I-CD Publishing - deregulation? That happened in January 1999

I-CD Publishing - deregulation? That happened in January 1999 Tuesday's allocation of directory numbers to over 80 companies, as a result of the deregulation of voice directory services will see a bear pit of competition that will eventually result in a few key players dominating the market. I-CD Publishing will be one of those. Why? Because I-CD Publishing was one of the protagonists responsible for the changes to the Telecommunications Charter in January 1999 that saw OFTEL remove BT's monopoly on directory enquiry provision. As a result BT was obliged to sell its OSIS directory database to competitors, and I- CD Publishing was the first company to offer that data through a web- based service - 192.com and through its UK-Info Disk CD ROMs. The site was operational in 1997, but in 1999 it was able to offer users access not only to Electoral Roll data, which detailed approximately 44 million names and addresses but also BT's 17 million directory enquiry listings. The web site saw phenomenal success and to date the registered user-base stands at over 2 million. With low-cost directory costs and the kind of search facilities telephone directory services could only wish for, I-CD Publishing has established itself as the leading directory site in the UK. It was voted one of the top three directory sites in the world and is the second most book-marked business site in the UK. Its CD ROM information products have dominated the market and it is I-CD's intention to dominate the voice market too. In the scrum that will inevitably ensue with deregulation it is wise to remember that directory services are about data not telecommunications and while there are three key factors that will determine who wins and who loses in this market, the final determinants will be the quality of data provision and the cost. In the first instance, the number itself will be of significant importance, and those numbers easiest to remember will have the advantage, thankfully in that respect, I-CD should have no problems. The number allocated to us is 118 119. Branding and marketing, specifically to consumers will be vital. I-CD is tying in with a leading call centre directory service in the UK. Thirdly, the quality of the data will sort the wheat from the chaff of directory services, and this is where I-CD has the leading edge. I-CD has been providing directory services on-line and off-line since January 1997. Offering both BT's OSIS data and Electoral Roll records together with yellow pages style business data, including financial and shareholder information, the website 192.com delivers more than three times the information of BT's service. Combining such a wealth of data with innovative software technologies that offer the most powerful search facilities on the market, users can search using the minimum of criteria such as a forename, or highly specific criteria such as the ability to search for every John and Mary Smith that live in the same household. Having earned accolades which range from 'directory enquiries on steroids' (Daily Mail) to 'watershed in the information age' (The Independent), I-CD is in an ideal position to deliver voice directory services. Utilising the data and technologies that have turned it into the one of the top three directory sites in the world (as voted by About.com at the San Diego 2000 Conference), I-CD hopes to do the same with voice DQ. As a company that has always been at the leading edge of new technologies, I-CD will be providing a two-tiered directory service: on- line through the website 192.com and through a dedicated call centre operation. With a two-tiered cost structure I-CD will be able to offer a range of directory services that give users the greatest choice, not only in how that information is delivered but how much it will cost. Once the dust has settled, it is clear that out of the 80 companies pitching for directory numbers, a few key players will emerge who will dominate the market. As a company that to date has dominated every market it has entered, I-CD will be one of those. For more information please contact Antonia Crawford on: 020 7909 2191 or 07730 701 660 or via e-mail at: anton@192.com. ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/05/27/20020527BIT01000/wkr0001.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/05/27/20020527BIT01000/wkr0002.pdf