venta

So, that time has come. The time when you accept that your mobile phone is not long for this world, and you need to sort out a replacement.

Unfortunately, the phone I want does not exist.

( I want a high-end Android device which is physically small )

Current working plan is to backup all the data from my existing phone, do a factory reset, and hope that'll clear it up enough to let me squeeze a few more months' use out of it while I try to make a decision, and hope some new phones come out.

I'm surprised there hasn't been more fuss over this. Maybe I've just missed it.

There are (though not nearly as many as I'd expect) reports online that a company is setting up a Directory Enquiries equivalent for mobile numbers. So (in theory) you call them, and for £1 they'll connect you to (rather than give you the number for)[**] anyone you ask them for.

The provenance of the numbers they're using is a little dicey - "generally [they are] from companies who collect mobile telephone numbers from customers in the course of doing business and have been given permission by the customers to share those numbers". In theory, if you always check[*] that box this won't affect you at all.

It's possible to make yourself ex-directory by texting 'E' to 118800, though early and "unscientific" testing from The Register suggests that the directory is far from exhaustive.

You can read about the directory from the horse's mouth here.

Update: You can check here if you're in the directory. A prize to the first person who can actually find themselves (or indeed anyone they know) in it...

[*] or do I mean uncheck ? I can't remember offhand whether it's opt-in or opt-out.
[**] That's what reports say. The horse's mouth says that they'll sms the person you're trying to contact with your details.