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August 7, 2009

Fonolo – Don't Spend Your Life On Hold

ss-fonolo

Fonolo aims to help you deal with the frustration of working your way through a phone menu while trying to get a quick solution to a problem. Whether you want to check cinema listings, book a flight, or pick a bone with your cable company, the process usually means dialing lots of 1s, 2s and 3s before you get to the person you want. Even then, you might have to spend quite a long time on hold. With Fonolo, you cut to the chase, getting the number you want and dialing straight on through.

To get started, search for the company you want and Fonolo will give you a list of options. Choose the option you want, give a number where you can be reached, and press the ‘start call’ button. Soon you will be directly connected to the section you need. Fonolo cuts down on the frustration of calling large companies and there are several other advantages. There is nothing to install; it can be used with any phone and calls are free. Companies pay for the calls by using Fonolo alongside their usual call system. Fonolo can really reduce the hassle of using automated telephone systems; it would be great to see it in use everywhere.

Practical Uses:

  • Get straight through to the billing department of your mortgage company without hassle
  • Enter account numbers requested on phone calls with a single key press
  • Find out which companies would prefer you not call them
  • Record conversations of calls that involve lots of details – this is especially helpful if you are disputing a charge

Insider Tips:

  • Sign up with Fonolo to keep a log of the calls you make
  • Enter the account numbers you usually need so you can use Quick Tones to enter them when requested on a phone call
  • Set up call recording for keeping track of phone interactions; you can also add notes
  • Bookmark companies you call often to make calling them even speedier

What we liked:

  • You don’t have to sign up to use Fonolo
  • The interface is simple and makes it easy to find the number you want
  • The ability to record calls is extremely useful
  • The call history is excellent

What we didn’t like:

  • We would love to see Fonolo working in other countries; it’s available only for the US and Canada at the moment

Alternatives:

Company Info:

  • Launched: April 2008
  • Privately Held
  • Headquarters: Toronto, Canada
  • Founded by: Shai Berger
  • Web site: http://www.fonolo.com

Costs:

  • Free to consumers

Comments

  1. Thanks for the review!

    – Shai (Fonolo founder)

  2. I have never tired fonolo, but i have tried get human and it was amazing. I need to give fonolo a shot now.

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