Lucyphone: A Web Services-based Virtual Hold

Today I was introduced to a new service called LucyPhone, which is a Web service charged with the simple task of helping callers to popular toll-free nubmers avoid being put on hold. The call model is simple, log onto Lucyphone.com, enter the the company’s toll free number (or choose from an alphabetical list of companies), then enter your phone number.

The service then calls you and prompts you to “Press 1″ to initiate the call. A woman’s voice explains that all you need to do is press “**” (“star star”) when you are put on hold. At that point, the service tells you to hang up so that it can call you back when an agent is available. Call it status, but we did a few test calls to the companies that usually put us on hold (United, Comcast, Bank of America, Chase Cards), but all of them transferred us right to an agent, so we were unable to take advantage of what could be the most valuable aspect of the service.

Perhaps you won’t have the same luck, so the operators of Lucyphone have provided the user code “OPUSLUCY” to enable you to try the service. Please use it at your convenience and post your comments here, and through the feedback links provided on the lucyphone.com Web site as Tweet fodder or the subject of status updates on Facebook.

Happy phoning!