A method for providing a directory assistance service by a directory assistance provider comprising:</claim-text> receiving a directory assistance call from a caller, the call including a request for suggestions of businesses which provide a desired ct or service; searching a database; obtaining a list of selected businesses responsive to the request, wherein the selected businesses are ordered as a function of at least compensation given to the directory assistance provider by the selected businesses; and suggesting at least one of the selected businesses to the caller. view more

The method of claim 4, wherein businesses which provide the desired product or service and have given said at least compensation to the directory assistance provider will be suggested to the caller before businesses which provide the desired product or service and have not given said at least compensation to the directory assistance provider. view more

The method of claim 4, wherein businesses which have given said at least compensation to the directory assistance provider are listed before businesses which have not given said at least compensation to the directory assistance provider.

The method of claim 4, further comprising connecting the caller to a business which has given said at least compensation to the directory assistance provider.

A communication assistance system for providing access to information corresponding to a plurality of subscribers, the system comprising: a telephone switch for receiving calls from a plurality of requesters desiring to access said information corresponding to subscribers; a first database configured to store said information corresponding to each of said subscribers, including phone numbers of each of said subscribers; and a closing prompt module coupled to said first database so as to select a closing prompt code from a plurality of available closing prompt codes each of said closing prompt codes associated with a desired closing prompt message so as to provide a selected closing prompt message, wherein anyone of the available closing prompt messages is provided to a requester; wherein said closing prompt module selects said closing prompt code, from any one of said available closing prompt codes, relating to a subscriber information other than the subscriber information requested by said requester. view more

The system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising an automated operator terminal so as to automatically retrieve information stored in said first database.

The system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a closing prompt storage module coupled to said closing prompt module and configured to store a plurality of closing prompt messages each of which is associated with a closing prompt code provided by said closing prompt module. view more

The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said closing prompt module selects said closing prompt code based on any one of; the number dialed by said requester, the data source, the types of data, the services requested, the preferred language of the requester, and the NPA/NXX of the destination number. view more