Have the new 118 services taken off?

The telecoms operator, which runs its own directories service, says just 7.4 million calls were made to 118 directory enquiry numbers in the first two weeks of the new service.

It says that is the equivalent of just 45% of the 15 million calls made to the old monopoly 192 service in the same period of 2002.

BT claims customers are "confused" about the new services and "concerned about price and quality".

Happy

But telecoms regulator Oftel, which promised the deregulation of 192 would mean a better service for customers, said its research had shown consumers were happy with the new system.

"People are still going to need to find telephone numbers and so may be making greater use of free web-based directory enquiries services instead," a spokesman said.

The regulator said its research had shown that consumer were happy to see 192 replaced if it leads to more choice and a range of prices.

"This is exactly what has happened, with seven of the 15 services cheaper than the old 192 service, and new features such as call completion and classified searching," the spokesman added.

Underhand tactics?

Oftel figures show that for every 100 calls made to directory enquiries, 29 are still made to the now-defunct 192 number.

That compares with the 54 in 100 calls made mistakenly to 192 on the day the old service was disconnected, which Oftel said shows callers are getting to grips with the new system.

Earlier this month, Oftel was accused of turning the switch off of 192 into a "fiasco", with new service providers complaining about being misled over the number of calls they were likely to receive.