SAN ANTONIO -- AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) today announced the trial of a new directory assistance service in Bakersfield, Calif.; Oklahoma City, Okla.; and Columbus, Ohio. With this new service, consumers will have free access to business listings and advertisers will be able to reach buyers at a critical moment in their purchasing decisions.

Through the service, callers will be able to request a listing for a specific business or for listings for a type or category of business from a landline or wireless phone. Callers will hear short audio ads relevant to their listing request before receiving the number or, possibly, being connected directly to the business they select. Residents of the three selected cities can access free listings beginning today by dialing 1-800-YellowPages (1-800-935-5697).

“Increasingly, our customers are calling directory assistance when they don’t have a phone book handy or can’t jump online,” said David Huntley, senior vice president of AT&T Diversified Businesses. “We’re developing AT&T 1-800-YellowPages to be the consumer’s audio Yellow Pages that gives them free access to local and nationwide business listing information from any phone, 24/7. At the same time, we want to help businesses reach consumers at a key moment — when consumers are in need of a service and are ready to make a purchasing decision. This trial period will allow us to later roll out a service that best meets our consumer and business customer needs.”

AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T)