Need A Phone Number? Dial 411

You still have to deal with all those clunky new prefixes when making many phone calls, but starting today your fingers will do less walking when you dial directory assistance.

US West customers in Washington and Oregon can once again dial just three numbers - 411 - for directory assistance instead of dialing a 1, then a three-digit area code, then 555-1212. The two states are the last in US West's 14-state territory to get 411 directory assistance.

"Our customers told us they wanted a simpler dialing pattern," US West spokeswoman Dana Smith said.

GTE, the other provider of local and long-distance information, has not converted to the 411 system, but is considering it, said spokeswoman Melissa Barran. GTE serves 1.4 million customer lines in Washington, Oregon and Idaho.

The US West change is actually a return to the way things used to be. For several years - before the advent of 555-1212 in the late '70s - 411 was the way folks reached the directory-assistance operator.

Using 411 will cost the same as the previous method - 60 cents a call for local assistance after one free call a month for residential customers. National directory assistance will cost 85 cents per call, with no free calls. During the first week of service, though - through Tuesday - the calls will be free.

Information from the Associated Press is included in this report.