Printed telephone directory gives way to digital age
Private phone numbers in Switzerland will only be listed on digital platforms from next year as the iconic printed telephone directory will be discontinued, ending 142 years of existence.
This content was published on
2 minutes
swissinfo.ch/mga
Português
pt
Catálogo telefônico impresso dá lugar à nova era digital
The first Swiss ‘White Pages’ telephone directory was printed in 1880 with just 98 entries. This rose to one million entries by 1959 and a peak of 4.2 million telephone numbers in the 1990s, before reducing in scale from the turn of the Millennium.
The advent of the internet and smartphones, plus a rise in annoying cold calls from advertisers, has reduced demand from people to have their private numbers displayed in a directory, said publishing company Localsearch.
But perhaps the most significant change was an amendment to the Swiss law in 1997 which had previously made it obligatory to have household phone numbers listed in the printed pages of a directory.
Technology has also played a role in the demise of the printed telephone book. The arrival of mobile phones has reduced the number of Swiss landlines by three million since 2000.
In 2017, Swiss public broadcaster SRF said the number of entries in the White Pages was declining by around 5% a year. The printed directory has been getting thinner and less popular – and by the end of 2022 will completely disappear.
The rise of telemarketing and stricter rules to protect private data have encouraged more people to keep their private numbers under wraps. This has also reduced the number of private phone numbers that are listed on digital directories.
From the start of 2023, the White Pages will cease to exist, but the Yellow Pages directory of business numbers will continue for the foreseeable future, said Localsearch.
Switzerland to introduce flight passenger database
This content was published on
Switzerland plans to introduce a flight passenger database to collect and process personal data in a bid to combat terrorism and serious crime.
Government plans to invest over CHF16bn in Swiss rail network
This content was published on
The federal government intends to invest CHF16.4 billion ($18.1 billion) in railway infrastructure between 2025 and 2028, CHF2 billion more than for the current period.
Swiss to vote on pension reform and biodiversity in September
This content was published on
Swiss citizens will vote on occupational pension schemes and a biodiversity initiative on September 22, the Federal Council announced on Wednesday.
Ukraine peace talks: 50 countries have confirmed participation
This content was published on
To date, 50 countries out 160 invited delegations have confirmed they will attend the Ukraine peace conference, held in central Switzerland in mid-June, according to Swiss public radio, RTS.
Federer-backed On boosts forecast after sneaker demand rises
This content was published on
Swiss footwear company On Holding AG posted strong first-quarter revenue, boosted by demand for its running shoes and new line of training apparel.
Michael Schumacher’s watches fetch CHF4 million at Swiss auction
This content was published on
Watches belonging to Formula 1 great Michael Schumacher sold for around CHF4 million ($4.41 million) at auction house Christie's in Geneva on Tuesday.
Macron will attend Swiss summit on Ukraine, says Zelensky
This content was published on
French President Emmanuel Macron will attend the peace conference on Ukraine at the Swiss Bürgenstock resort next month, according to Volodymyr Zelensky.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Swiss passport printer meets digital ID challenge head on
This content was published on
A 500-year-old company that has a monopoly on producing Swiss money, passports and driving licenses is betting big on the future of digital ID.
This content was published on
Many hope that a return to a fixed book price system will help solve their problems. Another way out could be specialisation. “It’s the third year in a row that we are battling a fall in turnover. This is higher than in the rest of the retail trade,” Daniel Landolf, director of the Swiss Booksellers…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.