Major technical error means users of 118 800 directory can't connect to any numbers.

The new 118 800 mobile directory, a recently announced service that allows callers to search for mobile phone users and have their calls connected has failed to launch on schedule.

There was considerable controversy over the announcement, which would allow callers to search a 16 million strong database of mobile numbers, with many critics viewing this as an invasion of privacy. While the mobile numbers were not to be released, the company was offering to connect callers directly to the mobile phone numbers located.

But in an ironic turn of events, the service's launch on Tuesday was marred by a major technical error that failed to connect users to any of its mobile numbers. As of yesterday the service itself was still up and running, but the system which connects users was inoperative. "Unfortunately, a technical issue means people calling 118 800 this morning are not currently able to connect to mobile numbers," a spokesman said. "118 800 are working hard to rectify this technical problem."