Until now, callers who dialed a number and received a voice mail message - sometimes even before the phone rings more than once - were charged for the call, whether or not they left a message. No more, Attias now says.
Israel's telephone companies - Bezeq (land-lines) and cellular companies Partner (Orange), Pelephone, Cellcom and Mirs - will have to install a preliminary message giving the caller a few seconds to decide whether to leave a message and be charged, or to hang up for free.
Communications Minister Attias - at 36, one of Israel's youngest government ministers ever - announced that the decision "corrects the injustice that was caused to consumers for many years, in that they had to pay for a service that was forced upon them." The Ministry estimates that the public shelled out 100 million shekels a year for phone conversations that ended after 3-6 seconds.
Minister Attias also announced more good news for telephone consumers: Within three months, all the phone companies will have to provide free information service for their customers' phone numbers. Currently, inquiries to 144 - Bezeq's information service - cost consumers 1.81 shekels (40 cents) for up to three numbers.
Israel's telephone companies - Bezeq (land-lines) and cellular companies Partner (Orange), Pelephone, Cellcom and Mirs - will have to install a preliminary message giving the caller a few seconds to decide whether to leave a message and be charged, or to hang up for free.
Communications Minister Attias - at 36, one of Israel's youngest government ministers ever - announced that the decision "corrects the injustice that was caused to consumers for many years, in that they had to pay for a service that was forced upon them." The Ministry estimates that the public shelled out 100 million shekels a year for phone conversations that ended after 3-6 seconds.
Minister Attias also announced more good news for telephone consumers: Within three months, all the phone companies will have to provide free information service for their customers' phone numbers. Currently, inquiries to 144 - Bezeq's information service - cost consumers 1.81 shekels (40 cents) for up to three numbers.