Plug time: History to tell your friends about
Posted: June 3rd, 2003 | 3 Comments »One of the things I’ve been working on for the past year: Handheld History delivers historical tour guides and stories over the phone. Though I may be somewhat biased on the issue, I think the content is absolutely fantastic: genuinely fascinating stories and perspectives, refreshingly narrated by Stephen Fry and Joanna Lumley.
To try it, call 0871 871 3210 and use code 32100 for the Covent Garden tour. If you’re going to be near Covent Garden sometime soon, print out this PDF and take it with you – the system will guide you around the map as it goes. However, you don’t actually need to be in the area to enjoy it – many people have called from home. The three mini-tours come to about an hour in total, though you can stop at any time and pick up later. The total cost for that hour should be less than a tenner for a mobile. (For a one-minute taster, here’s an MP3. You’ll love it so much, you’ll make the call. Oh, go on.)
(Incidentally, my role in the production was the voice UI design. I have to confess that I’m a newcomer to that particular black art so any constructive criticism would be welcome.)
How much does it cost? I can’t understand phone codes these days.
0871 is 10p/min on practically all mobiles (I think it’s the same for landlines). There’s also a £1.50 reverse-billed SMS charge for mobiles before you get going. (There’s an 0906 number that’s 25p/min but without the SMS charge, but I don’t think that’s running yet)
I might be working on some IVR stuff soon. Any pointers to get me up to speed? I have no idea about any of this stuff…