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TIS: A wealth of information at your fingertips

A TIS user selects options via the telephone keypad

This year, TIS (the Telephone Information Service) celebrates its 13th birthday. Over 1,000 members use it on a regular basis.

RNZFB member Bill Bryan is an avid user of TIS saying, "TIS is great, because it's user-friendly. You have so much information available at your fingertips. I've lost track of how often I use TIS – it's invaluable, and it helps me stay up to date with current news and events."

TIS features financial news, classified ads, local and national newspaper content, radio and TV programme schedules, public notices, governmental information, updates from the Foundation and more. TIS allows members to obtain free directory assistance, and others with user numbers to access special copyright-protected information. All bulletins are recorded by Foundation staff, members and a dedicated team of volunteers. Some bulletins are also read using synthesized speech.

TIS is easy to use and it's free! All registered RNZFB members can simply ring their local TIS number (listed on page 30), follow the menu options, and find the information they'd like to listen to using their phones. For those members who do not have a local TIS number, there is a toll free number available. Due to the cost of providing the toll free number, some information, including newspaper content, is not available.

TIS users can dictate the speed of information in bulletins and can skip between sections. Each bulletin contains clear spoken instructions and help options. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Another benefit of TIS is that it has a secure telephone voting system that the Foundation uses for its annual Board elections and Narrator Awards.

If you would like more information about TIS, please ring Murray Peat on 0800 24 33 33.