B144: Difference between revisions
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| founded = [[2000]] |
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Bezeq’s '''B144 services''' include an online business guide (b144.co.il), the 144 call center and a [[mobile app]]. The service provides access to telephone numbers and addresses of any business or person in Israel. The website also includes map services, postal code search etc. |
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[[Bezeq]]'s 144 services and the associated b144.co.il website are a telephone directory. The services provides personal and business phone numbers in Israel.<ref>[https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3745067,00.html New: 144 Website also in Russian, English, and Arabic], YNET, 12 July 2009</ref><ref>[https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3376380,00.html Finally: 144 website with phone numbers of all communication companies], YNET, 14 March 2007</ref><ref>[https://www.calcalist.co.il/marketing/articles/0,7340,L-3174145,00.html Bezeq increases competition with Golden Pages: Launches search for private phone numbers via SMS], Calcaist, 22 December 2008</ref> In 2008 the b144 website (12th) surpassed the website ranking of the Israeli [[Golden Pages]] (13th) in the TIM ranking.<ref>[https://news.walla.co.il/item/1333562 b144 passes Golden Pages in TIM ranking], Walla, 20 August 2008</ref> |
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== 144 – The Call Center == |
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The website was launched using the b144.co.il domain as the 144.co.il domain was purchased by one of the founders of the AvaTrade Forex company.<ref>[https://www.themarker.com/markets/1.2674661 The main who drove Bezeq crazy sells a company to Teddy Sagi for 105 million dollars], TheMarker, 2 July 2015</ref> |
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During the first years of its existence, the service was established in the form of a call center, in which the operators were connecting calls to the required destinations. Later the service was upgraded to be able to provide required phone numbers manually, using cards. During the [[1980s]], the first computerized systems have been used to enable an automatic search for private and business phone numbers. |
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In the middle of the 1980s, the call center’s number was changed from 14 to 144. In the [[1990s]] a computer system was developed to deliver the required phone number in the form of a pre-recorded message, similar to the way it works today. At the same time the infrastructure of the call center was upgraded as well, making the operation of additional services possible, such as “a call completion service” that connects the customer to the demanded phone number. |
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In 2011, Bezeq launched a Facebook version of the website.<ref>[https://www.globes.co.il/news/article.aspx?did=1000656332 Bezeq upgrades b144: Launches Facebook search engine], Blobes, 21 June 2011</ref> |
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The 144 call center service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and every day of the year except [[Yom Kippur]]. The call center is a paid service, while the B144 website serves millions of customers free of charge. |
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In 2014, Bezeq settled a class action lawsuit alleging that the plaintiffs were harmed by the cessation of publication and distribution of printed telephone directories required the plaintiffs, who were not connected to the internet or unaccustomed in internet usage, to call the 144 call center and pay a tariff. Bezeq's response claimed that the internet directory made the printed directories redundant.<ref>[https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4502638,00.html Bezeq sued: Why isn't there a printed telephone directory?], YNET, 25 March 2014</ref> |
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== Technological Enhancements in the B144 Call Center and the Adoption of the Internet == |
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In 2016, a 61 million shekel class action lawsuit was filed against Bezeq claiming that the "call completion" feature of the 144 call center did not inform the callers of associated tariffs.<ref>[https://www.globes.co.il/news/article.aspx?did=1001095798 61 million shekel class action approved against Bezeq for 144 service], Gloves, 17 January 2016</ref> |
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Along with the worldwide adoption of the technological progress and more extensive use of the Internet and the [[Cellular network|cellular networks]], it became clear that there is a need for an accessible web platform that will be able to provide its users with an immediate and free response. As a result, in the beginning of the 2000s [[Bezeq]] launches the online 144 directory. The website offered services similar to 144, free of charge, although still based on the previous technological solutions. |
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In February 2007 Bezeq announces the opening of the renewed 144 and 1344 call centers, both of them eventually united under the B144 brand. The most prominent feature of the united website was that for the first time it included phone numbers of all the cellular networks as well as of the domestic operator, allowing to retrieve both private and business contact information. At the same time, an additional service for business clients was launched – the B144 Business Guide. |
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== References == |
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{{ref-list}} |
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== B144 and the Business Guide == |
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The B144 Business Guide is a search engine and a database of Israeli companies which is maintained and updated by Bezeq on a daily basis, in accordance with the information received from the telecom companies. The Guide allows searching for businesses, persons, focus groups, governmental and non-governmental organizations, while the search results may be filtered by location, reviews rating, availability and more. Since 2009, the B144 service is also available in the form of a mobile application that was developed in order to enable a quick and intuitive search for businesses, people and maps. In 2011 Bezeq has added an advanced map system as one of the website’s features. Since 2012, the B144 service uses [[Waze]] app as a navigation help tool: a feature that provides the users with arrival instructions to the required destination. |
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Bezeq’s B144 service uses organic as well as paid promotion by [[Google]] to make the search more effective, along with various digital tools such as: price lists, coupons, recommendation reviews, ratings etc. All those features allow Bezeq to ensure a higher exposure to the website’s business customers, while providing a user-friendly experience for users and visitors. Apart from publishing some basic information about the company, the owners may also purchase one of the digital advertising packages by contacting B144 Digital – the B144 [[digital marketing]] agency. |
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== B144 Digital == |
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B144 Digital is Bezeq’s B144 digital marketing agency which offers complete digital advertising solutions for small and medium businesses in Israel. |
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B144 Digital offers various advertising packages that include paid promotion in Google and Facebook, listing of the business on B144 and connected websites, creation of a landing page, a website, an online store, a business page on Google and [[Facebook]], promotion of the business on [[Taboola]], a voicemail service for businesses and more. |
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Besides advertising packages, the B144 Digital website (B144biz) contains a wide range of advice and helpful materials about digital marketing for businesses. The content of the expert blog is written both by Bezeq’s digital marketing experts and guest writers, and it includes articles, videos, inspirational success stories and information guides which can be used to improve the business’s owner’s online and offline marketing abilities. This information is free and available to all Internet users. |
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== See Also == |
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* [[Bezeq]] |
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== External links == |
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* {{Official website|https://www.b144.co.il/|name=Official Website}} |
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* [https://www.b144biz.co.il/ B144 Digital Marketing Agency] |
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* [http://www.globes.co.il/news/article.aspx?did=1000656332 <u>Bezeq Upgrades The B144 Service And Launches A Service On Facebook</u>] |
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* [http://finance.walla.co.il/item/1077743 Bezeq Launches B144 Telephone Intelligence Website] |
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[[Category:Telecommunications in Israel]] |
[[Category:Telecommunications in Israel]] |
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Revision as of 07:25, 28 July 2022
| Industry | Phone and business directory |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2000 |
| Headquarters | Israel |
| Parent | Bezeq |
| Website | B144 |
Bezeq’s B144 services include an online business guide (b144.co.il), the 144 call center and a mobile app. The service provides access to telephone numbers and addresses of any business or person in Israel. The website also includes map services, postal code search etc.
144 – The Call Center
During the first years of its existence, the service was established in the form of a call center, in which the operators were connecting calls to the required destinations. Later the service was upgraded to be able to provide required phone numbers manually, using cards. During the 1980s, the first computerized systems have been used to enable an automatic search for private and business phone numbers.
In the middle of the 1980s, the call center’s number was changed from 14 to 144. In the 1990s a computer system was developed to deliver the required phone number in the form of a pre-recorded message, similar to the way it works today. At the same time the infrastructure of the call center was upgraded as well, making the operation of additional services possible, such as “a call completion service” that connects the customer to the demanded phone number.
The 144 call center service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and every day of the year except Yom Kippur. The call center is a paid service, while the B144 website serves millions of customers free of charge.
Technological Enhancements in the B144 Call Center and the Adoption of the Internet
Along with the worldwide adoption of the technological progress and more extensive use of the Internet and the cellular networks, it became clear that there is a need for an accessible web platform that will be able to provide its users with an immediate and free response. As a result, in the beginning of the 2000s Bezeq launches the online 144 directory. The website offered services similar to 144, free of charge, although still based on the previous technological solutions.
In February 2007 Bezeq announces the opening of the renewed 144 and 1344 call centers, both of them eventually united under the B144 brand. The most prominent feature of the united website was that for the first time it included phone numbers of all the cellular networks as well as of the domestic operator, allowing to retrieve both private and business contact information. At the same time, an additional service for business clients was launched – the B144 Business Guide.
B144 and the Business Guide
The B144 Business Guide is a search engine and a database of Israeli companies which is maintained and updated by Bezeq on a daily basis, in accordance with the information received from the telecom companies. The Guide allows searching for businesses, persons, focus groups, governmental and non-governmental organizations, while the search results may be filtered by location, reviews rating, availability and more. Since 2009, the B144 service is also available in the form of a mobile application that was developed in order to enable a quick and intuitive search for businesses, people and maps. In 2011 Bezeq has added an advanced map system as one of the website’s features. Since 2012, the B144 service uses Waze app as a navigation help tool: a feature that provides the users with arrival instructions to the required destination.
Bezeq’s B144 service uses organic as well as paid promotion by Google to make the search more effective, along with various digital tools such as: price lists, coupons, recommendation reviews, ratings etc. All those features allow Bezeq to ensure a higher exposure to the website’s business customers, while providing a user-friendly experience for users and visitors. Apart from publishing some basic information about the company, the owners may also purchase one of the digital advertising packages by contacting B144 Digital – the B144 digital marketing agency.
B144 Digital
B144 Digital is Bezeq’s B144 digital marketing agency which offers complete digital advertising solutions for small and medium businesses in Israel.
B144 Digital offers various advertising packages that include paid promotion in Google and Facebook, listing of the business on B144 and connected websites, creation of a landing page, a website, an online store, a business page on Google and Facebook, promotion of the business on Taboola, a voicemail service for businesses and more.
Besides advertising packages, the B144 Digital website (B144biz) contains a wide range of advice and helpful materials about digital marketing for businesses. The content of the expert blog is written both by Bezeq’s digital marketing experts and guest writers, and it includes articles, videos, inspirational success stories and information guides which can be used to improve the business’s owner’s online and offline marketing abilities. This information is free and available to all Internet users.