Phonebooks 'essential' despite web directories
Despite the rise in online phone directories, BT claims there is still a need for printed versions to be published.
The study, commissioned by ICM and supported by Age UK, found that there are over six million people who still rely on the traditional Phone Book to find telephone numbers.
Michelle Mitchell, charity director at Age UK, said: "While we celebrate the achievements of older people who've successfully learnt to use the internet, it mustn't be forgotten that telephone directories are valued and absolutely essential for people who are not online, including many of the 6.4 million people in later life who have never used the internet."
More than 40 per cent of people asked in the study said they wouldn't make calls without the printed Phone Book and eight out of ten said they have an up-to-date copy at home.
Anti-phonebook groups have been campaigning to get an opt-in scheme set up so that people who don't want a phone book don't receive one - saving a substantial amount of paper and waste.
BT has committed to reducing the size of the Phone Book so it will fit into letter boxes and save, what the company claims, 2,000 tonnes of paper each year. It will also be adding money-saving coupons and menu guides in the classified restaurant section.
BT Directories' chief executive David Benjamin added: "If you listened to some people, you'd think that nobody wanted phonebooks, when in fact the opposite is true. Our research shows that people still really value the Phone Book and will welcome the new compact paper-saving size."
Yet Dominic Blackburn, product director for 192.com, told Web User: "This is another victory for 192.com's 'Say No To Phonebooks' campaign. However, we don't want to see BT pushing these phone directories through letterboxes when people have clearly stated that they don't want to receive junk mail."
"We have recent independent research that demonstrates that 70 per cent of people don't know they can opt-out of receiving phonebooks. This is on top of research that demonstrated that 41 per cent of households no longer used printed directories at all and that 70 per cent of Brits would support an opt-in system for phonebooks. So, BT, Yell and Thomson need to make it clear that people can opt out."
