Belgium’s first alternative directory assistance services - available through the shortcode 14-14 - can now be accessed on the internet.

Practical, easy-to-use, free and … in English.

European Directory Assistance (EDA), the operator of Belgium’s first alternative directory assistance services available through the shortcodes 12-12 (Flemish), 13-13 (French) and 14-14 (English), can now be accessed on the internet. For English-speaking users, the site can be reached at www.1414.be.

With this new site, EDA improves its presence and accessibility towards the public, making it even easier for users who mostly during office hours- prefer web-based rather than phone-based directory assistance; in the case of www.1414.be, EDA’s specific aim is to reach the large expatriate community living in and around Brussels, who often speak neither Flemish nor French but generally converse in English, for instance people working for the European Union, NATO, Eurocontrol or the numerous multinationals established in Belgium.

Through www.1414.be, fixed and mobile numbers belonging to residential subscribers, government bodies, administrations, companies, craftsman and professionals, all over Belgium, are easy to find. Reverse lookups (i.e. the search of the name and address corresponding to a specific telephone subscriber) are also possible on www.1414.be.

In English please…

The site www.1414.be was specifically designed as to ensure an intuitive, smooth and fast way of searching telephone directory information: for instance, there is no need to enter a complete city name or business category; as long as some of the letters have been typed, the remainder is automatically filled in.

In addition to the fact that all major Belgian cities such as “Brussels”, “Antwerp” or “Ghent” are searchable in English, difficult city names like "Neder over Heembeek" or "Malèves Sainte Marie Wastines" can also be found quickly by just typing "ned" or "malev” in the field “City", the remainder of the field is automatically completed. Another example: type “plu” in the field “Business category” and “Plumbers” appears, in English.

Listings are linked to maps and/or on satellite pictures, putting all of the important information quickly at the user’s fingertips.

Alex Gaschard, CEO of EDA: "We are aware of the ever-increasing demand for directory assistance during office hours. As during such office hours, more and more requests are done through the internet, we wanted to fill this gap by offering our own web-based services. With www.1414.be site, we expend our services even more for the large expat community living in Belgium”.

(expatica 2008)