They're felons, and they've got your number

The next time you call directory inquiries in Italy, you may speak to a convicted murderer.

Italy's biggest phone operator, Telecom Italia, Thursday presented its new call-centre in Rome's largest prison, where 24 inmates are glued to a computer screen to answer thousands of requests for phone numbers and addresses every day.

"This is a unique initiative in Europe and it helps the detainees get some work experience and prepare for when they'll get out of prison," said Telecom's Chairman Marco Tronchetti Provera as he toured the Rebibbia jail, a huge concrete block housing 1,600 inmates on the northern outskirts of Rome.

Rebibbia's call-centre follows a similar Telecom operation in Milan's San Vittore jail and runs from 8 a.m to 8 p.m. every day except Sundays.

The detainees get paid 12 cents ($0.15) per call answered and on a normal day each one of them deals with around 200 requests for information.