Posted on 12/05/2004 1:06:06 PM PST by buccaneer81
Drunken dialing: Cellphone co. keeps users from making regrettable calls By Brian Caruso Sunday, December 5, 2004
A new cellphone service can help callers who've had a few too many cocktails avoid making humiliating ``drunk dials'' to significant others, exes and even the boss by blocking their numbers ahead of time.
Virgin Mobile Australia recently began offering the service, called Dialing Under the Influence. Subscribers who intend to imbibe can dial 333 followed by the phone number to temporarily block the number (until 6 a.m. the next morning) for 25 cents.
Not surprisingly, the idea for the service was hatched over a few beverages.
``The idea came from the team when we were in the pub one evening,'' said Kerry Parkin, public relations manager at Virgin Mobile Australia. ``We threw the idea around almost as a joke initially with a swift realization that actually we could do this.''
A survey done by Virgin Mobile Australia found that an alarming 95 percent of those who responded previously had dialed while drunk.
Although the service is not yet available in the United States, Bostonians told the Herald they would welcome it.
``Everyone has had a disaster story,'' said Joanne Corsi, a 21- year-old college student. ``There are times I wish I had it.''
Parkin said the response to new phone service has been great.
``It has been very well-received, especially as it's the busy Christmas season, lots of parties,'' Parkin said. ``Prior to this service, the Australian public took to physically deleting entries from their mobile phone books, slightly drastic.''
Now to do somehting about drunken posting . . . 8^)
brillianter: dont do alcohol. its the most destructive drug around.
That would deprive us of a great deal of entertainment on weekend evenings.
Are you daft? Alcohol is more destructive than crack? More destructive than methamphetamine? Puh-leaze.
Some of my friends have done this. I can't imagine why.
Agreed. BTW, what would happen to the pick-up line in bars ..."You look so lovely tonight. Can I buy you a drink?"
Bull. I'd like to see you try to prove that. You'll need a very odd definition of 'more destructive.'
The claim overlooks the obvious truth that there is no safe way to use crack or methamphetamines. They are damaging on their first use. There are no healthy, casual crack users or meth users. The suggestion is absurd.
Where was this service when I was in College? Once called my boyfriend and broke up with him and didn't remember the next day. It was pretty bad.
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