact number corresponding to the designated contact. The system provides a multimedia message to the user while the user is connected with the personalized assistance system.

Abstract: A communication assistance system is provided for accessing information corresponding to a plurality of subscribers. This system is comprised of a telephone switch for receiving calls from a plurality of requesters, a call center for routing each of said received calls to an operator terminal, and a first database configured to store said information corresponding to each of said subscribers.

Abstract: A communication assistance system for providing access to information corresponding to a plurality of subscribers includes a telephone switch for receiving calls from a plurality of requesters desiring to access the subscriber information. A listing database is configured to store the subscriber information including a field containing wireless phone numbers of a desired portion of the subscribers and a connect field that stores information instructing the system as to whether to mask the subscriber's wireless phone number to the requester, such that during a process that the requester is being connected to a desired subscriber, the connect field is examined to determine whether to disclose the subscriber's wireless phone number to the requester.

Abstract: A billing system is provided for a communication assistance system that provides access to information corresponding to a plurality of subscribers. The billing system and communication assistance system include a telephone switch for receiving calls from a plurality of requesters desiring access to the information corresponding to subscribers. A database stores the information corresponding to each of the subscribers, including their phone numbers. A billing record database is coupled to the switch and configured to store information corresponding to amount of time the requester was connected to each one of the subscribers. The communication assistance system provides instructions to the subscriber's service provider such that the subscriber is not billed for the call.

Abstract: The present invention is a personalized assistance system for a user of a telephone, comprised of a first database, the first database having a contact list for the user. The contact list includes at least one contact name and a corresponding contact number and including the user's electronic commerce information. A telephone identification code is uniquely associated with the telephone and electronically transmitted to the personalized assistance system, when the user calls the system. A customer service representative terminal, coupled to the database and the telephone hardware are provided where the telephone identification code prompts automatic retrieval of the contact list to the customer service representative terminal in response to processing the telephone identification code. The customer service representative terminal obtains the electronic commerce information in response to a user request to perform an electronic commerce transaction.

Abstract: A directory assistance system is provided for providing subscriber information to requesters communicating with the assistance system. A telephone switch receives calls from a plurality of requesters desiring to access the information corresponding to subscribers. A first database stores the information corresponding to each of the subscribers, including their phone numbers. A communications interface for database clean-up receives instructions from the subscribers so as to allow the subscribers to modify their corresponding information in the first database, where the communications interface is coupled to a carrier customer care representative system configured to receive phone calls from the subscribers. A carrier clean-up database is coupled to the customer care representative system and configured to store the modified information received from the subscribers.