The chief executive of Verizon Wireless, Dennis Strigl, told American lawmakers that a planned mobile-phone directory is a "terrible idea" and he won't participate to protect the privacy of his 40 million customers. "There is not a groundswell of demand for a directory that would justify putting privacy in jeopardy," Mr. Strigl said in remarks prepared for a Senate Commerce Committee hearing yesterday. Mr. Strigl's stance puts Verizon Wireless at odds with Cingular Wireless LLC and the five next-largest carriers, which plan to let their combined 101 million customers opt into the industry's first public listing of mobile phone numbers. It may cost his company some of the $2 billion in annual sales the service may generate, said an independent analyst, Kathleen Pierz. Verizon Wireless "would be well served to revisit this issue," said Ms. Pierz, who covers the directories industry and will testify at the hearing.