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JustDial Goes Mobile With WAP Site; No SMS Service?

By Nikhil Pahwa - Thu 16 Aug 2007 04:27 AM PST

Local information search company JustDial has gone mobile with a WAP site - wap.justdial.com.  I’m surprised that they didn’t launch SMS services, and hence gain access to a larger mobile user base, given the low GPRS penetration in the country. There appears to be a click2call facility - giving users the opportunity to call the numbers displayed in the search result. Currently, JustDial’s Internet and mobile service covers 40 cities, while their regular telephone service is available in 42 cities, and they probably have a huge database of users across these cities. There are issues with spam, and sharing user information, though. We’d broken the story last year, of JustDial receiving an undisclosed amount of funding from SAIF Partners.

Posted in: Mobile, Search


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12 Responses:
  • From Abhay Singh Pathania Thu 16 Aug 2007 05:20 AM

    Well this has to be a bookmark for all WAP users altough i tried the link and the page isnt getting displayed.

    Even im surprised at justdial not launching pull based services on a Short code.
    may be they want a dedicated short code for themselves similar to the 39399… UAN and are in process of operator integration for text services.  No clue..

  • From subu Thu 16 Aug 2007 06:17 AM

    Dear Abhay,
    You got to type either http://wap.justdial.com or http://www.justdial.com. our links are working perfectly fine.We have over 1200 daily visitors to our wap version in addition to 27000 odd daily visitors to our website. And BTW we are ready with sms service the delay is from some operators due to shift of 4 digit short co 5 digits as per directions from DOT.
    Our sms short code is 53999

  • From subu Thu 16 Aug 2007 06:27 AM

    Dear Nikhil,
    we at justdial do not believe in any kind of data mining.
    The accusition of spaming is incorrect.
    But we do give feedback to our sponsored customers with the proof of caller name and number.

  • From Nikhil Thu 16 Aug 2007 07:02 AM

    Subu: then explain to me how it is that within 10 minutes of my inquiring for details on hotels in September last year, i got an unsolicited call from a hotel. from a person who had all my details? I also got an email, but that I have delted.

    However, I just spoke to a vendor who subscribes to Justdial’s directory services in Delhi.

    I’m told that every time you give his information to a consumer, he pays Rs. 70. For this, he also receives the consumers name, phone/mobile number and email address (if any of it is disclosed) by SMS and email. This information is sent almost immediately, in order to allow the vendor to contact the consumer directly. Now you’re sharing consumer information without the consumers knowledge, and without the consumer choosing to opt in.

  • From subu Thu 16 Aug 2007 08:31 AM

    Nikhil,
    We never denied giving feedback to our customers. which is often limited to just a 4 registered customers per call. That’s our business model. Incidentally both our callers and sponsored clients are very happy with this service. Moreover we have never denied services to callers relectunt to part with their numbers. BTW spam is too harsh a word in this context.

  • From Mahesh Fri 17 Aug 2007 10:00 PM

    I don’t think Just Dial spams at all. They even ask if they should inform their clients (vendors) about my mobile number. If I say no, they will not inform the vendor.

  • From Santosh Sun 11 Nov 2007 07:30 PM

    > I’m surprised that they didn’t launch SMS services

    I’m not surprised - they have a great dial-in system that is working well and also appears to be profitable. On calling their service number, a voice ad is played at the start before an operator comes online. Their tech is outsourced, I guess they have less confidence in being able to provide a user-friendly SMS solution.

  • From sunil Wed 05 Mar 2008 11:15 PM

    We offer Click to call. Can anybody know the consern person of just dial whom i can talk with.

  • From Asma Wed 19 Mar 2008 05:35 AM

    i just want to by a good TV by rent so can u pls lelp out

  • From Veeresh Mon 05 May 2008 10:16 PM

    Just Dial Service is pathetic.  I placed tele ads for Computer Services. Getting irrelevant ads.  For that they give their own reason.  At the end of the day, we are the loosers.  After Sales support is also not good. for everything they need email to for noting.

  • From Jagdish Fri 16 May 2008 06:25 AM

    Yes Justdial loves spamming.. I also encountered the same issue as faced by Nikhil.

    I would never leave my new numbers with them.. For them it may be marketing but for consumers its spamming !!

  • From BlogsDNA Mon 23 Jun 2008 09:44 AM

    I would defiantly wont disclose my number to such spammy sites. don’t want to make my life miserable

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