BONN/PASEWALK (dpa-AFX) - The imminent end of Deutsche Telekom's directory assistance service has been met with concern by the VdK social welfare association. This leaves "especially poor, elderly people and people with disabilities behind", criticized association president Verena Bentele on Tuesday. "There are still many people who can't afford a smartphone or computer." Other people have difficulties using technology or there is a lack of accessible services. "These people are being cut off from important information and information by the shutdown of telephone information." The VdK is calling for analog alternatives to always be provided alongside digital services and to be secured in the long term.

Deutsche Telekom plans to discontinue its directory assistance service, including its wake-up service, on December 1, 2024 - the number in question is 11833 in Germany and 11834 abroad. The company justified the discontinuation with the rapid decline in demand - in 1995, there were reportedly 550 million inquiries, now less than two million per year. From the landline network, just under two euros are charged per minute, and there may be deviations from this price per minute for mobile calls.

According to the company, the directory assistance business, where people answer calls and answer questions, is "out of date" and loss-making; a service provider from Pasewalk works for the Bonn-based company in this area. Deutsche Telekom intends to invest the financial resources saved "in future-proof infrastructures such as fiber optic and mobile networks as well as in digital services".

The Magenta Group points out that more than 80 percent of people in Germany now use a smartphone, and that computers and tablets can also be used for online searches. Those who are offline, on the other hand, will be able to call information services from the competition from December, such as 11880, or use the good old telephone directory - provided they still have it and the copy for the city from which they need a number./wdw/DP/he