Telecom/1996-04-telecom-walnutcreek.iso/back.issues/1990.volume.10/vol10.iss801-850

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Date:     Fri, 9 Nov 90 0:59:48 CST
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
[To]:     [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V10 #801
BCC:
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Fri, 9 Nov 90 00:59:33 CST    Volume 10 : Issue 801

Inside This Issue:                         Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    UK Telephone Costs [Clive Feather]
    British Telecom Special Service Codes [Clive Feather]
    Wrong Number Nightmare [Arun Baheti]
    What Must 900 Sleazoids Say About Charges? [John Murray]
    Trivia Question About Butt Sets [David Barts]
    NT SL-1 Me{Meridian 1} vs. Mitel SX-200D [Bill Cerny]
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Clive Feather <[e-mail]>
Subject: UK Telephone Costs
Date: Wed, 7 Nov 90 7:34:00 GMT


[More material from my British Telecom phone bill inserts.]

I thought US readers might like to compare their phone costs against
ours!  Here is a complete list of British Telecom charges for
installation, rental, and calls. It does not include equipment rental,
as that is a free market (for example, of the three phones in my house
(all on one line), one is a Taiwanese phone I was given as a birthday
present, one is a UK made answering machine bought in a typewriter
shop, and one is a BT made phone bought in a department store).

All numbers are in pounds sterling, and exclude Value Added Tax at
15%. For US readers, this means that the number 1.00 means about
$2.25. Note that BT bills quarterly, not monthly.

====

British Telecom charges from 1 September 1990.

Installation (including up to 100 man-hours of work):

                                     Residential   Business
    New customer, new line              129.26      141.65
    Existing customer, new line         110.78      123.20
    Take over existing line              19.65       19.65

Rental per quarter:

    Residential              17.13
    Residential party line   15.69
    Business                 27.75

If a residential user uses less than 120 units (see below) in a
quarter, then the rental is reduced by 0.058 per unit below this
number. This will reduce the rental to 10.17 or 8.73 per quarter if no
outgoing calls are made.

Star services (all per quarter):

    Tone dialling       FREE (US readers please note)
    Call Diversion      3.48
    Call Waiting        3.48
    Three-way Calling   3.48
    Code Calling        3.48 (free if the above three services are all taken)
    Call Barring        6.09

    Charge advice       0.05 per call
    Reminder call       0.10 per call (even if not answered)


Dialled calls are charged in units. Each unit buys a certain amount of
time, depending on the time of day and the distance between the two
parties. A billed unit costs 0.044. From a BT payphone, a unit costs
0.10 (but this includes VAT).

Inland calls:

    There are three time bands and 7 distance bands. The time bands are:

        P (peak)       Monday to Friday 0900 to 1300
        S (standard)   Monday to Friday 0800 to 0900 and 1300 to 1800
        C (cheap)      All other times

    The distance bands are:

        L   The same area code and adjacent area codes
        a   All other calls less than 56.4 km
        b1  Calls over 56.4 km where Mercury are a serious commercial threat
            (some 232 bidirectional routes, of which 125 are to/from London)
        b   Other calls over 56.4 km
        m   Calls to mobile telephones
        I   Calls from Great Britain to the Irish Republic
        p1  Premium rate services (US 900 numbers)
    Distances are between a nominal point in each area code, not the actual
        subscribers.
    Calls between Great Britain and Northern Ireland are at rates b1 or b.
    Calls between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic are at rates L, a,
        b1, or b as appropriate.

    The non-distance based calls are as follows:

        Dialling code 0800 is free calling.
        Dialling code 0345 is billed at rate L.
        Dialling code 0055 is billed at rate a.
        Dialling code 0066 is billed at rate b.
        Dialling codes 0030 to 0039, 0077, 0860 are billed at rate m.
        Some calls with dialling codes 0831 and 0836 are billed at rate m.
        Dialling code 0898 is billed at rate p1.

    The time bought for one unit, in seconds, is:

              C      S      P
        L   240.0   85.0   60.0     from normal phones
        L   120.0   85.0   60.0     from payphones
        a    81.8   35.1   26.25
        b1   51.5   31.0   23.25
        b    38.8   24.8   18.6
        m    12.0    8.0    8.0
        I    10.8    8.0    8.0
        p1    9.2    6.9    6.9


International:

    There are 13 distance bands (each country belongs to one band). Those
    bands marked "(only)" include only the countries named. Otherwise the
    countries listed are examples.

     1  All European Community countries, Switzerland
     2  Austria, Hungary, Sweden
     3  Turkey, Libya, Iceland
     4  (only) USA and Canada
     5  (only) Other NANP countries (i.e. +1 809)
     6  Australia, New Zealand
     7  (only) Hong Kong and Singapore
     8  Cuba, Romania, South Africa, USSR, Qatar
     9  Israel, Egypt, Syria
    10  Brazil, Panama, Namibia, Iran
    11  (only) Japan
    12  (only) India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka
    13  Angola, Bolivia, China, Fiji, Vietnam, North Korea, South Korea

    Most distance bands have a Standard time band and a Cheap time band.
    Calls to the NANP (bands 4 and 5) have a Peak rate between 1500 and
    1700 on Monday to Friday.

    The time bought for one unit, in seconds, is:

           C      S      P     Duration of Standard time band
     1   9.00   7.20           0800 to 2000 Monday to Friday
     2   6.65   5.45           0800 to 2000 Monday to Friday
     3   5.15   4.35           0800 to 2000 Monday to Friday
     4   5.15   4.35   3.95    0800 to 2000 Monday to Friday ) except 1500 to
     5   4.68   3.95   3.59    0800 to 2000 Monday to Friday ) 1700 (Peak rate)
     6   3.80   3.05           0700 to 1430 and 1930 to 2400 daily
     7   3.80   3.05           0800 to 2000 daily
     8   3.55   2.90           0800 to 2000 daily
     9   2.68   2.30           0800 to 2000 Monday to Friday
    10   2.65   2.25           0800 to 2000 Monday to Friday
    11   2.26   2.15           0800 to 2000 daily
    12   2.22   2.15           0800 to 2000 daily
    13   2.19   2.15           0800 to 2000 daily


Payphones:

    Payphones (COCOTs to US readers) require a meter pulsing service,
    which costs 6.08 per quarter. BT rent payphones at rates from 32.17 to
    102.17 per quarter, or you can buy payphones for 150.00 or so. To
    quote the leaflet:

    "Call charges from some BT rented payphones may vary. In such cases the
     renter is required to display a notice near to the payphone stating the
     maximum price for certain types of calls and his or her name and
     address."


Clive D.W. Feather     | IXI Limited
[e-mail]          | 62-74 Burleigh St.
Phone: [phone] | Cambridge   CB1 1OJ
(USA: 1 800 XDESK 57)  | United Kingdom

------------------------------

From: Clive Feather <[e-mail]>
Subject: British Telecom Special Service Codes
Date: Wed, 7 Nov 90 8:17:21 GMT


I recently took up a free trial of some of British Telecom "Star
Services". I was sent two manuals, one for "System X" (the local
exchange equipment), and one for the AXE 10 (a.k.a "System Y") (which
is apparently in use in some areas). These manuals listed the access
codes for all services available.

This table gives all the codes listed in the manuals. See below for
key to abbreviations. Note that all codes end in #, parameters to the
codes are mostly separated by *, and that "check" and "cancel" codes
have the same code number but a different prefix to the "set up"
codes.

Set up features:

[CD]      *21*n#     Divert all calls (dial tone changes)
[CB]      *261#      Bar incoming calls (dial tone changes)
[CB]      *34x#      Bar outgoing calls
    [AX]  *40*n      Charge advice (exchange calls back after the call ends)
    [SX]  *40*n#     Charge advice (ditto)
          *411#      Charge advice on all future calls (ditto)
[CW]      *43#       Set up call waiting
[CC]      *51*c*n#   Set up abbreviated calling code
          *55*t#     Set up reminder call
    [SX]  *56*t*d#   Set up regular reminder call (unlimited number of these)
[CD]      *61*n#     Divert on no reply (dial tone changes)
[CD]      *67*n#     Divert on busy (dial tone changes)

Calling code calls:

[CC]      **c        Calling code call
[CC]      **0        Redial last number (excluding calling code calls)

Status checks on settings:

    [SX]  *#001#     Check which services are active
[CD]      *#21#      Check diversion status and number
[CB]      *#261#     Check barring of incoming calls (i.e. on or off)
[CB]      *#34#      Check barring of outgoing calls (i.e. on or off)
[CW]      *#43#      Check call waiting (i.e. on or off)
[CC]      *#51*c#    Check calling code
          *#55#      Check reminder calls
    [SX]  *#56#      Check regular reminder calls
[CD]      *#61#      Check divert on no reply status and number
[CD]      *#67#      Check divert on busy status and number

Cancel features:

[CD]      #21#       Cancel diversion
[CB][AX]  #261*p#    Cancel barring of incoming calls
[CB][SX]  #261#      Cancel barring of incoming calls
[CB]      #34x*p#    Cancel barring of outgoing calls
          #411#      Cancel charge advice on all calls
[CW]      #43#       Cancel call waiting
[CC]      #51*c#     Cancel calling code
          #55#       Cancel reminder call
    [SX]  #56*t*d#   Cancel regular reminder call
    [SX]  #56#       Cancel all regular reminder calls
[CD]      #61#       Cancel diversion on no reply
[CD]      #67#       Cancel diversion on busy

Pressing the "R" button on some phones causes a "time break" - on
other phones, this can be done by pressing the handset rest switch
*briefly*. This will put your current caller on hold (they get an
announcement) and give you a dial tone. If you are in "one call" state
(the normal situation), then all the above services are available,
plus the following:

          *40#       Turn on charge advice for this call
[3W]      n          Set up second call

If you are in "two call" state (either by setting up a second call, or
because an incoming call is waiting), then the following codes can be
used:

[CW]      0          Reject all waiting calls until this call ends
          1          End this call and switch to the other call
          2          Place this call on hold and switch to the other call
[3W]      3          Change to a 3-party call
[3W]      5          Disconnect original call
[3W]      7          Disconnect second call

The manual does not make it clear whether "disconnect" means put the
call on hold or end it. It also says that you cannot convert a waiting
call to a 3-party call, but this may only apply if you have not paid
for the [3W] service.

If you hang up (clear down) after getting a dialtone through R, and there is
still a call holding, the exchange will ring back.

Key to abbreviations in the table:

  [SX]  System X only
  [AX]  AXE 10 (System Y) only
  [CB]  Call barring service   )
  [CC]  Code calling service   )  There is an extra charge for each of these
  [CD]  Call diversion service )  "packages". Codes not prefixed are part of
  [CW]  Call waiting service   )  standard telephone service.
  [3W]  3-way calling service  )

  c     An abbreviated calling code: [SX] 3 to 29 [AX] 10 to 36.
  d     1 = Monday, 2 = Tuesday, ... 7 = Sunday, 8 = Mon to Fri, 9 = daily.
  n     A standard telephone number.
  p     A 4-digit password notified to the subscriber (cannot be changed).
  t     A time - 4 digits using the 24 hour clock.
  x     1 = all calls except 999 (emergency) and 151 (repairs).
        2 = [SX] all calls except charge rates L and p1.
        2 = [AX] all calls except charge rate L.
        3 = international calls.
        4 = operator services except 999 and 151.
        5 = Star services (except #34 codes).
        6 = [SX] charge rate p1 calls.
        It is permitted to have more than one *34x# in operation.


Clive D.W. Feather     | IXI Limited
[e-mail]          | 62-74 Burleigh St.
Phone: [phone] | Cambridge   CB1 1OJ
(USA: 1 800 XDESK 57)  | United Kingdom

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 8 Nov 90 12:31 CDT
From: "Arun Baheti <[e-mail]>" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Wrong Number Nightmare


Seeing someone else's wrong number story has prompted me to appeal to
the listing in hopes that someone has a creative idea at solving my
problem...

One of the lines in my house in So. Cal. is 213/xxx-xxxx.  It turns
out that a car dealership in Downey (I am in Torrance) has the same
line, but in the 714 for its Orange County customers.  Most people,
however, just assume that Downey is alwasy 213, and it doesn't help
that it appears as 213 on many of the firms business cards.  For a
LONG time, we received calls and msgs on our answering machine (no,
people didn't listen to the msg telling them that this was not the Car
Lot; in fact the problem is compouneded by the fact that the line is
apparently the car place's Spanish line!)...

We have complained to the phone company and to the dealership to fix
the problem, but everyone seems to think that we should pay to have
our line changed or simply wait for their or simply wait for their
cards, flyers, etc to cycle through in a year or so...  sigh.  I
consider myself polite, but after getting 15 wrong numbers and
messages asking "When can I pick up my truck?"  (in Spanish and
English) a day, I am beginning to grow tired of the whole game.  Any
ideas?  I've already tried threatening the car dealer with the idea
that I would begin to be rude to the wrong numbers and not refer them
to the 714 area code.  Someone?  Anyone?

It is amusing in one sense to listen to people on my answering machine
(which makes no mention of cars) telling me about their trucks,
billing problems, and car loan difficulties, but enough is enough. :-)


Arun Baheti
[e-mail]
[e-mail]

------------------------------

From: John Murray <[e-mail]>
Subject: What Must 900 Sleazoids Say About Charges?
Date: 8 Nov 90 16:50:38 GMT
Organization: SCRI, Florida State University


What are 900-number operators required to tell the public about the
charges for their services?

I ask this question out of curiosity, sparked by an unsolicited letter
I recieved today: "Your $5,000 limit Gold Card has been approved! Call
our customer service operators RIGHT AWAY! at 1-900-xxx-xxxx(*)"

 ..and down at the bottom in tiny little type it says "(*) .95 charge
per minute..."

BUT (and here's the specific question) there's no mention of a minimum
charge for the call. (most scum like this charge about $45 for the
call) Are they required to tell us when there is a minimum billing of,
say, 45 minutes?

Not that I ever had any intention of calling, of course. This was
obviously a look-alike card that is trying to seem like a Visa gold or
an AmEx gold. A 2-in-1 attack on people without much common sense.

Disclaimer: Any opinions above have little or nothing to do with reality.


John R. Murray
[e-mail]
Supercomputer Research Inst.

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 8 Nov 90 11:07:51 pst
From: David Barts <[e-mail]>
Subject: Trivia Question About Butt Sets


Obscure Telecom Trivia Question No. 608:

Why are butt set leads colored red/black/green instead of
red/green/yellow?


David Barts        Pacer Corporation, Bothell, WA
[e-mail]    ...!uunet!pilchuck!pacer!davidb

------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Bill Cerny)
Subject: NT SL-1 Me{Meridian 1} vs. Mitel SX-200D
Date: 8 Nov 90 01:58:04 GMT


I need to replace a 12 trunk by 32 station PBX with either the NT SL-1
(Meridian 1) or the Mitel SX-200D (constraint: Dialogic has cards that
speak to these switches; my v-mail software needs to talk to the PBX).

The NT SL-1 is winning thus far.  Please e-mail comments (or telephone
number if you prefer to air your druthers), and I'll provide the
consensus in a forthcoming article.


Bill Cerny
[e-mail]   |   attmail: !denwa!bill

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V10 #801
******************************










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Date:     Fri, 9 Nov 90 2:11:45 CST
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
[To]:     [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V10 #802
BCC:
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Fri, 9 Nov 90 02:11:27 CST    Volume 10 : Issue 802

Inside This Issue:                         Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Multi-Line Voicemail Boards [Robert J. Woodhead]
    Voice Activated Calling Cards [Arun Baheti]
    A New Type of 976 Fraud [David B. Whiteman]
    Help Needed With Term Paper on Email Snooping [Brian Hoffman]
    X.25 Software for PCs Running DOS or Xenix [Steve Corso]
    Source Needed For Line Simulator [Tom Lowe]
    Digit Overload in Dallas/Fort Worth [Dave Close]
    Differences Between Usenet and Altnet [Dennis G. Rears]
    Re: Cincinnati Area Notes (Was: Zone Maps Are Desirable) [Andy Jacobson]
    Re: Saudi Arabia's Telephone System [Peter Thurston]
    Re: Saudi Arabia's Telephone System [Vance Shipley]
    Re: CALL FOR VOTES: comp.dcom.fax [[e-mail]]
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Robert J Woodhead <biar![e-mail]>
Subject: Multi-Line Voicemail Boards
Date: 7 Nov 90 04:31:44 GMT
Organization: Biar Games, Inc.


A couple of months ago I inquired about voicemail boards for the PC.
Thanks to all that responded.  I ended up getting a Bigmouth board
from Talking Technologies of Alameda, CA [415-522-3800] for about
$225.  This board turns any old PC into a voicemail center, and the
menu-driven software that comes with it (quite powerful) lets you set
up voicemail boxes, phone trees, do voice questionaires, store and
auto-forward voicemail, etc, etc, etc.

I'm quite happy with it, but now I have a slightly more complicated
bit of hardware on my Xmas shopping list.  What I need is a board that
has the following features:

* Can handle four or more calls simultaneously.
* DMTF detection, audio recording and playback.
* PC compatible
* Hopefully buffers incoming and outgoing sampled audio on the board
  so as to reduce the strain on the host machine.
* Good low-level interface software library, in UNIX/XENIX if possible.
* Also, it would be nice if more than one of these boards could be plugged
  into a single PC.

Anyone got any leads on such a beastie?  Oh yeah, if there is a
multiline box that talks to it's host over Ethernet, that would do the
trick too.

Thanks in advance,


Robert J Woodhead, Biar Games, Inc.  !uunet!biar!trebor [e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 6 Nov 90 12:27 CDT
From: "Arun Baheti <[e-mail]>" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Voice Activated Calling Cards


In V10 #794 (I am, believe it or not up-to-date on my reading for
once) there is mention of a voice activated calling card system from
Sprint.  I recall a few years ago that there was a company (All-Net?)
that allowed people not at touch-tone phones to "speak" their card
numbers into a machine, one digit at a time, and then the destination
number the same way.  It then asked for verification with yes/no
prompt.  It worked quite well, and I don't remember any big complaints
about overheard numbers, etc.  Does anyone remember this as well, or
have any more information?


[e-mail]
[e-mail]

------------------------------

From: "David B. Whiteman" <[e-mail]>
Subject: A New Type of 976 Fraud
Date: 7 Nov 90 08:18:10 GMT
Organization: Crash TimeSharing, El Cajon, CA


Well the 976 people discovered a new way of fraud today: The hospital
I work at leases a block of digital pagers from a local paging
company.  Each of these pagers has its own seven digit normal phone
number -- when you dial the pager phone number you are suppose to
enter the phone number you want the person to call back to, or in our
hospital's case extension.  This number then appears on the display on
the pager.

Well today a group of pagers, all of them with phone numbers in
sequential order were each beeped with the message to call a 976
number.  Obviously, a 976 company just autodialled the pager exchange.

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 7 Nov 90 21:44:46 EST
From: Brian Hoffman <[e-mail]>
Subject: Help Needed With Term Paper on Email Snooping
Organization: Columbia University


I am currently writing a term paper on the legal and moral aspects of
employers reading employee's e-mail.  Right now, I am concentrating on
the Epson America case referenced in last week's PC-Week.

I would like some more sources of information.  If anyone has seen an
article on this or a related subject, please send me the citation.  I
am also interested in articles about the whole LoD - Jackson Games -Etc.
fiasco.

Please mail replies. Thank you for the time.


Brian Hoffman        [e-mail]

------------------------------

From: mcnnet![e-mail]
Date: Thu Nov  8 10:33:08 1990
Subject: X.25 Software for PCs Running DOS or Xenix


I am looking for software that will permit me to make a PC running DOS
or Xenix handle X.25 calls (from a host).  The host would be placing
call requests to me and once the call has been set up I would then
need to accept data streams from that host.  Is there any software
that can do this?  I know I would have write some application code to
handle the data.  I would be glad to consolidate any responses I get
and report back to the group.


Thank you,

Steve Corso
mcnnet![e-mail]

------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Date: Thu, 8 Nov 90 16:42 EST
Subject: Source Needed For Line Simulator


I need to find a source for a Line Simulator.  I have seen some out
there, but I have some specific needs.  I am going to be using it to
connect a telephone to a device that is not designed to have phones
connected directly, but rather be connected to a dial tone line.  The
device can sense presence/absence of line current.

One side is going to have a phone.  It might be a speaker phone, so
the unit must provide sufficient power to handle that.  One simulator
that I tried out didn't have enough power to run a speakerphone.  It
must also provide enough power to run an OPX (Off Premises Extension).

When the phone is taken off hook, One of two things should happen:
Ideally, a talk path should be setup, complete with battery.  No ring
is necessary.  An alternative would be to have a ring with a
programmable duration, such that I can make it very short.

Now, the most important requirement is that when the phone is put
onhook, battery must be removed from the other end, either until the
phone is taken back offhook, or for a short interval.

If you know of such a device, please let me know ASAP.  I can be
reached at 908-949-0428.  EMAIL: [e-mail]

Thanks!

Tom Lowe
AT&T Bell Labs, Holmdel, NJ

------------------------------

From: Dave Close <central!central![e-mail]>
Subject: Digit Overload in Dallas/Fort Worth
Date: Thu, 08 Nov 90 23:19:36 GMT
Reply-To: [e-mail] (Dave Close)
Organization: Shared Financial Systems


In the Dallas/Fort Worth area of North Texas, two area codes are
adjacent.  The Dallas metro area is a part of the 214 area code; the
Fort Worth metro area is a part of the 817 area code.  Neither metro
area completely occupies its area code.  All phones in each city have
unlimited toll-free calling to all other phones in the same city.

The phone system recognizes that many folks in Dallas and Fort Worth
have a frequent need to call the folks in the other city.  It is
possible to obtain a "metro" number which is considered a local
(non-toll) call from and to all other numbers in both metro areas.
Until two years ago, metro numbers in either city could be reached
from both cities by dialing only seven digits.  (Many businesses did
not bother to mention their area code in advertising.)

Now it is always necessary to dial the area code when calling from one
side of the metro area to the other.  However, a zero or one prefix is
only required when the call is a toll call.  Metro numbers, which
still exist, are reached with 10 digits; non-metro numbers require 11
digits.

If you attempt to call a metro number by dialing all 11 digits, you
get a recording which says, "We're sorry.  It is not necessary to dial
a one or zero when calling this number."  The message is misleading
because what it really means is, "...It is not PERMITTED..."  In
effect, a caller must know whether a call is a toll call before
dialing, or suffer the inconvenience of redialing.  IMHO, the first
two words of the recording couldn't be more accurate!

The situation is slightly complicated for exchanges on the boundary
between the cities.  Those phones can make toll-free calls to adjacent
non-metro exchanges on the other side of the line.  So a call from a
non-metro exchange in downtown Fort Worth (not on the boundary) to a
non-metro exchange in Grand Prairie (just across the line toward
Dallas) requires 11 digits.  A call from any exchange in Arlington (on
the boundary toward Fort Worth) to that same exchange in Grand Prairie
requires 10 digits and fails with 11 digits.

The use of a leading one or zero to distinguish a toll call is at
least consistent.  When calling from within the metro area to outside
the metro area but still within the same area code, it is necessary to
dial all 11 digits.

I've encountered other places that used the leading digit to
distinguish toll calls but I thought it was being phased out.  I think
that it is an overload on the leading digit for it to both introduce
an area code and distinguish toll calls.


Dave Close, Shared Financial Systems, Dallas
My comments are my opinions and may not be shared by Shared.

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 6 Nov 90 11:10:25 EST
From: "Dennis G. Rears (FSAC)" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Differences Between Usenet and Altnet


Pat:

   This doesn't belong in the TELECOM Digest but it was brought up
there.  Why on USENET is comp.* considered respectable but alt.*
considered the "black sheep".  It's a real pain for me to read USENET
so I don't keep up with it.


Dennis


[Moderator's Note: One difference between the two is that on Usenet,
there is a more formal procedure for starting new groups which
involves calling for a discussion regarding the new group and taking a
vote to detirmine if it is really wanted or not. Generally, most sites
receive most Usenet newsgroups, 'talk.*' being sort of an exception.
On the other hand, the alt.groups are formed by anyone at anytime. No
permission required. If you know how to do it, you can set one up even
if no one but yourself ever posts in it. Many of the alt groups are
just downright silly, and intended as jokes from the beginning,
witness the spate of alt.big.boobs and similar groups in recent months
started by parties unknown. Many sites do not receive the alt groups.
In addition, the alt groups generally tend to be harder for a sysadmin
to justify to his superiors when s/he is called upon to do so at
budget request time, or following a flame war where everyone trashes
the postmaster with mail at the same time, etc.  If the topic is worth
having a group established, it will generally withstand the scrutiny
of Usenet debate and voting. Still, many groups would not be on Usenet
today had they not proven themselves to be popular and worthwhile
after a period of time on Altnet.  PAT]

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 07 Nov 90 18:34 PST
From: Andy Jacobson <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Cincinnati area notes (Was: Zone maps are desirable)


In response to <[e-mail]>:

My knowlege of the Cincinatti area code/prefix biz I must admit is
limited to notes in the front of the phonebook. The directory listed
as I remember at least a couple of prefixes which could be reached
from either 513 or 606. These were located "on the map" in both the
areas for Ky, and Oh adjacent to the river. These were the only
prefixes on the map that were listed to more than one geographical
region (by map region number).

I remember trying one of the numbers (from the Dayton area) and
finding that I did not need the 606 area code to call it (It was a a
business in Ky, if I remember) I don't remember how it was listed in
the book (as requiring 513, or 606). It may be that what I'm thinking
of was a early version of what we now have in the way of 976 numbers
that are the same in two area codes. (I see a lot of ads for 976
numbers that are the same in 213 and 818.) As well, it could be more
like a "choke" prefix, as many radio stations use.  Which are in some
cases the same prefixes in adjacent area codes.

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 7 Nov 90 09:52:56 GMT
From: Peter Thurston <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Saudi Arabia's Telephone System


(Various bits on who runs the Saudi phone system)

I seem to remember when interviewed for a job at (the then) Philips
TMC (In Malmsbury, UK) their pride and joy was the Saudi contact. We
waw videos showing how many times round the moon their cable
installations could reach. The switches were Philips PRX. I got thge
impression that the contact involved the whole country, but then again
 ... it WAS a promotional video. On a different tack, somewhere I
remember being told that internal calls in Saudi Arabia are all free?


Peter Thurston
MRC-APU Cambridge  PRESTEL MAILBOX 095452219


[Moderator's Note: Speaking of Saudi Arabia and admittedly taking some
privileges as Moderator, it now appears war is imminent, based on
President Bush's remarks Thursday. Bad, bad news ... Whatever; I hope
it does not go on for years like Viet Nam which I remember all too
painfully, all too well. I guess Bush will do what he must do, but
let's -- as the Post Office stamp cancellation used to say -- pray for
peace. I feel pretty disheartened by it all.  PAT]

------------------------------

From: Vance Shipley <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Saudi Arabia's Telephone System
Organization: SwitchView - The Linton Technology Group
Date: Wed, 07 Nov 90 14:29:25 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Henry Troup) writes:

>So the central office switches will be a mix of 1-ESS and DMS-100/200,
>as my memory of the Saudi connection is that it goes back twenty years
>or so.

 From what I am told by some people who were involoved in that project
you can add SL-1 PBX's to the list of "CO" equipment used!


Vance Shipley
vances@ltg

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 07 Nov 90 14:25:24 PST
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: CALL FOR VOTES: comp.dcom.fax


> The establishment of 'comp.dcom.fax' would affect this group since it
> is likely some messages which previously would have appeared in
> telecom pertaining to Fax will no longer appear here.

> I do not believe there is sufficient traffic in the subject matter of
> Fax at this time to warrant a separate group.

While I agree with some of PAT's arguments about the creation of
comp.dcom.fax (note there already is an alt.fax with some regular
traffic), I disagree with his recommendation to vote NO because:

While it is true, that it would lose the vast knowledge available from
the many readers of telecom. However, I don't recall seeing many
fax-related messages in the Digest (most on switches and the like),
while there are, on average, a few messages per day on alt.fax. PAT
could 'fix' this loss by cross-posting himself (unless this is a
violation of some Usenet tenet). This would enable him to perform is
usual function of keeping signal to noise at a reasonable level while
still keeping the information available. Of course I don't know if he
wants more work to do ...

However, the bigger issue in my mind is the volume of mail to the
digest and the volume from it. Unless PAT is willing to commit to
publishing ALL the fax-related messages, then some may be lost due
to the winnowing and editing process he must, of necessity, do. And
the digest volume and frequency present a lot of material to weed (no
insult intended) through to find fax-specific information or replies.
The fact that telecom is moderated also imposes a time buffer to the
response process.

Since I think PAT, himself, can fix the losses resulting from the
creation of the new group, with apologies to all who are just now
recovering from the pre-election deluge, I say vote YES.


Jeff Sicherman


[Moderator's Note: Thank you for your opinion, but PAT has no
intention of taking on the extra work. As it is, I screen over a
hundred articles daily for telecom, of which you see a minimum of
12-15 on days when I am too busy to do more than one issue, and
perhaps 40-50 on days when I do several issues.  PAT]

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V10 #802
******************************















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From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
[To]:     [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V10 #803
BCC:
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Sat, 10 Nov 90 18:10:38 CST    Volume 10 : Issue 803

Inside This Issue:                         Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Recording Adaptor/Phone [Jeff Sicherman]
    Learning Your Own Phone Number (Revisited) [Fred E.J. Linton]
    A Zero Length Phone Number! [Tony Fisher]
    Re: 911 Botch-up in Detroit [Sander J. Rabinowitz]
    Re: Spring Ahead, Fall Behind [Alain Fontaine]
    Re: Time Protocol, was Re: AT&T ISDN Set Question [Rob Elkins]
    PacTel Modem Line Charges [Arun Baheti]
    Re: Request INFO Sources About ISDN [Mike Olson]
    Re: Microsoft Use of 900 Number for Tech Support [John Higdon]
    Re: Logistics of Setting up a Modem Hunt Group [James Deibele]
    Re: Logistics of Setting up a Modem Hunt Group [Barton F. Bruce]
    Re: Distinctive Ringing Fax/Phone Switch [Tad Cook]
    Who Owns 800-878? [Dean Riddlebarger]
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Sat, 10 Nov 90 13:19:18 PST
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Recording Adaptor/Phone


  I am looking for a two line phone that will support easy attachment
of a tape recorder. Already have the Radio Shack recorder controller
but that is a single line device and requires a three way adaptor and
line switch (also from RS) to make it work. Wires all over the place.
Would prefer a phone with some built-in capability or perhaps some
adaptor that fits between the phone base and handset, like a headset
adaptor. Can anybody suggest something?


Jeff Sicherman
[e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: 10-NOV-1990 13:40:52.68
From: "Fred E.J. Linton" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Learning Your Own Phone Number (Revisited)


About a month ago someone suggested 1-800-666-6258 as a number that
"... gives you a lot of advertising bla-bla AND your phone number ..."

I tried it this morning: "... number has been changed ... new number is
817-877-5629 ..."

Tried the new number as well -- ring, no answer.  Oh well ...


Fred  <[e-mail]>  <fejlinton@{mcimail|attmail}.com>  (CT)

------------------------------

Date: 8 Nov 1990 10:58:21 GMT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: A Zero Length Phone Number!

> St Helena (290) has three digit numbers!

A pedant could claim that the Vatican City State has even shorter
telephone numbers - viz. zero digits long.  The country code is +39
66982, and the "country" has only one telephone number, which is: .


Tony Fisher
Dept. of Computer Science, The University of York, York YO1 5DD, U.K.
Tel. [phone] or 432722
Janet:      [e-mail]
Internet: [e-mail]
UUCP:      [e-mail] (..!uunet!mcsun!reading!minster!fisher)

------------------------------

Subject: Re: 911 Botch-up in Detroit
Date: 7 Nov 90 01:21:47 EST (Wed)
From: [e-mail] (Sander J. Rabinowitz)


In a TELECOM article of 3 November 1990, woody <[e-mail]>
wrote the following:

> An Associated Press report mentioned an incident in Detroit where a
> girl (age 7) phoned 911 to report that her brother was being beaten.
> She was told by a 911 operator to "get off the phone" and her call was
> basically ignored. The operator's insistence that the girl hang up
> interfered with the girl's pleadings for assistance.

Readers of the original article know, of course, that the incident
ended quite tragically.  I believe that there are three other aspects
to this case which need to be mentioned.

(1) About one or two nights after the incident occured, I heard a
recording of the actual 911 call played over WKBD-TV (Detroit TV50).
In the first several seconds of the call, it appeared as though she
was asking for someone at the "Ten O'Clock News".  This fact alone
does not excuse the 911 operator, although I cannot help but wonder
how many Detroit 911 calls come from children playing with the phone,
and whether the operator thought this may have been another such call.

(2) I don't believe Detroit's 911 system is one where the caller's
address is automatically relayed to the dispatcher -- in other words,
the caller would be required to calmly relay his/her location to the
operator.  This not only complicates efforts to send help quickly
(even a highly competant operator may not be able to get this
information out of a seven-year old in time), but increases the chance
that prank 911 calls may go through (since I suspect it would be more
difficult to pinpoint their source).

(3) (Disclaimer: This point is mostly speculative, but I don't believe
it's way off the mark) I think it would be safe to say that Detroit is
understaffed across the board insofar as emergency personnel is
concerned, and that the problem extends to 911 operators.

None of these points excuse the actions of the 911 operator, but I
believe they point to a much larger problem involving Detroit's
emergency services.  I also believe that if the status quo continues,
it's entirely possible that the above tradegy will repeat itself.

Note: The First Amendment and all relevant disclaimers apply.


Sander J. Rabinowitz    |    ![e-mail] | [phone]
Farmington Hills, Mich. | --OR-- [e-mail] |       ***

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 08 Nov 90 11:31:39 +0100
From: "Alain FONTAINE (Postmaster - NAD)" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Spring Ahead, Fall Behind


CCIR Report 517 does indeed describe to procedure for introducing a
'negative' leap second, but it was never actually needed.

Please note that there were also June 30 leap seconds in 81, 82, 83
and 85.  Should raise some concern among anti-alcoholic leagues 8-).

And don't forget to buy bottles in time for the Dec 31, 1990 leap
second!


AF

------------------------------

From: Rob Elkins <eplrx7![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Time Protocol, was Re: AT&T ISDN Set Question
Organization: DuPont Engineering Physics Lab
Date: Thu, 8 Nov 90 17:15:58 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail]
(Frederick Roeber) writes:

>In article <[e-mail]>, coffland@roxanne (Doug Coffland)
>writes:

>RFC-1059 "Network Time Protocol (NTP)" describes (or at least points
>to the paper describing) the algorithm used to solve this problem in
>the IP network time protocol.  Last I checked, RFC's can be ftp'd
>from nic.ddn.mil.

My EE Professor David Mills (Univ Delaware) is the creator of NTP.
Brillant Man.  His stuff is (was) available via anon FTP from
louie.udel.edu


Rob Elkins    E.I. Dupont de Nemours & Co, Inc
Email:        elkinsra%mlvax%dupont.com@csnet-relay
Voice:        215-339-6253

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 8 Nov 90 12:19 CDT
From: "Arun Baheti <[e-mail]>" <[e-mail]>
Subject: PacTel Modem Line Charges


You might try arguing with your PacTel rep if they are charging you
for supposedly higher-wuality lines for your data connections.  The
lines are the same as their voice grade, and after a few minutes of
intense conversation with my rep a few years ago, I was able to con-
vince them that I didn't want/need the "special" lines, and that I
would suffer through with normal voice grade lines.  They will try to
squirm their way out it, but you should push them on it ... its worth
the money savings.

------------------------------

From: Mike Olson <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Request INFO Sources About ISDN
Date: Thu, 08 Nov 90 13:03:48 PST

In <[e-mail]>, holos0![e-mail] (Weaver Hickerson)
writes:

> I'm interested in finding what types, if any, of AT bus hardware is
> available/in the works for ISDN, as well as simply learning more about
> the service.

If you have shelf space to burn and want the info for free, you can
call Advanced Micro Devices and ask for their ISDN databook.  They
tell you what sort of ISDN chips they manufacture and sell, and give a
reasonably good introduction to the topic.  Best of all, it's free;
they even pay shipping, on the assumption that you're more likely to
buy their chips if you know they exist.

To order, call 800 538 8450 and ask for x2264.  They have data books
and app notes on just about everything digital that goes on; ask
specifically for stuff on ISDN.

Other chip manufacturers almost certainly offer the same service, so
you could try your favorite, if you want.

By the way, for folks outside the US, call [phone], same
extension.

No affiliation with AMD (except I have their ISDN databook)...


Mike Olson, UC Berkeley

------------------------------

Subject: Re: Microsoft Use of 900 Number for Tech Support
Date: 8 Nov 90 13:56:07 PST (Thu)
From: John Higdon <[e-mail]>


hpubvwa!ssc![e-mail] writes:

> Higdon has a HUMBLE OPINION??!?  No, but seriously, they recently
> instituted this for support of MS DOS ONLY ... all their applications
> support is free.

Oh, I see. The "product" that put them on the map (other than a BASIC)
is treated as a second-rate stepsister. The company has to protect
itself from all those unwashed masses who might actually have some
legitimate problem (oh, but how could they--DOS is perfect, right?)

> Gee, *I* haven't had these problems.  What makes Higdon so special?
> But he often has problems communicating with phone companies and toll
> carriers too...

Well "Gee", that's wonderful for you. Of course, I deal with
telecommunications and computer companies day in and day out without
much difficulty. It's my job. I don't write about the successes much
because it's pretty dull, but the failures are sometimes worth
mentioning. The reason Microsoft stands out as being a stinker is
because it ISN'T the norm. I have had great success dealing with
dozens of hardware and software vendors. NOT with Microsoft. And the
underlying problem seems to stem from how they handle
telecommunications.

> There is an advantage though to living within toll-free calling of
> them (Seattle).

Maybe if you had spent $15.00 on 900 charges getting nowhere rather
than making a free local call, you would have a different view.

> Also, if you want to follow up with a particular
> support person, they will give you their network username.

Roger. And when I called back to talk to this "particular person", the
person that answered told me that he couldn't locate any "username"
such as the one I gave. So I ended up relating the whole problem once
again to this person. Yes, I had the correct name.

> You can really blow their mind by getting on usenet and addressing your
> followup communication to [e-mail].  I have done this,
> and it ALWAYS gets a quick phone call, especially from the NEW folks
> over there.  It is a fast growing company, so the majority of support
> folks are "new."

When I offered to communicate with the original person via e-mail,
there was much hemming and hawing and I was discouraged from doing
this.  At any rate, when I get home this weekend, I'll try to e-mail
the username that I was origially supplied. And then I'm going to look
for a different platform to handle my requirements.


John Higdon <[e-mail]> (hiding out in the desert)

------------------------------

From: James Deibele <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Logistics of Setting up a Modem Hunt Group
Organization: TECHbooks of Beaverton Oregon - Public Access Unix
Date: Thu, 8 Nov 90 19:18:15 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Terry Kennedy,
Operations Mgr) writes:

>In article <[e-mail]>, our Moderator writes:

>> [Moderator's Note: I don't think you are correct. I think anywhere you
>> enter the loop if that line is busy (i.e. you are in fact calling from
>> it) the incoming call will continue forward in the hunt group.  The
>> exception would be as Mr. Levenson points out in the next message.  PAT]

>  I know of several methods of setting up "hunt groups". Not all of
>these are available on all switches:

Thanks for an informative posting on hunt groups.  Unfortunately, it
seems that GTE has what you described as "single-entry hunt" where
there's only one number per hunt group and the rest of the numbers
can't hunt.  Or that's what GTE tells me this time.  I think I'll call
back and talk to one or two more people to make sure that's correct.

It would be nice if there was a "wizard" number that you could call
and find out whether something was technically feasible or not.  I
have this nagging feeling that there's probably a way of doing what I
want, but that the first- line people aren't used to handling things
that way.  They do have a "call when busy" feature (if number X or Y
or Z is busy, call number A), but it's several dollars a line per
month while the hunt group is free.

Thanks to the people who suggested possible problems when calling from
within the hunt group.  That wasn't the situation in this case (I was
calling from another phone line), but I confess that I never would
have thought of such a thing as causing a problem.


Public Access UNIX [phone] (1200/2400 N81) --- Read alt.books.technical

------------------------------

From: "Barton F. Bruce" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Logistics of Setting up a Modem Hunt Group
Date: 9 Nov 90 13:53:45 EDT
Organization: Cambridge Computer Associates, Inc.


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Vance
Shipley) writes:

> One common mistake made when testing hunt groups is to use a member of
> the hunt group to make the test calls.  If you call line X from line X
> you will get a busy, it will not hunt.

You may have observed this on a #5 x-bar. The LDN, even, dialing itself will
get a busy, so it is not a night answer issue in this case.

------------------------------

Subject: Re: Distinctive Ringing Fax/Phone Switch
From: [e-mail] (Tad Cook)
Date: 9 Nov 90 17:34:10 GMT


In article <[e-mail]>, inesc![e-mail]
(Miguel Casteleiro) writes:

> In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail].
olivetti.com (Rahul Dhesi) writes:

> > I recently purchased a fax/phone/modem switch that claims to do just
> > that.  [...]  It is supposed to be able
> > to select one of two devices based on distinctive ringing.

> Can someone please explain how do this devices work?  Do they answer
> to the phone line, and then decide based on the tones what type of
> call is it?  And then, do they simulate the calling tone to the fax
> and the modem?  If so, aren't this tones diferent from country to
> country?

No, the beauty of it is that they don't have to answer the phone,
because they can tell from DISTINCTIVE RINGING what device the call is
for.  So I have the telco assign 555-0001 to my voice calls, 555-0002
for my modem calls, and 555-0003 for my fax calls.  The telco sets it
up so that all calls coming into my line when 0001 is dialed result in
normal ringing cadence, 0002 causes a double ring, and 0003 causes a
triple ring.  The fax/phone/modem switch will divide the call among
one of three outgoing RJ11 jacks according to the ringing cadence.

In the example above, the numbers don't have to be consecutive.  The
telco just assigns three different telephone numbers to one line, and
each one causes a different style (rhythm) ringing.

> In short, suppose that I have a dumb fax and a dumb modem, can I
> interface one of this devices between one phone line and them?

Yes ... assuming that your telco offers DISTINCTIVE RINGING as a
feature.

One manufacturer of these devices is ITS Communications of Endicott,
NY.  They make the AutoLine Plus.


Tad Cook  Seattle, WA  Packet: KT7H @ N7HFZ.WA.USA.NA  Phone: [phone]
MCI Mail: 3288544      Telex: 6503288544 MCI UW
USENET:...uw-beaver!sumax!amc-gw!ssc!tad   or, [e-mail]

------------------------------

From: Dean Riddlebarger <[e-mail]>
Subject: Who Owns 800-878?
Date: 9 Nov 90 14:28:05 GMT
Organization: Truevision Inc., Indianapolis, IN


Which carrier "owns" the 878 exchange for 800 service?  [Hint: I
already know it's not AT&T.]

On a larger scale, does anyone have the latest list of 800 exchange
assignments?

Thanks.


Dean Riddlebarger     Truevision, Inc.   [317] 841-0332
[e-mail]   uunet!epicb!dean

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V10 #803
******************************










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Date:     Sat, 10 Nov 90 19:31:22 CST
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
[To]:     [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V10 #804
BCC:
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Sat, 10 Nov 90 19:30:05 CST    Volume 10 : Issue 804

Inside This Issue:                         Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Re: Strange "Calls To" [Carl Moore]
    Re: Strange "Calls To" [Jim Youll]
    Information Wanted About Aggregation [George Poynor]
    SDN For Anyone! (was Re: Mysterious LD Fraud) [Barton F. Bruce]
    Re: Broken Phone While Out of Town [Ron Heiby]
    Re: Wrong Number Suggestions Needed [Andy Jacobson]
    Re: Spring Ahead, Fall Behind [Louis A. Mamakos]
    Re: Spring Ahead, Fall Behind [James M. Turner]
    Thanks For the Responses [Joel Disini]
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Thu, 8 Nov 90 15:53:10 EST
From: Carl Moore (VLD/VMB) <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Strange "Calls To"


What carrier handled the calls that bgsuvax![e-mail]
(Jim Youll) wrote of here?  What does "aggregator" mean?

>My last phone bill listed long distance calls to Cleveland, etc.
>but also showed calls to :
>   WASZ 2   MD
>   PHSZ 43  PA
>These calls were handled by an aggregator. Any idea why the funny
>destination names, and what they mean?


Moderator's Note: Carl, the answer to your question follows in the
next three messages.  PAT]

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 8 Nov 90 17:25:24 -0500
From: Jim Youll <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Strange "Calls To"


The calls were handled by a company called "Afford A Call". They used
to be called "Litel" but that's irrelevant.

I think I understand this correctly, and hope that I used the correct
terminology to describe what they do.

Basically, an aggregator buys a chunk of service from ATT or somebody
who is actually a long distance provider, and receives a discount for
the volume purchase. They then resell smaller bites of the bandwidth
to guys like me at a miniscule profit and hope that I stay with them
for a long time. Then they go out of business and I switch to someone
else.

They are starting to offer 800 service and some other features like
six-second billing, but that's mainly a function of their billing
software, not the route the calls take.


Jim

PS: Remember that this information is worth approximately 10% less than
you paid for it, due to inflation.


[Moderator's Note: Hey! That's not nice to say. The subscribers here
pay premium rates for this little journal.  PAT

------------------------------

From: George Poynor <[e-mail]>
Subject: Information Wanted About Aggregation
Date: Thu, 8 Nov 90 16:37:24 CDT


We are being besieged by aggregators (aggravators ?) promising
jillions of dollars in savings on our long distance bills.  Can anyone
comment on this phenomenon?


George V. Poynor  N9JTD  |    UUCP:  {obdient | spl1 | tellab5}!wheaton!poynor
Wheaton College          |   Voice:  [phone] (Office)

------------------------------

From: "Barton F. Bruce" <[e-mail]>
Subject: SDN For Anyone! (was -Re: Mysterious LD Fraud)
Date: 9 Nov 90 15:24:24 EDT
Organization: Cambridge Computer Associates, Inc.


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Robert
Michael Gutierrez) writes:

> [BTW ... is this a chain hotel??? That would explain how they can
> get/afford AT&T SDN.]

Yes it was. BUT need not have been.

You don't in ANY WAY need to be big or chain related these days to be
using SDN.

You just have to be using an AGGRAGATOR/RESELLER that has an SDN. You
have probably been getting calls from them and not known what they
were. Just simply ask if they are using SDN.

There are many different ways these folks get money out of you. The
smarter ones are NOT grouping you under a multi-location watts plan
and then getting you to pay them a slice of your savings.

Much better for them to get an AT&T SDN, and select the arrangement
where the bill for your usage goes to YOU directly, but at a discount
THEY control.

The remainder of the discount, and any bonus 'deals' gets credited to
their AT&T account and their own calls get to use that money. Of
course AT&T occasionally sends them a 'refund' check for overpaying.

All totally legal. SDN allows that. For instance, a hotel chain of
independantly owned properties could get whopping discounts and the
central group could cover their 800 and other network expenses
servicing the chains reservations, etc. The separation allowed for
here also lets anyone open an office and start peddling membership in
his group. It is an easy sell - you pay him nothing, he gets you 21 or
25% off your AT&T bill from dollar one. His money slithers back a
while later from AT&T.

There is some sort of limit of 400 locations per month that can be
added to any SDN. Some AGGRAGATOR/RESELLER (is there a better name for
these useful sleezes) have more than one SDN. These are not configured
for neat translation or international corporate network schemes, but
are simply giving plain phone service at discount.

SDN provides for such things as city-pairs being defined. A monthly
charge of $200 gets better rates from any 'on-net' calls between
these. I assume the big AGGRAGATOR/RESELLER watches for traffic
patterns that allow him to subscribe to 'features' that maximise how
much he gets beyond what he lets you get.

Note well that YOU PAY HIM nothing! He, to get the biggest deals has
to sign up for four years, and wants to stick you the same way. You
can probably get a contract that lets you bail out any time. Just dig
your heels in.  They typically get you 21% starting at dollar one, not
at dollar 2000 or what ever. If they know there are others after you,
you should have NO PROBLEM getting 25%! There is plenty left beyond
that for them to get fat on. Your even knowing what SDN is proves to
him he better offer you the his better deal.

BTW AT&T has useful promos. It used to cost BIG $$ to start an SDN,
but now not so. You may want to look at starting your own if you are
anything other than tiny. Right now, til sometime in December, AT&T is
waiving their T1 installation charges for folks connecting that way.
Some promos get 'extended' but they have to be careful that they don't
get accused of lowering the tariff permanently without re-filing.
They ARE working hard to get SDN to grow very fast.

The A/R may not bother to mention these promo deals, but cost him
nothing for you to use them if they are currently available.

AT&T credit cards get discounts this way, too.

There are MANY facets to SDN, and there are remote access schemes for
staff from home, and depending on whether you let AT&T control
passwords etc., you or they get fraud responsibility. They can get SO
TIGHT that if you give your wife your access number to reach you on
the road, and you use it elsewhere within certain time intervals, it
gets invalidated.

And small business *owners* joining an A/R's SDN might consider having
their home phones included in the SDN. The assumption is that all LD
calls from home would be for business use.

For best discounts in a large chain operation where there are no
problems splitting the bill up, you get billed at one location. The
A/R would opt to have AT&T be responsible for getting bills to you.
This may be changing come January, but some A/Rs have made seperate
deals with the AT&T owned company that will be handling billing then.
AT&T wants to save what they pay the LECs now for billing servises, I
guess.

The GREATEST SCHEME for J.Q.Public would be for some entity like the
Audubon Society to set up an SDN that ALL members could join simply by
paying the annual membership! Their membership would GROW FAST!

The big rub here is that you NEED a base of heavy usage to get your
monthly minutes way up so all get the best discount, but there is the
darn 400 added sites per month limit that currently could kill this
idea.

I would MUCH RATHER have the extra discount I can't get go to some
worthy cause than into the greedy A/R's pocket. There is very little
effort they have to expend to do it!

Failing that, I have heard that there is at least one SDN set up for
'members' that gives ALL discounts to the users - is a 0 profit one. I
assume it is some professional society or trade group, but the AT&T
staffer mentioning it was not allowed to say who/what it is!

Does ANYONE know?

AT&T has to be in a love/hate relationship with the A/Rs. AT&T is
getting back a LOT of business under conditions that AT&T could not
possibly themselves offer to those same small users. THEY are the
dominant carrier, and MCI and Sprint etc would do everything possible
to stop them. The A/R does what he wants.

Who has an uncle that is on the <pick-your-favorite: Sierra,
Greenpeace, NRA, Oxfam, Audubon, AMC) board and another relative that
is a 'retired' AT&T brass? Have a little family reunion, and lets get
low prices for all, and some extra 'cream' going to some favorite
cause.

------------------------------

From: Ron Heiby <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Broken Phone While Out of Town
Date: 8 Nov 90 23:59:57 GMT
Organization: Motorola Computer Group, Schaumburg, IL


[e-mail] (David Tamkin) writes:


>repair at 509-2510.  (It's still in 312.)
 ...
>through to IBT Repair.  Is that the number Ron Heiby couldn't reach?

That number doesn't sound familiar, but I threw out my page of notes
taken as I went though the mill several times.

>Now, what I don't understand about Ron's story is why his wife
>couldn't pick up the line that worked and dial 611 from it to report

My wife absolutely *detests* dealing with phone repair, plumbers,
electricians, auto mechanics, etc., etc.  Thus, it falls upon me to
arrange for things to be fixed when they break.  Also, she didn't
think of it.  The line that was working is the Answering Machine and
Modem line, which only I really make any use of (unless you count
phone solicitors who leave messages or refuse to).

Anyway, thanks much for the number.  It's in my "Day-Timer", now!


Ron Heiby, [e-mail]    Moderator: comp.newprod

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 09 Nov 90 02:42 PST
From: Andy Jacobson <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Wrong Number Suggestions Needed


In TELECOM Digest V10 #796: Bob Yazz <[e-mail]>writes:

>A new prefix had opened up in San Diego, and I got the number xyz-y000
>(that's XYZ Y-thousand).  Early that Autumn, Neiman-Marcus
>(Needless-Markup to those who know them) opened up shop.  They got
>xyz-y100 (XYZ Y-one-hundred) and I started getting their calls on my
>answering machine.

>The next day at work (How did they get my work number?) I received a
>call from an AT&T Longlines Division Account Manager who was most
>eager to "help solve Our problem".  She told me that Neiman-Marcus's

>  She also wanted me to change my number.  I did
>NOT want that.  Neiman's claimed they had already printed up too many

>I finally changed (for free) my number to abc-1200.  Everyone was very
>very gracious.  The VP was so apologetic about "all this

Hey, don't do it. If you give up a phone number, next they'll want to
build their store on your house just because their customers drive by
your corner. (Ok, ok, I wont flame.)  But I would never give up a
phone number, especially a good one like that

Let me tell you how I deal with a similar situation.  My number is
213-X9Y-X000 in west L.A.. The Shadydump hotel in Marina Del Ray has
listed 213-X0Y-X000. Because their customers are ignorant of NXX's
having 1 or 0 as second digit (they must still be living back in the
days when area codes were .... well ... you know ... area codes),
they're somehow convinced that they wrote down a "9", when it really
is "0". I really can't otherwise see how they could convert zero into
a nine. Well, I really enjoy making reservations for them at $99.99 a
night single occupancy.

Then there was the woman who before even saying hello at 4:45AM
announced that she was calling from West Germany (Aaaah, now a
chance for the LD carrier to gouge away.my revenge )
-and wanted to conf-- ... I told her in no uncertain terms that she
had the wrong number and summarily hung up on her. Well, she called
back_twice_ (Hey, its her deutschmark!)

The second time I told her in even less uncertain terms. The third
time I just answered politely with the name of the hotel, and put her
on hold. Four or five minutes later her patience timed out. She tried
back again (brilliant!) This time she got the ring"XXXXXhotelholdplease"
softclick response. Another four minutes of that winking LED, that got
rid of her good!  Let's see, that's about four 'first minutes', and
eight additional from FRG, and its the middle of the afternoon there.

My opinion is : F***em! If Neiman Markup, or Snears has dumb
customers, take their orders! Take their credit card numbers! Tell
them what the prices are. Tell them where the store is located!  When
they wind up at the city dump, they have no one to blame but
themselves. You have every right to give 'em grief. The stores have
 ___NO___ right to even suggest that you change your number.

Remember, their stock is trading on the AMEX, not yours.  You're
trying to live your life. Make the most of it. If the stupid customers
ever get to the store, let'em beat up the manager. If it's in their
business interest to not lose customers, and not tie up management,
they'll make the effort to straighten people out. Then again, maybe
the store would be willing to pay you a fat monthly fee to redirect
their lost sheep. You might just let them know what their options are.

Another point raised was:

>The Directory Assistance voice computer didn't say Y-one-hundred, it
>said Y-one-oh-oh.

I don't know how 411 gives it, but it seems that the bell system
intercept can say things like "XY  hundred" and "X  thousand."
The GTE one here does not.


[Moderator's Note: We had a series of messages on this some time back,
with people who received the wrong number calls deliberatly giving
phalse and misleading information to the caller. Some people thought
it was very unethical to deliberatly give phalse information to the
person who dialed a wrong number. But still, it can be a nuisance when
there are a lot of calls like that. My new technique is to let them
hang up, then punch *69 and call them back, advising them to take care
in the future with their dialing. That really freaks them out since
they wonder how I could possibly have known their number!   PAT]

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 8 Nov 90 08:34:25 EST
From: "Louis A. Mamakos" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Spring Ahead, Fall Behind
Organization: The University of Maryland, College Park


>Leap seconds are never removed.

Well, none have ever been removed *yet*.  The Network Time Protocol
has a leap-second warning field in the packet, which indicates a leap
second will occur at the end of the current day.  There are provisions
for both adding and deleting a leap second.


louie

------------------------------

From: "James M. Turner" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Spring Ahead, Fall Behind
Date: 8 Nov 90 09:54:07 EST


hayes![e-mail] (Toby Nixon) writes:

>One very nice program is "Professional TIMESET" by Dr. Peter Petrakis
>of Life Sciences Editorial Services, 1236 River Bay Road, Annapolis
>MD 21401.

Not to toot my own horn, but I've just posted a Unix tool called
utcclock to alt.sources and comp.protocols.time.ntp, which calls this
number and sets your clock accurate to about +/- 50ms.


Name:    James M. Turner
Company: Kendall Square Research
Email:   [e-mail], ksr!turner
Phone:   [phone]

------------------------------

Subject: Thanks For the Responses
From: "Disini SW, Emmanuel Disini,PRT" <[e-mail]>
Date: 09 Nov 90 10:28 GMT


I'd especially like to thank the group for all the great answers
provided to my inquiry - I have never received such a comprehensive
response before (I was asking about MNP drivers for MS-DOS).  Since
they probably cc'ed their replies here, I shall not repost them but I
would especially like to thank:

Javier Henderson       Toby Nixon
Ken Donaldson          Bob Falcon

Sincerely,

Joel Disini

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V10 #804
******************************










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TELECOM Digest     Sat, 10 Nov 90 20:25:48 CST    Volume 10 : Issue 805

Inside This Issue:                         Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Re: Info Needed on Prodigy Service [David Lemson]
    Re: Info Needed on Prodigy Service [Glenn F. Leavell]
    Re: Info Needed on Prodigy Service [Adam M. Gaffin]
    Re: Info Needed on Prodigy Service [Ken McGlothlen]
    Re: Broken Phone While Out of Town [John Cowan]
    Re: Wrong Number Nightmare [John Higdon]
    People Unclear on the Concept [Ed Greenberg]
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: David Lemson <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Info Needed on Prodigy Service
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Fri, 9 Nov 90 18:13:57 GMT


[e-mail] (Sandy Kyrish) writes:

>I'm interested in knowing just how successful Prodigy *really* is.

>1. Prodigy claims nearly 500,000 subscribers.  What's the turnover
>rate?  Do people "buy the yellow box", keep Prodigy for awhile, and
>then cut it off?  And what is this 500K number really based on; boxes
>sold/given away, or active bill-paying subscribers?

First off, I had Prodigy for about five months ending in August, 1990.
So, I haven't been on in a few months.  I have kept track of it in
things like alt.bbs, though.

I get the impression that the 500,000 is just a bit of an exaggeration,
or possibly a prediction that was supposed to have come true by now,
but hasn't.

>2. Is anything besides the e-mail/BBS service really popular with
>subscribers?  Is the shopping at home/banking at home making a dent?

I went to the home banking service, and read that in my area (St.
Louis at the time), there was only two banks that would service me.
They were nationwide services.  If you bank with IBM Credit Union (you
have to be an IBM employee), I think there's no service charge.  Most
of the other banks will charge you.  It's just not worth it to me.  My
main banking is done with a mutual fund management corp., and they
have an 800 number with computerized auto-attendant that can do about
anything I want.

As for the E-mail, it was pretty good.  It was quite cheap for the
ability to send mail to so many people.  Problems: You have to move
the cursor down to "PgDn" to make a new screen or to scroll to the
new screen.  "Screens" are about 15 rows by 60 cols., and take
FOREVER to scroll, even at 2400 bps.  I asked them MANY times if
they would ever install MNP on their modems.  "Duhh, what's MNP?  We
already have a PROPRIETARY ERROR CORRECTION SCHEME!  We can't tell
you anything about it!!!"  This was to Harold Goldes, the so-called
"Technical head of Prodigy".

After I explained what MNP was, and they saw that it would require
capital outlay. NO WAY would they spend more money so that we would
have greater speed.  Problem now: in a few months, they are going to
start charging something like $.25 per E-mail message over about 30
per month.  Gag.  Advice: Stick with Internet.  Prodigy's messages
have a four or five screen limit, too.

Grocery services were supposed to be good.  In STL, we had Schnuck's,
and the prices were exactly the same as the shelf price, plus a $8
flat fee for pick-up (they're ready for you ahead of time) or about
$15 for delivery.  A good deal for someone who can't get out, and they
do carry several thousand items on-line, and will even accept coupons
on delivery orders.

>3.  What do you think people are really responding to with Prodigy --
>the ability to access information, the ability to finally put their PC
>to good use, the e-mail/BBSs, or something else?

It's mainly people who don't know why they ever bought that $500 Hayes
Smartmodem 1200 so many years ago.  It's for people who don't know
that BBSs provide almost the same thing for much cheaper.  (Well, not
the SAME, but at least they don't censor your messages on BBSs that
much.)

>4.  Do you/did you use it, and how do you/did you like it?

Yes, I used it when I was writing to four people at once each day.  If
they made me pay extra for all that, I doubt I'd use it.  Now that I
have Internet and can write without a monthly charge, I prefer that.

>[Moderator's Note: I'm hearing some bad news about Prodigy lately. So
>'they' say, several users recently were summarily evicted from the
>service after they sent email to other users criticizing the service's
>plan to begin charging for 'excessive' amounts of email.  Does anyone
>have any details on this?  PAT]

I've heard the same thing.  People posted "public" messages asking
people to boycott the Prodigy advertisers!  (Each Prodigy screen
features an advertisement for an on-line store or special feature, in
case you didn't know -- and this adds to the VERY SLOW service) So,
Prodigy kicked about three or four accounts off.  The executive
interviewed said, "Yeah, we did it, they went after our advertisers,
and we don't stand for that."  Make up your own minds.


David E. Lemson  UofI Computing Svcs Student Consultant
Internet : [e-mail]
University of Illinois, Urbana

------------------------------

Subject: Re: Info Needed on Prodigy Service
From: "Glenn F. Leavell" <[e-mail]>
Organization: University of Georgia Economics Department
Date: Fri, 9 Nov 90 18:57:32 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Sandy
Kyrish) writes:

>I'm interested in knowing just how successful Prodigy *really* is.

    [ stuff deleted ]

>[Moderator's Note: I'm hearing some bad news about Prodigy lately. So
>'they' say, several users recently were summarily evicted from the
>service after they sent email to other users criticizing the service's
>plan to begin charging for 'excessive' amounts of email.  Does anyone
>have any details on this?  PAT]

I too have read this information, but, alas, I did not save the
source, and I don't remember what the source was.  So, I will try to
remember a few things about what I read.

A group of Prodigy users recently tried to form a boycott of all
Prodigy advertisers (Prodigy is cheaper than services like CompuServe
becuase they run ads at the bottom of the screen).  This boycott was
in response to a recent Prodigy rate increase, particularly a plan to
begin charging for e-mail messages that exceeded some limit X per
household.

This group of boycotting users began sending e-mail to all subscribers
trying to rally converts to their cause.  Prodigy likened this mass
mailing to "junk mail" and eventually removed the instigators from the
system.  I understand that Prodigy now has a rule that the subject of
the rate increase and boycott are not to be mentioned in any mailings
or postings on the system, and that any messages that do mention them
will be returned to the sender.

Once again, I must state that I don't have the source of this
information.  I do not guarantee any of this information.  Does anyone
else have any corrections, clarifications, or additions?

If much of this is true, it raises some possibly interesting
questions: If Prodigy is returning messages to the sender based on
content, does this mean that they are reading all messages sent on the
system?  Is this "right"?  Is this the same as censorship?  Becuase
Prodigy is a private service, are they allowed to censor non-offensive
material?  But, they are using a common-carrier (the phone) as their
only access method.  Does this have any bearing on the situation?


Glenn F. Leavell            [e-mail]             404-542-3488
Systems Administrator
University of Georgia Economics Department. 147 Brooks Hall. Athens, GA 30602


[Moderator's Note: Having telco as the transport mechanism would not
change things either way: after all, telco is not the one reviewing
and/or deleting mail. Whether or not Prodigy is a common carrier
remains to be seen.  PAT]

------------------------------

From: Adam M Gaffin <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Info Needed on Prodigy Service
Organization: The World
Date: Sat, 10 Nov 90 04:12:09 GMT


Tis true that a number of Prodigy users have been kicked off -- I've
talked to three of 15 now. The company claims they were harassing
other users and (gasp!) advertisers by sending out increasingly
obnoxious e-mail messages by the bushel. The users, organized into
something called the Coordinated Defense Campaign, say they were only
letting people know about the impending e-mail charges (25 cents per
message above a monthly free maximum of 30) and that they did not send
to anybody who didn't want to hear from them.

I've written about this, so if anybody wants copies of the article,
let me know.


Adam Gaffin   Middlesex News, Framingham, Mass.
[e-mail]  Voice: [phone]
Fred the Middlesex News Computer: [phone].


[Moderator's Note: Adam, it has been awhile since we ran one of your
columns from the News here in the Digest, so by all means send along
your article and we will post it here.   PAT]

------------------------------

From: Ken McGlothlen <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Info Needed on Prodigy Service
Date: 10 Nov 90 20:57:18 GMT
Organization: Dubious.


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Sandy
Kyrish) asks:

| I'm interested in knowing just how successful Prodigy *really* is.  [...]

| 1. Prodigy claims nearly 500,000 subscribers.  What's the turnover rate?  Do
| people "buy the yellow box", keep Prodigy for awhile, and then cut it off?
| And what is this 500K number really based on; boxes sold/given away, or
| active bill-paying subscribers?

Personally, I suspect that the number of *active* users numbers less
than a quarter of that.  Whoever's sending out Prodigy's mail tends
toward the redundant, to put it nicely.  I'm still receiving stuff
from them, after having cancelled several months ago.  Heck, they even
billed me for four months after I had cancelled (no, I didn't pay them
for those four months).  Duplicate that sort of behavior a few
thousand times, and you have oodles more people that are being charged
for your services.

| 2. Is anything besides the e-mail/BBS service really popular with
| subscribers?  Is the shopping at home/banking at home making a dent?

No idea.  The E-mail aspect wasn't terribly useful to me, but then, even after
about six scans of areas where I knew people, I hadn't seen a single person I
knew or wanted to contact.  Perhaps that's changed now, but ...

| 3.  What do you think people are really responding to with Prodigy -- the
| ability to access information, the ability to finally put their PC to good
| use, the e-mail/BBSs, or something else?

The advertisements.  On the television, it looks pretty good --
spiffy, colorful, whizbang, and fast.  In person:

| 4.  Do you/did you use it, and how do you/did you like it?

Yep, I did use it, for a few months.

The first thing that struck me was that it was sure awfully slow.
Configuration was easy enough, but the graphics were painfully slow,
and the characters flowed across the screen at a speed slightly better
than a 300bps modem (from a 2400bps connection).  The characters were
big, which meant that it filled up a screen faster than your average
80x24 screen, but I basically read along with the text as it was
printed, and then had to wait for it to accept my input and wait for
it to think about the next page.

The menus were poorly organized.  There was no way to get a simple
list of keywords downloaded.  Execution -- I can't stress this enough
 -- was really, really slow.  And with EVERY SINGLE SCREEN, it took up
some more time and space to barrage me with yet *another* advertisement.

When I heard that any public posting made on Prodigy was filtered by
the staff, that was just another point against it.

The only semi-useful thing I got out of it was trying to navigate EASY
SABRE to see if I could reserve an airline ticket.  Again, here, the
menus were poorly organized, frequently *almost* redundant (to wit,
two menus allowed you to see *exactly* the same information, except
for one little item -- I had to abort the reservation process and go
off to inspect the flight number again), and in general, barely
useful.

The vast majority of the board is an electronic advertisement.  The
usefulness of the news services was amazingly limited (I could have
gotten the same thing on television with much better graphics, more
detail, and at higher speed), the games were ... well, mediocre ...
and there was no way to just simply download a file.

I would have killed by the end of it to be able to dial in with
Kermit, and just see ASCII characters, but no ceegar.

USENET.  Can't touch that.

As I said, their billing department doesn't seem to be on its toes,
either.

| [Moderator's Note: I'm hearing some bad news about Prodigy lately.

I heard the same thing from a different source that currently uses
Prodigy, if that helps.  :)  Still, it wouldn't surprise me -- Prodigy
seems to really like being in control.


Ken McGlothlen
[e-mail]
[e-mail]

------------------------------

From: John Cowan <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Broken Phone While Out of Town
Organization: The Logical Language Group, Inc.
Date: Tue, 6 Nov 90 19:24:33 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> Bill Huttig <[e-mail]>
writes:

>[Moderator's Note: That's very nice of them [ATT], if in fact they still do
>it. I know prior to divestiture the long distance operator would
>contact 'inward' in your community and that operator would turn in the
>report. Who knows now ...   PAT]

Sure 'nough, they do.

I had reason to believe that my father's phone was out of order one
fine night some months ago.  He lives in Bethlehem PA (Bell of PA --
Bell Atlantic) and I live in NYC (New York Tel -- NYNEX).  Dialling
10288-0 got me an operator who got me an operator who got me a number
in 215-land.  I called it and filed a report.  Bingo.


[e-mail]            (aka ...!hombre!marob!cowan)


------------------------------

Subject: Re: Wrong Number Nightmare
Date: 9 Nov 90 11:18:30 PST (Fri)
From: John Higdon <[e-mail]>


"Arun Baheti <[e-mail]>" <[e-mail]> writes:

> We have complained to the phone company and to the dealership to fix
> the problem, but everyone seems to think that we should pay to have
> our line changed or simply wait for their or simply wait for their
> cards, flyers, etc to cycle through in a year or so...  sigh.  I
> consider myself polite, but after getting 15 wrong numbers and
> messages asking "When can I pick up my truck?"  (in Spanish and
> English) a day, I am beginning to grow tired of the whole game.  Any
> ideas?  I've already tried threatening the car dealer with the idea
> that I would begin to be rude to the wrong numbers and not refer them
> to the 714 area code.  Someone?  Anyone?

Time to actually implement "the final solution". Tell the callers that
the dealership has probably gone out of business (with the implication
that maybe they have lost their money!) or any other smart-aleck
comment that you may deem appropriate.

If that doesn't seem to help, then you will have to convince GTE that
it really would be in its best interests to give you a free number
change. (I'm surprised that even GTE would insist that you pay for a
number change to avoid harrassing calls, but then GTE never ceases to
amaze and astound.)

In any event, remember that you are the innocent victim here and under
no circumstances should you have to pay for a car dealer's (especially
a car dealer's!) negligence.


John Higdon <[e-mail]> (hiding out in the desert)

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 9 Nov 90 11:46 PST
From: [e-mail]
Subject: People Unclear on the Concept


I dropped by the local Burger King the other day, for my ration of
fast breakfast.  Outside is a brand spanking new COCOT.  Inside is a
sign that states, "We do not give change for the phone."

Now, given that the BK is in it for the cash, why discourage usage?

This COCOT allows use of AT&T.  Dialing 10288 causes the phone to
say "Thank you" and then it outdials 102880.  This fact is indicated on
the instruction card.  "Card Calls completed by Com Systems. To use AT&T
dial 10288"  I'm impressed.

edg

Moderator's Note: Perhaps the answer is they know they will make just
as much money anyway without the extra effort of making change. The
poor devils who have to use the phone can simply use the change they
were planning to use to get on the bus instead, and go somewhere else
to look for bus fare money. When you go to that sort of dump to eat,
why are you surprised by anything they say or do?   PAT]

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V10 #805
******************************










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[To]:     [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V10 #806
BCC:
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TELECOM Digest     Sat, 10 Nov 90 21:50:38 CST    Volume 10 : Issue 806

Inside This Issue:                         Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Re: Multi-Line Voicemail Boards [Dave Levenson]
    Re: Multi-Line Voicemail Boards [Alex Novickis]
    Dialogic vs. AT&T Voice Power vs. ... [Jim Gottlieb]
    Re: Is the "V&H" Tape Still Available? [Bob Stratton]
    Re: Former 312-Area Ringback Prefixes [Norman R. Tiedemann]
    Re: Searching For a Battery [Barton F. Bruce]
    Re: DTMF Decoder Wanted (or Chips/Schematics) [Tad Cook]
    Re: Request INFO Sources About ISDN [Arnold Robbins]
    Re: Wrong Number Suggestions Needed [Barton F. Bruce]
    Re: Telecom Art [Peter da Silva]
    Re: Voice Activated Calling Cards [Steve Rhoades]
    Re: Digit Overload in Dallas/Fort Worth [Carl Moore]
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Dave Levenson <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Multi-Line Voicemail Boards
Date: 9 Nov 90 22:51:29 GMT
Organization: Westmark, Inc., Warren, NJ, USA


In article <[e-mail]>, biar![e-mail] (Robert J
Woodhead) writes:

[comments about bigmOuth PC voice equipment]

> I'm quite happy with it, but now I have a slightly more complicated
> bit of hardware on my Xmas shopping list.  What I need is a board that
> has the following features:

> * Can handle four or more calls simultaneously.
> * DMTF detection, audio recording and playback.
> * PC compatible
> * Hopefully buffers incoming and outgoing sampled audio on the board
>   so as to reduce the strain on the host machine.
> * Good low-level interface software library, in UNIX/XENIX if possible.
> * Also, it would be nice if more than one of these boards could be plugged
>   into a single PC.

Check out Dialogic Corp. of Parsippany, NJ.  They offer two, four, and
twelve-line cards, with MS-DOS and UNIX system software (drivers and
libraries).  These cards detect and generate touch tones, play and
record voice, and detect ring.  Add-ons allow this equipment to work
with DID trunks, T-1 circuits, interoffice (MF) trunks, voice-
recognition boards, and an audio switch matrix.  The latter, with some
adaptors that include telephone set interfaces, ringing power
supplies, etc., allows your PC to become a full PBX if you need that
much functionality.

> Anyone got any leads on such a beastie?  Oh yeah, if there is a
> multiline box that talks to it's host over Ethernet, that would do the
> trick too.

Put their cards in your PC and let the PC (running DOS or UNIX) talk
to the rest of your network.

No, I don't work for Dialogic.  Westmark is a value-added reseller of
their voice products, which we embed in our voice-response banking
applications.


Dave Levenson            Internet: [e-mail]
Westmark, Inc.            UUCP: {uunet | rutgers | att}!westmark!dave
Warren, NJ, USA            AT&T Mail: !westmark!dave
[The Man in the Mooney]        Voice: 908 647 0900  Fax: [phone]

------------------------------

From: Alex Novickis <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Multi-Line Voicemail Boards
Date: 11 Nov 90 01:11:08 GMT
Organization: Apple Computer Inc., Cupertino, CA


In article <[e-mail]> biar![e-mail] (Robert J
Woodhead) writes:

>A couple of months ago I inquired about voicemail boards for the PC.
>Thanks to all that responded.  I ended up getting a Bigmouth board
>from Talking Technologies of Alameda, CA [415-522-3800] for about
>$225.  This board turns any old PC into a voicemail center, and the
>menu-driven software that comes with it (quite powerful) lets you set
>up voicemail boxes, phone trees, do voice questionaires, store and
>auto-forward voicemail, etc, etc, etc.

>I'm quite happy with it, but now I have a slightly more complicated
>bit of hardware on my Xmas shopping list.  What I need is a board that
>has the following features:
>into a single PC.

>Anyone got any leads on such a beastie?  Oh yeah, if there is a
>multiline box that talks to it's host over Ethernet, that would do the
>trick too.

There's a company in Los Gatos, CA called VICOM or maybe VYCOM and
they used to have a 64 line card for the PC, however I believe it only
did voice out, DTMF in type stuff. They may have more of such stuff
 ...  this was made for mass termination lines, e.g. 900 or 976 use.


Alex P. Novickis, Real Time systems demi-guru.  (W)   408-370-4541
ALINK:alex.n                                    (PAGE)    989-6678
{amdahl,claris,pyramid,sun,decwrl,well,ubvax,ames}![e-mail],apn@nonvon

------------------------------

From: Jim Gottlieb <[e-mail]>
Subject: Dialogic vs. AT&T Voice Power vs. ...
Date: 11 Nov 90 01:44:54 GMT
Reply-To: Jim Gottlieb <[e-mail]>
Organization: Info Connections, West Los Angeles


We have been using Dialogic voice boards for several years now and
have several hundred in service.  Yet I am not completely happy with
them and would like to hear about the competition.

Specific complaints include bad ring-detect circuitry (shout into the
phone and the board goes off-hook) and the lack of a hybrid circuit to
prevent output audio from finding its way into the touch-tone receiver
(the board will often not hear a touch-tone from the user if pressed
at the same time as speech is being played).

The other four-port boards that I know of are the AT&T Voice Power
board, and a similar board from Rhetorex.  How do these compare?
Unfortunately, Rhetorex does not provide Unix drivers.


Jim Gottlieb
E-Mail: <[e-mail]> or <attmail!denwa!jimmy>
V-Mail: [phone]   Fax: [phone]   Voice: 824-5454

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 9 Nov 90 10:54:10 EST
From: Bob Stratton <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Is the "V&H" tape still Available?


>There used to be a mag tape called a "V&H" tape that you could get
>from AT&T for about $43. It had every NPA-NXX code, the location's
>name, and its Vertical and Horizontal coordinates.

This is from my 1989 Bellcore Catalog of Technical Information:

 - NPA-NXX Vertical and Horizontal Coordinates Tape - This tape
contains for each active NPA-NXX in the North American Numbering Plan,
the industry type data applicable to that point. The data contained
includes the vertical and horizontal coordinate, the LATA or LATA-like
code, the place, name, and time zone indicators. This tape is
available monthly and contains, in addition to a data set, two data
files: 1) a complete master of all active NPA/NXX's and 2) a file of
only the updates made since the last issue.

NPA/NXX V + H Coordinates Tape            $320.00

To place orders or to obtain further assistance, contace the TRA
(Traffic Routing Administration) Hotline on 201-829-3071, or:

    Bellcore
    Traffic Routing Administration
    435 South Street, Room 1J321
    Morristown, New Jersey 07960-1961

I hope this helps.


Bob Stratton        | dsc3rjs@nmdsc{20 | 10}.nmdsc.nnmc.navy.mil [Internet]
Stratton Systems Design    | [e-mail] [BITNET - only if you must!]
            | +1 703 823 MIND [PSTNet]
Disclaimer: The above opinions are mine alone - Who else would want them?

------------------------------

Date: Fri,  9 Nov 90 12:01:31 EST
From: Norman R Tiedemann <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Former 312-Area Ringback Prefixes
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories


In article <[e-mail]>, the Moderator notes:

> [Moderator's Note: Well actually, the correct numbers are 1-571
> through 1-577. No area code, but you must use 1 plus the appropriate
> three digit code for your CO (571 through 577) plus the last four
> digits of the phone you want to ring back. For example xxx-2368 would
> be rung back by dialing 1-571-2368 (or 572, 573, whatever applies in
> your office -- test 'em all to find out which!) The corect combination
> will return dial tone. ...

Here at Bell Labs in Naperville, we have ISDN from IBT. This ring back
does not work through ISDN. Interestingly enough the phone number
voice back (1-200) works. Actually, it voiced back your number very
quietly and then give a loud annoying fast busy. You have to pull your
ear away fast after the number.

Anytime I try the ring back, it rings and then I get the intercept
tone and the "To call a number outside your area code, dial 1 plus
area code ... To call a number within your areacode just dial the seven
digit number."

I also noted that the touchtone test will not work if you do not
subscribe to touch tone service. (Or at least I couldn't get it to
work at home.)

If anyone knows how to ring back through ISDN, I'd be interested in
finding out how.


    Norm Tiedemann        AT&T Bell Labs IH 2G-419
    att!ihlpy!normt        2000 Naperville Rd.
    [e-mail]    Naperville, IL    60566

------------------------------

From: "Barton F. Bruce" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Searching For a Battery
Date: 9 Nov 90 13:01:44 EDT
Organization: Cambridge Computer Associates, Inc.


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] writes:

> I am looking for a type of battery (D cell, 1.5 volts) I've not seen
> in a long time.  It is an Everready but is only one-half the height
> of a standard D cell.  Would anyone know if these are still

You maybe should ask the manufacturer of the product it goes in for a
current recommendation.

You haven't given enough info to really pin down what you have, but
maybe this will help.

An EVEREADY # E94 (USASI Designation - L80) is 1 11/32" diameter (same as
a "D"), but is 1 13/64 overall length.

> I've tried calling Union Carbide and the response has been "we never
> made one."  It is, of course, sitting on my desk.  But, sadly, long
> dead.

Ask for EVEREADY's "Battery Applications - Engineering Data" handbook.

------------------------------

Subject: Re: DTMF Decoder Wanted (or Chips/Schematics)
From: [e-mail] (Tad Cook)
Date: 9 Nov 90 17:16:09 GMT


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Barton F.
Bruce) writes:

> If you are just tinkering, go to Radio Shack. They have TT decode
> chips, but are hardly where you need to go if you are going to make a
> product.

Radio Shack no longer carries the SSI DTMF receiver.  But you can
contact SSI directly at 714-731-7110.  Or you can get Teltone's DTMF
receiver from them at 206-827-9626.


Tad Cook  Seattle, WA  Packet: KT7H @ N7HFZ.WA.USA.NA  Phone: [phone]
MCI Mail: 3288544      Telex: 6503288544 MCI UW
USENET:...uw-beaver!sumax!amc-gw!ssc!tad   or, [e-mail]

------------------------------

Reply-To: [e-mail]
From: Arnold Robbins <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Request Info Sources About ISDN
Date: 9 Nov 90 14:42:36 GMT
Organization: AudioFAX Inc., Atlanta


In article <[e-mail]> holos0![e-mail] (Weaver
Hickerson) writes:

>I'm interested in finding what types, if any, of AT bus hardware is
>available/in the works for ISDN, as well as simply learning more about
>the service.

At SuperComm '90 this past spring, AT&T had a huge "booth".  One of
the things they showed was an ISDN card for the AT bus.  So, I know it
exists.

However, my experience has been that AT&T is *SO* large that finding
someone who knows what you want so that you can order it is next to
impossible.

Good luck,

Arnold Robbins                AudioFAX, Inc.
2000 Powers Ferry Road, #200 / Marietta, GA. 30067
INTERNET: [e-mail] Phone:   [phone]
UUCP:      emory!audfax!arnold Fax-box: [phone]

------------------------------

From: "Barton F. Bruce" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Wrong Number Suggestions Needed
Date: 9 Nov 90 18:17:00 EDT
Organization: Cambridge Computer Associates, Inc.


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (David
Tamkin) writes:

> This is no 100% cure-all solution, but it may help: as long as Dave
> and Dan have an answering machine, they should start their OGM with,
> "Sears Roebuck & Co.'s telephone number has been changed to XYA-5600;

Perhaps the following would prove useful:

"If you have a problem and want BETTER service, call J .C. Penney at
xxx.xxxx"

Followed, after a modestly long pause, by some suitable message for
callers to Dave or Dan.

------------------------------

From: peter da silva <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Telecom Art
Reply-To: [e-mail] (Peter da Silva)
Organization: Xenix Support, FICC
Date: Fri, 9 Nov 90 18:08:56 GMT


The locations of most users can be found by examining comp.mail.maps:
the location of most sites are given, with street address and latitude
and longitude. These maps are updated and posted monthly.


Peter da Silva.
[phone].
[e-mail]

------------------------------

From: Steve Rhoades <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Voice Activated Calling Cards
Organization: California Institute of Technology, Pasadena
Date: Fri, 9 Nov 90 19:18:05 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Arun Baheti
<[e-mail]>) writes:

>Sprint.  I recall a few years ago that there was a company (All-Net?)
>that allowed people not at touch-tone phones to "speak" their card
>numbers into a machine, one digit at a time, and then the destination
>number the same way.  It then asked for verification with yes/no

I remember a couple of companies about ten years ago that had this
system.  One in particular, I think it was called Travelnet, comes to
mind.  It was sort of a favorite phreaker thing to play with,
especially from coin phones.  Most of the coin phones in Los Angeles
were rotary at that time.

The major difference in these old systems and the new Sprint service
is Sprint uses voice-PATTERN recognition along with regular voice
recognition.  i.e. In the old systems, it didn't care who you were,
just as long as you uttered something resembling digits.

With Sprint's service, the uttered digits are supposed to match ones
you've previously recorded.

I am curious how their system would work from a noisy location, like
outside an airport.  It seems that the additional outside noise might
cause errors in the system.


Internet: [e-mail]  |  Voice-mail: [phone]
UUCP: ...elroy!tybalt!slr         |  USmail: Box 1000, Mt. Wilson, Ca.  91023

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 9 Nov 90 16:32:43 EST
From: Carl Moore (VLD/VMB) <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Digit Overload in Dallas/Fort Worth


responding to Dave Close <central!central![e-mail]>:

>However, a zero or one prefix is only required when the call is a
>toll call.

What do you mean by "zero"?  Pay phones in Delaware, Maryland, and
nearby have instruction cards suggesting 0+ for LOCAL calls if you are
out of change.  The only difference among these cards is that if the
area has NNX prefixes only, it'll say 0+number, but if the area has
NXX prefixes it'll say 0+areacode+number.  In Dallas/Fort Worth area,
214 has NXX prefixes and is just now being split to form 903, with
Dallas metro area remaining in 214; 817 has NNX only as far as I know,
but it has (right?)  the same instructions for toll and 0+ as does
214, for the sake of area-wide uniformity (like "statewide uniformity"
for 201/609 in New Jersey).

In Washington DC area (now requiring areacode + 7D on local calls
crossing areacode boundary, apparently similar to what you have in
Dallas/Fort Worth area), at least on the pay phones you can optionally
add the leading 1+; this, by the way, would help you out if you are
bringing in a programmed phone from an area where the DC area was long
distance.  But you are saying I cannot put in the leading 1+ if the
call in Dallas/Fort Worth area across areacode line is local.

>I think that it is an overload on the leading digit for it to both
>introduce an area code and distinguish toll calls.

I'm not sure what you are talking about.  With or without local calls
across an area code boundary, you should NOT have your own or nearby
area codes as prefixes!  This reduces confusion for advertisements,
word of mouth, etc. going across areacode border, and makes it
possible to drop the leading 1+ for out-of-areacode local calls which
can no longer be just seven digits.

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V10 #806
******************************










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Date:     Sun, 11 Nov 90 0:43:25 CST
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
[To]:     [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V10 #807
BCC:
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Sun, 11 Nov 90 00:43:10 CST    Volume 10 : Issue 807

Inside This Issue:                         Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Re: Turkey City Codes [Jim Rees]
    Re: Trivia Question About Butt Sets [Jim Rees]
    Re: Want to Build SNA Gateway [Tom Wiencko]
    Re: What Happens When 800 Fills Up? [John R. Levine]
    Re: What Happens When 800 Fills Up? [Jeff Sicherman]
    Transatlantic Computer Traffic via Satellite [Frederick Roeber]
    Phone Numbers Indexed by Street Address [William M. Gilroy]
    Call-Waiting Disable [Arun Baheti]
    Latest 900 Scam [Syd Weinstein]
    Copy of Videotape Wanted [Tom Streeter]
    Re: X.25 Software for PCs Running DOS or Xenix [Michael A. Shiels]
    Real-Time Information Over Networks [Tony Goodloe]
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Jim Rees)
Subject: Re: Turkey City Codes
Reply-To: [e-mail] (Jim Rees)
Organization: University of Michigan IFS Project
Date: Fri, 9 Nov 90 22:25:52 GMT


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Clive Feather)
writes:

>Clearly, 905 is a subset of 90, but the phone user will find the
>information under "Cyprus", not under "Turkey". In other words, we're
>all in agreement.

My phone book lists just plain Cyprus as 357 (that's the Greek half,
although the book doesn't say so).  It doesn't list the Turkish half
at all, either under Cyprus or Turkey.  Presumably this will change in
next year's book as our government tries to cozy up to Turkey in view
of the serious situation in the Arabian Gulf (formerly the Persian
Gulf).

By the way, if you want to give me a call to discuss this, the country
code for the People's Republic of Ann Arbor, Michigan is 1313.


[Moderator's Smirk:  I'll let that last paragraph go through this
time; but watch how you talk about our friends at umich.edu!  :)  PAT]

------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Jim Rees)
Subject: Re: Trivia Question About Butt Sets
Reply-To: [e-mail] (Jim Rees)
Organization: University of Michigan IFS Project
Date: Fri, 9 Nov 90 23:20:37 GMT


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (David Barts)
writes:

>Why are butt set leads colored red/black/green instead of
>red/green/yellow?

Wire color codes -- one of my favorite questions!  I can't answer this
one, but this has always amused me:

    Electricity <100v    Electricity >100v    Telephones

Ground    Black            Green            Yellow
Neutral    --            White            Red
Hot    Red            Black            Green

I've used electrician's terms here.  Telephones are actually balanced
line, so there isn't that big a distinction between tip and ring, at
least not at the subscriber's end.

Note that someone used to automotive electrical systems will
electrocute himself when he grabs the black wire in his house fuse
box, thinking it's ground.  And an electrician will disable all his
phones when he connects the green telephone lead to ground.

How did all this come about?

------------------------------

From: Tom Wiencko <vta![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Want to Build SNA Gateway
Date: 10 Nov 90 18:34:26 GMT
Organization: Wiencko & Associates, Inc.


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Mike
Ciaraldi) writes:

>I'm trying to set up a gateway system to route between workstations
>connected by Ethernet and an IBM mainframe host connected by a 56kb
>line running SNA/SDLC.

There are about 547 ways to do this.  I'll outline a few.

>What I have working now is a Sun 4/330 with a Systech communications
>board and software from SSI.  The software provides 3270 terminal
>emulation and 3770 RJE emulation. The custom routing software uses
>something from SSI called "HLLAPI", the High Level Language
>Applications Program Interface. This gives us a standard set of
>subroutines for sending keystrokes, querying fields on the emulated
>3270 screen, etc.

HLLAPI is just the programmatic way of getting into the SNA data
stream.  This is not a protocol by itself, it is merely IBM
doublespeak for an interface library to the communications subsystem.

>I've been able to handle 200+ simultaneous 3270 sessions, plus card
>reader, punch, and printer emulation like an RJE terminal.

>I'm looking for a hardware/software solution that provides the same
>functionality, but with lower performance (say, 20 sessions) and cost.

The easiest way to do this is to equip your mainframe with TCP/IP and
run TN3270 across your Ethernet (or Token Ring) to a 3172 controller.
Alas, this is not an SNA solution.  A lot depends on what devices are
where: are the workstations local to the mainframe, or are they remote
(you imply that they are remote).  If they are remote and you
absolutely must have an SNA link, the problem is different.  You would
need some device which can act as a gateway from your workstations to
SNA.  You can do this with Token Ring with a 3174 remote controller,
but I don't believe this works on Ethernet.  There are several third
parties who have other gateway solutions, but as I tend to live in an
IBM world, I have no names handy (but SSI could probably point you in
the right direction).

>The comm board we use is only available for the VMEbus, so we can't
>plug it into a SPARCstation. I found some comm boards for the S-bus
>that provide synchronous communications, but so far haven't found one
>that provides HLLAPI compatiblity or RJE.

>What I don't need is a package that just opens a 3270 emulation screen
>on a Sun screen; I need to get to the emulated screens from my program
>so I can digest them and send them to the workstations.

This does make things more complicated.  This is a good reason to try
to do this with TCP/IP, as most TCP/IP implementations come with a
socket library which would allow you to do this easily.

>Right now I'm mostly interested in a Sun-based solution, but I'd
>consider other platforms if porting my HLLAPI-based C code wouldn't be
>too hard. And I need RJE support, of course.

IBM's RS/6000 has a thing called SNA Services which might be just the
ticket.  It supports this stuff six ways from Sunday.  It has *no*
application code with it (it is just an API) so you can roll your own
any way you want.  If you want RJE or 3270 emulation, you can get
software to do that from SSI or TPS (I can get you addresses and phone
numbers on request).

>Any suggestions? Anyone done something similar? BTW, is there a
>newsgroup that would be a better choice? Thanks.

comp.protocols.ibm maybe?


Tom
Wiencko & Associates, Inc.
[phone]
{backbone}!emory!stiatl!vta!wiencko!tom

------------------------------

Subject: Re: What Happens When 800 Fills Up?
Organization: I.E.C.C., Cambridge MA 02238
Date: 9 Nov 90 09:23:30 EST (Fri)
From: "John R. Levine" <[e-mail]>


In article <[e-mail]> is written:

>Has any particular plan been made for what to do when the North
>American area code for toll-free calls, 800, fills up?

According to the chart in the Telecom Archives, of the 800 possible
prefixes in NPA 800, 434 are assigned to a carrier, leaving 366
totally empty.  Of those 434 prefixes, none to my knowledge are full,
and some appear to be empty as well.  Since you never dial an 800
number without the area code, it should be possible to assign the 1XX
and 0XX prefixes as well.  So at this point, 800 is less than half
full, maybe less than 1/3 full.  At some point in the next few years
when the network is upgraded, the current system of routing 800
numbers by prefix will change to route by full number, allowing
numbers to be reclaimed from carriers who haven't used up the ones
they have.

By the time 800 fills up it will be well past 1995, and I expect
they'll use a prefix like 880 or 888.

It may seem that 800 will fill up quickly with the advent of
residential 800 numbers, but do keep in mind that the fact that half
of the contributors to telecom have one doesn't say much about the
public at large.  I'd get one myself if only I could figure out a use
for it.  Just like a cellular phone.


Regards,

John Levine, [e-mail], {spdcc|ima|world}!esegue!johnl

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 09 Nov 90 21:05:01 PST
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: What Happens When 800 Fills Up


I think the problem posed by this question goes beyond the issue of
just 800 numbers:

> Has any particular plan been made for what to do when the North
> American area code for toll-free calls, 800, fills up?  It would be
> nice if a code that was somewhat similar had been reserved for
> splitting it.  Given that 700, 801, and 900 are all in some sort of
> use, the best choice would seem to be 810.

> What fraction of the 800-number namespace is currently allocated?

  The escalating splitting of municipalities into multiple area codes,
the proliferation of faxs and cellular phones that will exacerbate
this suggest that the once adequate phone numbering system is getting
out of hand and is unequal to the load of modern telecommunications
possibilities. The resulting confusion of phone numbers versus
geographical areas occasioned by the splitting and the uncertainty of
charges is just once manifestation of it.

 The proliferation of services such as call forwarding, call waiting,
and the like also reflect, to some degree, a addressing scheme that is
focused on the hardware rather than the user and becoming confusing
and difficult for the average customer to manage, especially in any
informed way. Like the awkwardness of programming many VCR's, I think
this will leave much of the network's potential underexploited.
(Except by us expert readers of TELECOM Digest :-)

  What are the telephone companies, research institutions, regulatory
agencies, or anyone else doing to address this. To what extent may
ISDN provide some solutions to this (I can think of a few).


Jeff Sicherman

------------------------------

From: Frederick Roeber <[e-mail]>
Subject: Transatlantic Computer Traffic via Satellite
Organization: California Institute of Technology, Pasadena
Date: 10 Nov 90 12:23:25 PST


It has been mentioned that recently much transatlantic computer
traffic has been routed via satellite because of a broken undersea
cable.  I just called Washington from Switzerland and got a
`half-duplex' connection (pardon the computer term; I mean when one
person was speaking, the other direction was cut off.)  From the
delay, it was clearly a satellite link.  However, I also traced the
Internet link between Geneva and Pasadena, and the long delay I've
seen recently (that I figured was the transatlantic hop) has
disappeared!

Does anybody know what's going on?


Frederick G. M. Roeber | e-mail: [e-mail] or [e-mail]
r-mail: CERN/SL-CO, 1211 Geneva 23, Switzerland | telephone: [phone]


[Moderator's Note: The message we got was that one of the repeaters in
the cable was out. A ship was on location to work on it. A private
message sent to me Saturday night said the repairs are apparently
finished and the cable is back in service.   PAT]

------------------------------

Date: Fri,  9 Nov 90 10:44:09 EST
From: William M Gilroy <[e-mail]>
Subject: Phone Numbers Indexed by Street Address
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories


I was wondering how and where I would obtain a listing by street of
every telephone number on that street. I want something like this:


    1 Oak st    [phone]
    2 Oak st    [phone]
    3 Oak st    [phone]

I assume that this information is available somewhere.  Can it be
purchased from the phone company (RBOC I guess)?  Or do I purchase it
from some other company.  What forms does it come in (magtape, floppy
disk, paper listing)?  Any pointers will be appreciated.  If there is
enough interest I will summarize to the net, if not I will just mail
the summary to the people who request it.

Thanks in advance,


Bill Gilroy
[phone]
[e-mail]


[Moderator's Note: Criss-cross directories usually have two parts, the
first being a listing like you describe; the second being a listing in
telephone number order. Most public libraries have at the least a copy
of the criss-cross for their own community, frequently in the Business
Department or the Reference Department.  The most prolific publishers
of criss-cross directories are Haynes, R. L. Polk, Dressers, and City
Publishing Company of Independence, KS. CPC seems to be strong with
listings for Florida. Haynes is strong with the northeast US cities.
Donnelly Directory (a subsidiary of several telcos) also has lots of
criss-cross books also.   PAT]

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 9 Nov 90 13:33 CDT
From: "Arun Baheti <[e-mail]>" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Call-Waiting Disable


I'm having trouble disabling the call waiting feature in the Twin
Cities area.  While the standard methods (*70 and 1170) are listed in
the phone book, and the phone company claims vehmently that these
methods will work, I continue to receive "call not completed" messages
whenever I try.  The normal methods work in SoCal (Pac*Tel), so I am
beginning to wonder ... Does anyone else have experience with the Twin
Cities system?


[Moderator's Note: Two assumptions are in order: (1) You *do* have
Call Waiting on the line in question (not just 'think you do'), and
(2) the serving CO is equipped with the proper generics. For example,
here in the Illinois Bell LATA almost everyone has *70 available. But
the folks in Mor(t)on Grove -- Moron Grove is the sister city of the
People's Republic of Ann Arbor, yuk, yuk! -- do not have it. The
generics on their switch are different.  PAT]

------------------------------

From: Syd Weinstein <[e-mail]>
Subject: Latest 900 Scam
Date: Sat, 10 Nov 90 15:59:28 EST
Reply-To: [e-mail]


Well, an autodial computer just dialed every one of our trunks in
order to advertise an 1-900 scam for 'a free hotel stay', of course
its $5.00/minute on the 1-900 number if you call to claim, and it will
take at least three minutes to claim.  They gave a name, although I am
sure its an alias, but does anyone know who owns 226 in the 900
exchange (ie what carrier).

The machine was capable of dialing more than one number at once, as
lines would ring before the preceeding one hung up.

A real nusiance to watch every line in order ring.  They just set the
entire exchange to be dialed in sequence.

Of course, what's neat is that 9900 is high enough that in most
exchanges it used to be reserved for payphones.  Such fun, such fun.


Sydney S. Weinstein, CDP, CCP      Elm Coordinator
Datacomp Systems, Inc.             Voice: [phone]
[e-mail] or dsinc!syd           FAX:   [phone]

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 09 Nov 90 11:52:23 EST
From: Tom Streeter <[e-mail]>
Subject: Copy of Videotape Wanted


Several months ago at the Nat'l Association of Broadcasters (NAB)
convention in Atlanta, there were several panels featuring
representatives from various RBOCs talking about their plans for
broadband video delivery into the home.  At one panel (which I
unfortunately missed) a tape was shown which featured a demo of a
proposed service.  I think it was produced by Northern Telecom (but I
could well be in error on that). It caused a bit of a stir among some
broadcast station owners who were not really aware of the potential
for such services.

Does anyone have any info on how I could track down this tape (or
others like it)?  It would be helpful for a class I'm teaching next
term.


Tom Streeter
[e-mail]

------------------------------

Subject: Re: X.25 Software for PCs Running DOS or Xenix
Reply-To: "Michael A. Shiels" <tmsoft![e-mail]>
Organization: MaS Network Software and Consulting
Date: 10 Nov 90 08:39:57 EST (Sat)
From: tmsoft![e-mail]


In Montreal, Quebec, Canada there is a company called EICON
technologies.  They have a very good X.25 card and interface API.

------------------------------

From: Tony Goodloe <ingr!b11!b11![e-mail]>
Subject: Real-Time Information Over Networks
Date: 9 Nov 90 16:06:59 GMT
Organization: Intergraph Corp. Huntsville, AL


I'm looking for reference works on doing things like voice and
realtime data transmission over non-deterministic networks like
ethernet. Anyone have any pointers?

Thanks,

Tony

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V10 #807
******************************










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From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
[To]:     [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V10 #808
BCC:
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Sun, 11 Nov 90 21:06:30 CST    Volume 10 : Issue 808

Inside This Issue:                         Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    What Price, Cellular? [Larry Rachman]
    GTE Mobilnet Restricts International Dialing Nationwide [George Goble]
    Infra-Red and Lan Bridges [Andrew A. Beveridge]
    Is There a Listing of AT&T (Corporate) 800 Numbers? [Jeff Sicherman]
    A Phone Set Wiring Question [Dave W. Hamaker]
    CENTREX/10BaseT Conflict [Gene N. Cartier]
    Frank and Phunny Phone Call Tapes Wanted! [Mike Danseglio]
    AFRICOM-CCDC/91: Conference on Computer Communication [Pierre Laforgue]
    UTP-THIN Warning [John Kemp]
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: 09 Nov 90 07:00:25 EST
From: Larry Rachman <[e-mail]>
Subject: What Price, Cellular?


In a recent issue of the Digest, John Higdon <[e-mail]>
writes:

>Much has been said concerning various cellular operators and what
>appear to be outrageous charges. Quite honestly, most cellular charges
>are way out of line. However, what you are seeing is the marketplace
>at work.

With all due respect, that's not how I see it. What I see is a
government-imposed duopoly artificially driving prices up into the
highest atmospheric layers. Sure, demand has been high, but that
doesn't that usually drive prices down, not up?

>At the moment I am roaming in the much-maligned LA area PacTel system.
>These are the slimes who charge for call attempts even if it's the
>system's fault that the call bombs. They charge roamers $0.70/min
>during the day..

In suburban Long Island (NY), I'm paying $0.95/min during the day,
when in HOME mode. I live near the north shore of Long Island; despite
being five miles from the nearest cell site, I roam to Connecticut
from my driveway. ("...we know about the problem, sir, but the
Connecticut signal is stronger, there...)

>But don't expect rates to come down any time soon. Those who find the
>system convenient and helpful will use it; those who do not think the
>charges are worth it will not. The providers are NOT hurting for
>customers. When someone complains that the charges are outrageous,
>he's right.

I'll bet the rates would drop like a rock if the opportunity to
provide service was opened up to more competition. These phones are
getting down into the $300-$400 range even without the kickbacks;
there's no technical reason why they shoudn't be as omnipresent as
leather seats and air conditioning. They should be making life
convenient and safe for the general population, not just the affluent
(and us telecom hackers).

Surely, new technology would make it possible to have a multitude of
carriers in a given area. But could it be done with existing phones,
by clever reconfiguration of the System ID, and Default Calling
Channel? (I don't know; it is left as an exercise for the reader).
Nearly every phone I've opened had the EPROM socketed.

Of course this all presumes no *political* impediments, which may not
be realistic. When you've invested several hundreds of millions of
dollars cellular physical plant, and buying up other cellular
companies (and licenses), you're not about to let go without a
*protracted* legal battle.

>And when he refuses to subscribe, that's natural selection
>at work.

Piffle! Its more like when a bunch of new homeowners petition for a
moratorium on construction, to keep the 'rabble' out of the
neighborhood.


Larry Rachman, WA2BUX   [e-mail]

------------------------------

From: George Goble <pur-ee![e-mail]>
Subject: GTE Mobilnet Restricts International Dialing Nationwide
Organization: Purdue University Engineering Computer Network
Date: Wed, 7 Nov 90 15:14:47 GMT


I received notice last month that GTE Mobilnet was dropping the
ability to direct dial international calls from cell phones, even if
you were roaming on somebody else's system.

All they cited was rising "fraud".  The notice said that operator made
calls on credit card, etc. would still be possible though.

What kind of "fraud" do you think is going on?  I thought "bandit"
roamers and all that were pretty well under control with "positive
verification" now?  The local switch engineers say that bandits can
sometimes get one call off before being shutdown (maybe a long one?)
All the local switch operators knew about the dialing restriction was
that it was "national", and they were not given a reason other than
what we got.  Just think of all the scanner bait of people passing
credit card numbers on voice now!  This sounds far less secure to me,
but "somebody else" gets stuck with the charges, not Mobilnet.


ghg


[Moerator's Note: The more I think about it, the more I realize what a
good deal Ameritech Cellular is: very inexpensive rates and an
excellent signal. Re international dialing on GTE, I suspect you will
still be able to zero plus the calls through the desired carrier; i.e.
01 + overseas number + calling card number. While you can't fool all
the phreaks all the time, translating the sounds of a card number
being entered requires more effort than copying down with a pencil
what you hear on the scanner when a subscriber passes the card number
to an operator.  PAT]

------------------------------

Date: Friday, 9 Nov 1990 19:39:28 EST
From: "Andrew A. Beveridge" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Infra-Red and Lan Bridges
Organization: City University of New York/ University Computer Center


We are trying to connect our building to a campus Ethernet, which then
goes on to TCP/IP.  We cannot draw a cable under the street.  (Or if
we can it will take us ten years to find out.)  The computer center is
about 1/4 mile away.  We understand the Infrared is the way to go.

        1) What is the cost of such a set-up, and who would be a good vendor?

        2) Can Infrared simultaneously handle voice (like from a bunch of
           phones for a PBX.

We have priced one set-up out to around 18k.  Plus a spare Laser Gun
or whatever they are?  Any help would be greatly appreciated.  Please
E-mail me direct, and I will put up a summary.


Andrew A. Beveridge   Department of Sociology
Queens College and Graduate Center   City University of New York
209 Kissena Hall    Flushing, NY 11367  718-520-7093

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 09 Nov 90 21:04:05 PST
From: [e-mail]
Subject: List of AT&T (Corporate) 800 Numbers Wanted


Having seen several AT&T 1-800 services mentioned in the Digest, is
there a comprehensive list of all or most of them available anywhere ?


Jeff Sicherman

------------------------------

From: "Dave W. Hamaker" <[e-mail]>
Subject: A Phone Set Wiring Question
Date: 10 Nov 90 02:51:46 GMT
Reply-To: "Dave W. Hamaker" <[e-mail]>
Organization: The Wollongong Group, Palo Alto, CA


I recently remodeled my home and, as a consequence, redid most of the
inside wiring.  Like many computer-oriented people, I have two phone
lines: one for people to use, and one for modem connections.  Since I
now had four-wire cable going everywhere, I decided to put the modem
line on the black-yellow pair connected to the outside modular jack
connector pair of each jack intended for normal phone use (I wired
separate jacks in the computer area).

I expected single-line phones would ignore the yellow-black pair,
unless rewired internally.  I figured it might be useful to have the
modem line available at all jacks, even though I didn't plan to take
advantage of this.

I was subsequently surprised to discover that one of my telephone
sets, a standard-looking single-line touch-tone desk model purchased
from the equipment-selling arm of my local telephone conglomerate
(PAC*TEL and Pacific Telesis, respectively), would take both lines off
hook when in use.  It didn't seem to actually use the modem line; the
person using that phone wouldn't hear what transpired on the modem
line while it stayed off hook for the duration of the call.

When I finally figured out what was going on, I opened up the phone
set and disconnected the yellow-black wire pair.  I wove the
disconnected wires into the wire nest in the phone to keep them from
flapping about and shorting something.  I think I may buy a two-wire
line cord and reconnect the wires so they are securely tied down
again.

While I've uncovered the reason for some occasional strangeness, and
I've restored things to normal, I remain puzzled as to the why of the
PAC*TEL phone.  I thought one of our more expert readers might know.
The phone seems to be made by COMDIAL and the black wire was connected
to a terminal labeled "L1," while the yellow wire was connected to a
terminal labeled "G."  I can give more detailed info on the device if
I know what to look for.  Any ideas?


Dave Hamaker
[e-mail]
 ...!sun!amdahl!twg-ap!dwh

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 10 Nov 90 09:25:43 MST
From: "Gene N. Cartier" <[e-mail]>
Subject: CENTREX/10BaseT Conflict


We are considering migrating one of our branch offices from an old NBI
word processing system to a state-of-the-art system based on DEC
5000's running Ultrix and using X-Windows Terminals.  The current
environment uses one twisted pair in a six conductor sheath to support
the NBI connection an additional pair is used to provide phone service
via CENTREX from the telco.

I have planned to support the new system using 802.3 using 10BaseT
connections.  The penny pinchers want me to use the existing wiring.
This means that the 802.3 and CENTREX conductors will be in the same
sheath.  I remember reading somewhere that this is not a good idea
because CENTREX ringing will poke holes in the data because of voltage
differences.  Even though it is more expensive I have recommended that
we recable.  Am I being an alarmist?

Does anyone have any experience in this area and better yet can anyone
provide me with some hard copy references that I can use to defend my
position or ease my concerns.

I'll consolidate all responses and post them.

Thanks,

Gene Cartier  SRA CORP  [e-mail]   [phone]

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 09 Nov 90 07:46:06 EDT
From: Mike Danseglio <[e-mail]>
Subject: Frank and Phunny Phone Call Tapes Wanted!


To anyone and everyone!

  I am in search of any copies (except the one I have!) of the 'Frank
and the Phunny Phone Call' tapes.  You remember, the ones where they
victimized Francis J. Haynes up in Fairfax, Virginia?  Someone(s) got
onto his cable pair at his local green-box and connected him with
various people and places.  Sometimes his phone would ring, and
sometimes they'd divert his outgoing phone calls to a third location
(usually a Seven-Eleven!).

  The only one I have is an edited (deleted the dead-end calls and
time-consuming dialings) First tape.  From what I understand, there
were at least three more editions.  Anyone know where I can find them?

P.S. Vinnie G.: if you're out there, send me mail NOW!!!


Mike Danseglio                        BitNet:   dansegli@ucf1vm
Computer Services / I & R Support     InterNet: [e-mail]
University of Central Florida         UUCP:     [e-mail]


[Moderator's Note: Some time ago we touched on this topic, of
telephone pranks which harass innocent users. I still do not think it
is funny, or phunny.   PAT]

------------------------------

From: Pierre LAFORGUE <[e-mail]>
Subject: AFRICOM-CCDC/91: Conference on Computer Communication
Date: 9 Nov 90 17:27:37 GMT
Reply-To: tuniscni![e-mail]
Organization: IMAG Institute, University of Grenoble, France


>From: [e-mail] (Belhadj Yahia Ezzedine)

                       SCOPE

AFRICOM-CCDC /91 is an international conference that will focus on
computer communication technologies in the developing world.  The aim
of this conference is to report the progress achieved in these fields
and to give participants the opportunity to explore the new horizons
thus opened up to developing countries. It is not reserved for a
specific category of attendee but is aimed at a diversified public of
users, designers, researchers, planners and managers of information
systems.
                      TOPICS

A) NETWORKS

   -Planning, network operation and managemnent, pricing policies.
   -Last-mile problems.
   -ISDN evolution, intelligent networks, academic and research networks.
   -High capacity networks.
   -Planning for the unexpected or disasterous, architectures and designs
    for risk managemnent in data and telecommunication networks.

B) APPLICATIONS

   -Research and academic network applications.
   -Government networks
   -Corporate communications.
   -Banking, international trade, commercial partners.
   -Electronic data interchange(EDI).
   -Skills training requirements of specialists as well as of users
    in the field of communications.
   -International Cooperation in this field.

C)TELEMATIC SERVICES AND MEDIA

   -Messaging and teleconference systems; the role of satellites.
   -Technical information networks.
   -Security, and impacts on development.

Authors are invited to address one or more of the following issues of
relevance to developing countries : cost effectiveness of technology,
adaptation of existing communication networks, local manufacturing
opportunities, standards, appropriate technologies and applications
for developing countries, multi-language systems, education and
training, socio-political issues...


                            INSTRUCTIONS TO AUTHORS

Full papers (between 3000 and 8000 words should not have been
published elsewhere and submitted in five copies). The first page
should include the title of the communication, the author's (') full
name, affiliation, address, telephone, telex and fax numbers,
electronic mail and an abstract (200 words maximum).  The conference
organization will hold the copyright of accepted papers which will be
published in the conference proceedings.


                            IMPORTANT DATES


Today                Fill in and mail the enclosed reply form.


1st December 90      Deadline for the reception of papers by
                     the programme committee chairman.

14 February 91       Notification of acceptance.


1st April 91         Deadline for the reception of final copy
                     by the programme committee chairman.

INFORMATION

Centre National de l'Informatique
17,Rue belhassen ben chaabane
1005-El Omrane Tunis, TUNISIA
Telex: 13904 CENINF - Fax: 781.862
E-mail: [e-mail]

F.KAMOUN                              F.RACHDI
Programme Committee                   Organizing Committee
Chairman                              Chairman
Phone #  [phone]              Phone # [phone]


Pierre LAFORGUE     [e-mail]

------------------------------

From: John Kemp <[e-mail]>
Subject: UTP-THIN Warning
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Fri, 9 Nov 90 21:12:11 GMT


This is a warning if you are planning on installing an Unshielded
Twisted Pair (UTP) repeater and using UTP-THIN transceivers to extend
your network...

UTP-THIN has problems with existing platforms !!!

In particular, we have a Vaxstation 2000 in a Local Area Vaxcluster
running the DECNET protocol that repeatedly drops and reestablish
connections for up to a minute.

And we have seen an IBM RS/6000 320 come up and subsequently lose it's
connection network after a number of hours.  The connection is never
reestablished.

Both machines worked fine on AUI-THIN repeater segments.  Putting the
IBM on an AUI-UTP transceiver appears to have corrected the problem.
It should also be noted that two MacII's were on the same segment with
the IBM when UTP-thin was being used.  On the Vaxstation, it was the
only station on the net.  Various cable lengths were tried.  Cable
continuity was checked in both cases.

Moral:  don't count on UTP-THIN transceivers!

If you do, you had damn well better try before you buy, and even then,
if you add a different type of machine to the segment you may be
hosed.  Our system was a Plexnet repeater with Plexit 10baseT UTP-THIN
transceivers.  (Your mileage may vary.  I am only speaking from
painful experience.)

You have been warned.


john kemp   internet - [e-mail]   decnet - uiatmb::kemp
univ of illinois       bitnet - {uunet,convex}
dept of atmos sci      !uiucuxc!uiatma!kemp
105 s gregory ave      phone - [phone]
urbana, il 61801       fax - [phone]

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V10 #808
******************************










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Date:     Sun, 11 Nov 90 22:41:07 CST
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
[To]:     [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V10 #809
BCC:
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Sun, 11 Nov 90 22:40:57 CST    Volume 10 : Issue 809

Inside This Issue:                         Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Prodigy Pulls Plug on Email Users [Middlesex News via Adam M. Gaffin]
    Re: Info Needed on Prodigy Service [Tad Cook]
    Re: Info Needed on Prodigy Service [John Higdon]
    Genie Star*Services [Jeff Sicherman]
    Re: Request Info Sources About ISDN [David Lemson]
    Re: British Telecom Special Service Codes [Tony Walton]
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Adam M Gaffin <[e-mail]>
Subject: Prodigy Pulls Plug on Email Users
Organization: The World
Date: Sun, 11 Nov 90 17:11:25 GMT


Hi, Pat,

You asked for it, so here goes :-)

What follows is a news story and a column. Since the story ran,
Prodigy restored the account of the "Prodigy Nine'' and then, a
few days after that, pulled them again! The total number is
actually now up to about 15. At least one of them also lost
access to his checking account and there is a question about how
these people can get what's left in their mailboxes.

                      ----------

{Middlesex News}, Framingham, Mass., 11/2/90

Prodigy Pulls Plug on Electronic Mail Service For Some

By Adam Gaffin

NEWS STAFF WRITER

Users of a national computer network vow to continue a protest against
censorship and a new charge for electronic mail even though the
company kicked them off-line this week.

Brian Ek, spokesman for the network, Prodigy, said the ``handful'' of
users had begun harassing other users and advertisers on the service
and that some had even created programs ``to flood members'
`mailboxes' with (thousands of) repeated and increasingly strident
harangues,'' he said.

But leaders of the protest say they sent only polite letters --
approved by the company's legal department -- using techniques taught
by the company itself. Up to nine of them had their accounts pulled
hips week.

Protests began in September when the company said it would cut
unlimited electronic mail from its monthly fee -- which includes such
services as on-line airline reservations, weather and games -- and
would charge 25 cents for every message above a monthly quota of 30.
Ek says the design of the Prodigy network makes ``e-mail'' very
expensive and that few users send more than 30 messages a month.

But Penny Hay, the only organizer of the ``Cooperative Defense
Committee'' whose account was not shut this week, said she and others
are upset with Prodigy's ``bait and switch'' tactics: the company
continues to promote ``free'' electronic mail as a major feature. She
said Prodigy itself had spurred use of e-mail by encouraging
subscribers to set up private e-mail ``lists'' rather than use public
forums and that the charges will especially hurt families, because the
quota is per household, not person.

Ek said relatively few members protested the rate chqange. Gary Arlen,
who publishes a newsletter about on-line services, called the
controversy ''a tempest in a teapot.''

Hay, however, said the group now has the backing of nearly 19,000
Prodigy users -- the ones advertisers would want to see on-line
because they are the most active ones on the system and so more likely
to see their ads.

The group is also upset with the way the company screens messages
meant for public conferences. Other services allow users to see
``postings'' immediately.

``They are infamous for this unpredicible and unfathomable
censorship,'' Hay said.

``We feel what we are doing is not censoring because what we are
essentially doing is electronic publishing,'' Ek said, comparing the
public messages to letters to the editor of a family newspaper.

Neil Harris, marketing director at the competing GEnie service, said
many people would feel intimidated knowing that what they write is
being screened. He said GEnie only rarely has to deleted messages. And
he said GEnie has picked up several thousand new customers from among
disgruntled Prodigy users.

                        ----------

"Conversations with Fred," {Middlesex News}, Framingham, 11/6/90.

The story is bizarre but true, swears Herb Rothman. Seems Prodigy, the
network run as a joint venture by Sears and IBM, wouldn't let somebody
post a message in a coin-collecting forum that he was looking for a
particular Roosevelt dime for his collection. Upset, the man called
``member services.'' The representative told him the message violated
a Prodigy rule against mentioning another user in a public message.
``What user?'' the man asked. ``Roosevelt Dime,'' the rep replied.
``That's not a person!'' the man said. ``Yes he is, he's a halfback
for the Chicago Bears,'' the rep shot back.

Rothman is one of those alleged compu-terrorists Prodigy claims is
harassing other users and companies that advertise on the service by
sending out thousands upon thousands of increasingly hostile messages
in protest of a Prodigy plan to begin charging users who send more
than 30 e-mail messages a month. Rothman and the others say they sent
very polite messages to people (Penny Hay of Los Angeles says her
messages were even approved by the Prodigy legal department) telling
them about the new fees and urging them to protest.

What's really happening is that Prodigy is proving its complete
arrogance and total lack of understanding of the dynamics of on-line
communication. They just don't get it. People are NOT going to spend
nearly $130 a year just to see the weather in Oregon or order trips to
Hawaii.

Even the computerphobes Prodigy wants to attract quickly learn the
real value of the service is in finding new friends and holding
intelligent "discussions'' with others across the country.

But Prodigy blithely goes on censoring everything meant for public
consumption, unlike other nationwide services (or even bulletin-board
systems run out of some teenager's bedroom). Rothman's story is not
the only one about capricious or just plain stupid censoring.  Dog
fanciers can't use the word ``bitch'' when talking about their pets,
yet the service recently ran an advice column all about oral sex. One
user who complained when a message commenting on the use of the term
``queen bitch'' on ``L.A. Law'' was not allowed on was told that
``queen b***h'' would be acceptable, because adults would know what it
meant but the kiddies would be saved.

So when the supposed technology illiterates Prodigy thinks make up its
user base managed to get around this through the creation of private
mail "lists'' (and, in fact, many did so at the urging of Prodigy
itself!), Prodigy started complaining of "e-mail hogs,'' quietly
announced plans to levy charges for more than a minute number of
e-mail messages each month and finally, simply canceled the accounts
of those who protested the loudest!

And now we are watching history in the making, with the nation's first
nationwide protest movement organized almost entirely by electronic
mail (now don't tell Prodigy this, but all those people they kicked
off quickly got back onto the system -- Prodogy allows up to six users
per household account, and friends simply loaned their empty slots to
the protest leaders).

It's truly amazing how little faith Prodigy has in the ability of
users to behave themselves. Other systems have "sysops'' to keep
things in line, but rarely do they have to pull messages. Plus,
Prodigy is just being plain dumb. Rothman now has a mailing list of
about 1,500. That means every time he sends out one of his newsletters
on collectibles, he sends 1,500 e-mail messages, which, yes, costs
more for Prodigy to send over long-distance lines and store in its
central computers. But if they realized their users are generally
mature, rather than treating them as 4-year-olds, Rothman could post
just one message in a public area, that everybody could see.

Is this any way to run an on-line system? Does Prodigy really want to
drive away the people most inclined to use the service -- and see all
those ads that pop up at the bottom of the screen? Prodigy may soon
have to do some accounting to the folks at IBM and Sears, who by most
accounts have already poured at least $750 million into "this thing.''

                         --------------

With your computer and modem, you can reach Fred the Middlesex News
Computer anytime, day or night, at [phone]. Set your parameters
to 8-1-N and up to 2400 baud.


[Moderator's Note: Thank you very much, Adam, for sharing these items
with us. Please keep us posted if further information goes in your
paper.  PAT]

------------------------------

Subject: Re: Info Needed on Prodigy Service
From: [e-mail] (Tad Cook)
Date: 11 Nov 90 02:53:02 GMT


In article <[e-mail]>, TELECOM Moderator notes:

> [Moderator's Note: I'm hearing some bad news about Prodigy lately. So
> 'they' say, several users recently were summarily evicted from the
> service after they sent email to other users criticizing the service's
> plan to begin charging for 'excessive' amounts of email.  Does anyone
> have any details on this?  PAT]

The {Wall Street Journal} has had several articles concerning Prodigy
recently.  Apparently there was an outcry when the "moderators" at
Prodigy started deleting postings on controversial topics.  They said
it was a "family" type service, and I imagine they wanted to avoid the
kind of flamewars that have developed elsewhere.

So when the deletions were criticized, their response was that users
could still email whatever they wanted to each other.  Of course, this
is not the same as posting to a public forum.

At the time they announced that, there were no email charges.  Then
recently they started charging for email.  When a number of people
started questioning this, they found themselves cut off from the
network.

It should be interesting to see how this develops.  Remember that when
you post to a Prodigy, it may SEEM like a public forum ... but it is
actually controlled by IBM and Sears.


Tad Cook   Seattle, WA  Packet: KT7H @ N7HFZ.WA.USA.NA  Phone: [phone]
MCI Mail: 3288544   Telex: 6503288544 MCI UW
USENET:...uw-beaver!sumax!amc-gw!ssc!tad   or, [e-mail]

------------------------------

Organization: Green Hills and Cows
Reply-To: John Higdon <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Info Needed on Prodigy Service
Date: 11 Nov 90 12:46:44 PST (Sun)
From: John Higdon <[e-mail]>


Today's {SJ Mercury} had a scathing editorial on Prodigy and also
included a concise cronology of events leading up to the latest
fracus.

Some time back, the service had a version of "newsgroups". There arose
some spirited discussions and debates between religious
fundamentalists and gay people. You know, the stuff that you see
debated ad nauseum on TV. The Prodigy czars decided that this would be
offensive to their reference "little old lady from Pasadena" and
pulled the plug on the discussion group.

The enterprizing users discovered a way around this and a way to keep
the discussion away from the Prodigy censors. They formed "mailing
lists" (a la TELECOM Digest) using the e-mail service of the system.
When the Prodigy dweebs discovered this, they broke their "flat rate
promise" and announced the charging of $0.25 for each message over
thirty in any given month. Conveniently, this would only affect the
"mailing list" people.

When the mailing lists started buzzing with discussion of this latest
outrage, the Prodigy morons started pulling the plug on users.  Users
hinted that a boycott of Prodigy advertisers might be in order, and
things really got nasty. "We're not going to post something designed
to destroy our business." Users who mentioned "boycott" got their
accounts pulled.

Prodigy gestapo have repeatedly said that the service is a private
business. It is their toy and they will play with it any way they
like.  Apparently, they have decided that it is to be an online
shopping service and nothing else. And from what I've read, it is
inferior to simply using a catalog's 800 number (as least it's more
expensive, if not slower).

If this is "what the PC was invented for", then you can take PCs
and...

I have a question: is it true that the Prodigy interface doesn't allow
any of the material that comes in online to be printed or saved as
files? If this is the case, then what ever benefits over and above an
online "shopping channel" the system may possess would be pretty well
negated.

I ask this after having just seen a Prodigy commercial that touts an
online encyclopedia. If you can't print anything, then I would assume
that you would have to have an awfully good memory or be able to write
fast. Is it all as bogus as it appears? Do you "really gotta get this
thing"?


        John Higdon         |   P. O. Box 7648   |   [phone]
    [e-mail]     | San Jose, CA 95150 |       M o o !

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 11 Nov 90 13:49:37 PST
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Genie Star*Services


   Since Prodigy has come up recently in the Digest, does anybody have
any experience with the new Genie Star*Services - a $4.95/mo flat rate
competitor to Prodigy. Offers a subset of regular Genie services
(email specifically excluded as yet, I believe). Besides being cheaper
I'm considering recommending it because of the speed considerations:
none of the graphics that slows down Prodigy and would like to hear
about actual comparisons.


Jeff Sicherman
[e-mail]

------------------------------

From: David Lemson <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Request Info Sources About ISDN
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Sun, 11 Nov 90 05:30:13 GMT


[e-mail] (Arnold Robbins) writes:

>In article <[e-mail]> holos0![e-mail] (Weaver
>Hickerson) writes:

>>I'm interested in finding what types, if any, of AT bus hardware is
>>available/in the works for ISDN, as well as simply learning more about
>>the service.

>At SuperComm '90 this past spring, AT&T had a huge "booth".  One of
>the things they showed was an ISDN card for the AT bus.  So, I know it
>exists.

I remember seeing on Hayes (the modem people) 800 BBS an announcement
for their new ISDN Card.  It was going to have full "narrowband"
(read: present 'standard') ISDN compatibility, and should have been
introduced by now.  I believe the number to Hayes' BBS is (was?)
800-US-HAYES.  Perhaps someone from Hayes reads this and will comment
on a confirmation, price, etc.


David E. Lemson UofI Computing Svcs Student Consultant
Internet : [e-mail]  University of Illinois, Urbana

------------------------------

From: Tony Walton <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: British Telecom Special Service Codes
Date: 11 Nov 90 03:02:56 GMT
Organization: Olivetti Systems & Networks Ltd, U.K.


[e-mail] (Clive Feather) writes:

>I recently took up a free trial of some of British Telecom "Star
>Services". I was sent two manuals, one for "System X" (the local
>exchange equipment), and one for the AXE 10 (a.k.a "System Y") (which

How on earth did you get hold of this?  It took me about three weeks
to convince my local BT "service" centre that my local exchange (081
446) had become digital. A couple of weeks later they (grudgingly) let
me have a leaflet which mentioned "Charge Advice" and "Reminder Calls"
as being "free" (ie no extra rental).  It did not, however, give
details of the codes needed to access these services.  A few calls
later I found an operator who had heard of *55* and the *40* / *411#
services (reminder calls and charge advice calls).  Unfortunately
no-one mentioned *56* (repeated reminder) - this explains the
"spurious" reminder calls I've been getting ever since I played about
with the star services and which BT have been unable to explain :-(

>This table gives all the codes listed in the manuals.

This is exactly what I have been trying to wrench from BT for several
months now.  Thanks, Clive.

Has anybody any idea why BT seem so loath to release any information
about the services which they offer?  As I recall their leaflet made
no reference to call barring (I may be wrong here - I don't have the
leaflet handy).


[Moderator's Note: Is BT a lot like the American telcos in this
respect, that they try to keep their customers from speaking directly
with anyone who actually knows anything? Here in the States, it is a
very fortunate subscriber indeed who can get past the several layers
of supervision in the Business Office and speak with an actual
technician or central office person.  PAT]

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V10 #809
******************************










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Date:     Sun, 11 Nov 90 23:32:24 CST
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
[To]:     [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V10 #810
BCC:
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Sun, 11 Nov 90 23:32:14 CST    Volume 10 : Issue 810

Inside This Issue:                         Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Re: Multi-Line Voicemail Boards [Brian Gordon]
    Re: A New Type of 976 Fraud [Tad Cook]
    Re: Copy of Videotape Wanted [John Higdon]
    Re: Who Owns 800-878? [Douglas Scott Reuben]
    Re: Wrong Number Suggestions Needed [David Lesher]
    Re: Trivia Question About Butt Sets [Tim Pozar]
    Re: DTMF Decoder Wanted (or Chips/Schematics) [John Murray]
    Re: Logistics of Setting up a Modem Hunt Group [John Higdon]
    Re: Call-Waiting Disable [Roy M. Silvernail]
    Re: Call-Waiting Disable [George Pell]
    Re: Call-Waiting Disable [halcyon![e-mail]]
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Brian Gordon <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Multi-Line Voicemail Boards
Date: 11 Nov 90 04:58:09 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Mt. View, Ca.


I don't remember ever seeing info on phone/voicemail stuff for a Mac.
Does such a beast exist?  Is the Mac (e.g. Mac II) alive in the
telecommunications world?


Brian G. Gordon     [e-mail] (if you trust exotic mailers)
            ...!sun!briangordon (if you route it yourself)

------------------------------

Subject: Re: A New Type of 976 Fraud
From: [e-mail] (Tad Cook)
Date: 11 Nov 90 03:04:36 GMT


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (David B.
Whiteman) writes:

> Well today a group of pagers, all of them with phone numbers in
> sequential order were each beeped with the message to call a 976
> number.  Obviously, a 976 company just autodialled the pager exchange.

Sounds like the antics of some jokester, rather than fraud by a 976
"information provider."  I'll bet if you look into this, you'll find
that the number is for "Call me ... I'm Michelle."


Tad Cook   Seattle, WA  Packet: KT7H @ N7HFZ.WA.USA.NA  Phone: [phone]
MCI Mail: 3288544   Telex: 6503288544 MCI UW
USENET:...uw-beaver!sumax!amc-gw!ssc!tad   or, [e-mail]

------------------------------

Organization: Green Hills and Cows
Reply-To: John Higdon <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Copy of Videotape Wanted
Date: 11 Nov 90 11:19:54 PST (Sun)
From: John Higdon <[e-mail]>


Tom Streeter <[e-mail]> writes:

> Several months ago at the Nat'l Association of Broadcasters (NAB)
> convention in Atlanta, there were several panels featuring
> representatives from various RBOCs talking about their plans for
> broadband video delivery into the home.

Unfortunately, I don't have the info you want, but I'm glad you
brought this up. Coincidently, a number of us have been subjected to
the self-serving arguments from both the RBOCs and the Cable Clowns.

An insert in the Falcon Cable bill (Victorville) decried the
possibility of allowing telcos to carry video to homes. The gist was
that if they were allowed a foot in the door, then they would put the
valient traditional cable companies out of business and then would
jack up rates. While there may be a shred of truth here, no cable
company that I have seen has a whole lot of room to talk about
"value".  Most of them have removed the "import" channels (remember
why we used to subscribe to cable?) and replaced them with stuff off
the satelite that they either get paid to carry or can charge
subscribers to view. At night, these channels carry one "infomercial"
after another. So does broadcast TV, but we'll talk about the demise
of broadcasting slime some other day.

In essence, cable TV has a soft, cushy racket. The quality of service
is steadily going down and the price is going up. Why would they be
motivated to have it any other way? Most of the audience is captive.

On the other side of the aisle, there is the spectre of cable
companies (and others) supplying dial tone. RBOCs are so terrified of
this that they won't even admit publically that this is possible. If
this could come about, then maybe stodgy Pac*Bell could get a kick in
the posterior. While Patrick is talking about nailing nuisance callers
with '*69', we in Pac*Belland are lucky to get dial tone off of 35
year-old crossbar switches. Ironically, I just came back from the
rural desert area that is served by Contel -- and digital switches
loaded with features and services. GTE will put an end to that soon.

This is not to mention all of the currently self-serving tarrifs that
are in place. I have been informed that there are no more pairs
currently available to get additional lines into my home. Could it be
delivered on T1? Sure, but it would cost $300/month PLUS all of the
normal phone charges. What? Use two pairs to do the work of fourteen,
saving all that EXPENSIVE copper, and the customer has to pay for it?

It is fascinating to watch these two players go at it. Each is capable
of providing the service of the other but regulations currently stand
in the way. Wouldn't it be fun to watch telcos and cable companies go
toe to toe? Things could be a lot better -- in both arenas!


        John Higdon         |   P. O. Box 7648   |   [phone]
    [e-mail]     | San Jose, CA 95150 |       M o o !


[Moderator's Note: It sounds to me like you are wishing a plague on
both their houses!  :)   PAT]

------------------------------

Date: 11-NOV-1990 04:52:19.27
From: Douglas Scott Reuben <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Who Owns 800-878?


[In response to Dean Riddlebarger's question as to what company owns
800-878...]

Dean-

I think it is Allnet.

I called 800-878-9970 (-99xx is USUALLY not used in many 800
prefixes), and heard the recording saying that the number was not in
service.

Normally, I can tell from the message which company operates the 800
prefix, especially if it is Sprint or MCI. They seem to use the same
voices and styles of recordings for their 800 services as they do for
their regular long distance service.

This time, I wasn't sure, but fortunately they had a number to call
for Customer Service. A call to the number resulted in "You have
reached Allnet customer service...".

So the company that provides the actual LD service is probably Allnet;
I'm not sure if Allnet "owns" that prefix or just services it for some
call- aggregator (for lack of a better term) type outfit that deals in
800 numbers...(ARE there such things?)

It took a really long time to connect, and my switch (1ESS) didn't
"click" for about seven seconds after I dialed the last digit of the
800 number, which is usually a good indicator that you are not using
an AT&T 800 number.  (AT&T 800's "click" right away - the "other" ones
seem to take a lot longer just to get out of my local switch...).

Hope this helps !

Doug

[e-mail]
[e-mail]

------------------------------

From: David Lesher <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Wrong Number Suggestions Needed
Date: Sun, 11 Nov 90 8:14:12 EST
Reply-To: David Lesher <[e-mail]>
Organization: NRK Clinic for habitual NetNews abusers


David Tamkin writes:

|"If you have a problem and want BETTER service, call J .C. Penney at
|xxx.xxxx"

|Followed, after a modestly long pause, by some suitable message for
|callers to Dave or Dan.

When Carterphone first hit, lots of garbage answering machines showed
up all at one. [Come to think of it, there STILL are lots of garbage
 -- but I digress] Well it seem that the local rep. for one of the
International Record Carriers (those folks that carry intl. Telex,
telegrams, etc, traffic) called up his competitor and got an answering
machine. Hmmmm, what's this? What neat things does it do?

For MANY weeks afterwards, Company A's OGM said:

    We're busy, call Company B

I do not imagine that *that* machine was used for long ;-}


[e-mail]    (305) 255-RTFM

------------------------------

From: Tim Pozar <hoptoad!kumr![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Trivia Question About Butt Sets
Date: 11 Nov 90 20:32:03 GMT
Reply-To: Tim Pozar <hoptoad!kumr![e-mail]>
Organization: Late Night Software (San Francisco)


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Jim Rees)
writes:

>I've used electrician's terms here.  Telephones are actually balanced
>line, so there isn't that big a distinction between tip and ring, at
>least not at the subscriber's end.

    Other than battery polarity?  Some sets will not power the DTMF
encoder unless they are wired in the proper polarity.


Tim
uunet!hoptoad!kumr!pozar Fido: 1:125/555 PaBell: [phone]
  USNail:  KKSF-FM / 77 Maiden Lane /  San Francisco CA 94108

------------------------------

From: John Murray <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: DTMF Decoder Wanted (or Chips/Schematics)
Date: 12 Nov 90 00:22:13 GMT
Organization: SCRI, Florida State University


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Barton F.
Bruce) writes:

> If you are just tinkering, go to Radio Shack. They have TT decode
> chips, but are hardly where you need to go if you are going to make a
> product.

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Tad Cook) writes:

>Radio Shack no longer carries the SSI DTMF receiver.  But you can
>contact SSI directly at 714-731-7110.  Or you can get Teltone's DTMF
>receiver from them at 206-827-9626.

Hmm ... check your local Radio Schlocks anyway! Just today I saw three
or four1 of the DTMF decoder chips on the clearance racks in a local
Schlock for, oh, 4.95 or so (the original price was a little above
$10.00).


Disclaimer: Any opinions above (or below) have nothing to do with reality.
John R. Murray   [e-mail]   Supercomputer Research Inst.

------------------------------

Organization: Green Hills and Cows
Reply-To: John Higdon <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Logistics of Setting up a Modem Hunt Group
Date: 10 Nov 90 20:19:49 PST (Sat)
From: John Higdon <[e-mail]>


James Deibele <[e-mail]> writes:

> Or that's what GTE tells me this time.  I think I'll call
> back and talk to one or two more people to make sure that's correct.

> It would be nice if there was a "wizard" number that you could call
> and find out whether something was technically feasible or not.

Even if GTE set up a "wizard" line, the information that would be
dispensed would be misleading, harmful, and just plain wrong. As you
have already discovered, the temptation with GTE is to use the "mass
action" theory which holds that if you make enough inquiries and
average the responses, the answer that emerges will approach the truth
as the number of attempts approaches infinity.

Not true. It is a bad theory when applied to GTE. It is likely that
NONE of the responses obtained from GTE personel bear any resemblance
to reality. From personal experience it is possible to say that if you
want to determine anything about GTE's system, you will have to use a
back door approach. It is necessary to befriend a sympathetic employee
who will give you the straight poop. But it is a one-shot affair;
usually such a person goes on to work for a real company before you
get a chance to pick his brain again.


        John Higdon         |   P. O. Box 7648   |   [phone]
    [e-mail]     | San Jose, CA 95150 |       M o o !

------------------------------

Subject: Re: Call-Waiting Disable
From: "Roy M. Silvernail" <cybrspc![e-mail]>
Date: Sun, 11 Nov 90 12:40:36 CST
Organization: Villa CyberSpace, Minneapolis, MN


[e-mail] (Arun Baheti <[e-mail]>) writes:

> I'm having trouble disabling the call waiting feature in the Twin
> Cities area.  While the standard methods (*70 and 1170) are listed in
> the phone book, and the phone company claims vehmently that these
> methods will work, I continue to receive "call not completed" messages
> whenever I try.  The normal methods work in SoCal (Pac*Tel), so I am
> beginning to wonder ... Does anyone else have experience with the Twin
> Cities system?

I think I qualify. The line I use (which actually belongs to a
roommate, else the damnable feature wouldn't be there at all) has
Call-Waiting. It is indeed 100% fatal to a modem connection. I have no
problem, though, disabling it with *70. In fact, my outbound UUCP poll
batch file can be told whether or not the poll is 'nukeable' and will
select the dialing prefix accordingly.

Pat's note is timely ... do you _actually_ have Call-Waiting on your
line? (i.e. have you ever been C-W beeped during a conversation?) If
you are simply losing modem connections, perhaps the problem lies
elsewhere.


Roy M. Silvernail
now available at:
cybrspc![e-mail]

------------------------------

From: George Pell <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Call-Waiting Disable
Date: 11 Nov 90 19:54:19 GMT
Organization: Tektronix Inc., Beaverton, Or.


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Arun Baheti
<[e-mail]>) writes:

+I'm having trouble disabling the call waiting feature in the Twin
+Cities area.

+[Moderator's Note: Two assumptions are in order: (1) You *do* have
+Call Waiting on the line in question (not just 'think you do'), and
+(2) the serving CO is equipped with the proper generics.

Actually, there is one more assumption to be made, and that is that
disable call waiting is included in your call waiting package.

This is not the case with GTE here in the Pacific Northwest.  I have
to pay $1 a month extra for Cancel Call Waiting.


geo

------------------------------

Subject: Re: Call-Waiting Disable
From: halcyon![e-mail]
Date: Sun, 11 Nov 90 19:49:32 PST
Organization: The 23:00 News


Here's a toy for those systems that can't get call-waiting to disable.
Feel free to hack on this (I was always one for taking the hardest
path to a solution):

1 '
2 'CW.BAS
5 'This short program solves the problem of call waiting interrupting
6 'a communications session. Just run this before your communcations
7 'program. It remains in effect until you reset your Hayes Smartmodem.
8 '
10 'NOTE: I think I found this on CompuServe quite a while ago.
11 'Submitted by [e-mail] with absolutely no gurantees.
12 'Keep flames at home.  Check your smoke detector.
13 '
30 COLOR 15,9
31 CLS:LOCATE 12,18
32 PRINT CHR$(7);"Setting Hayes Smartmodem 1200 for Call Waiting"
35 OUT 1020,4:GOSUB 110:OUT 1020,3:GOSUB 110
40 OPEN "COM1:1200,N,8,1,DS" AS #1:GOSUB 110
50 MSG$="ATS10=100"+CHR$(13):GOSUB 100:GOSUB 110
70 CLOSE
71 LOCATE 12,1:PRINT SPACE$(80)
72 LOCATE 12,22:PRINT CHR$(7);"Now execute comm program"
80 SYSTEM
100 FOR X=1 TO LEN(MSG$):PRINT #1,MID$(MSG$,X,1);:NEXT
110 FOR X=1 TO 1500:NEXT
120 RETURN
125 '
130 ' Line 35: Port 1020 (3FC) is the MCR (Modem Control Register). The
131 '          bits are described on page 6-9 of the Hayes Smartmodem
132 '          1200 manual. First CALLWAIT sends a 4, which enables the
133 '          interrupt line drivers, and allows the UART to interrupt
134 '          the controller. If there are any problems with the serial
135 '          port, this command should generate some kind of error.
136 '          OUT 1020,3 will reset the modem and is equivalent to
137 '          power off/power on. This must be held for at least 50 ms.
138 '          This is done using the timing loop at line 110.
139 '
140 ' Line 40: Open the COM1 port for 1200 baud, no parity and 8 bit words
141 '          using buffer #1.
142 '
143 ' Line 50: Sends a command to the modem. The AT is the ATtention code,
144 '          which must precede all modem commands. The S10=100 is
145 '          described on page 6-7 of the manual. It allows the carrier
146 '          signal to momentarily disappear. The S10=100 sets the time
147 '          interval for which the carrier may be lost. This interval
148 '          is adjustable in tenths of a second.


[Moderator's Note: This of course simply sets one of the S Registers
to a longer time out value ... long enough that the call waiting tone
won't disconnect you, although it may very well damage the data
getting transferred at the same moment. The other hangup (pun intended)
is how do you get the *other end* to hang around for those
milliseconds while you are gone? In the situation where this program
would be the most helpful -- calling a BBS -- wouldn't the sysop of
that board have to have the modem on that end likewise adjusted before
the adjustment on your end would be of any real help?  PAT]

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V10 #810
******************************










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Date:     Mon, 12 Nov 90 0:48:11 CST
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
[To]:     [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V10 #811
BCC:
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Mon, 12 Nov 90 00:47:59 CST    Volume 10 : Issue 811

Inside This Issue:                         Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Re: 911 Botch-up in Detroit [John Palmer]
    NSFNet Intercontinental ISO Transmission [Link Letter, via John Palmer]
    Re: CALL FOR VOTES: comp.dcom.fax [Ofer Inbar]
    Re: More on MCI Mail Rate Increase [Steve Forrette]
    Re: $4 Per Day Roaming Charge [Steve Forrette]
    Cellular Sleaze [Jack Winslade]
    *Long* Phone Calls -- What Does Ma Think? [Andrew M. Boardman]
    Need Help With Scheduling Software [Christine Paustian]
    N00 Exchanges, Anywhere? [Steve Kass]
    Routing and Termination Algorithms [Anthony Lee]
    What a Combination! [Toby Gottfried]
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (CAT-TALK Maint. Account)
Subject: Re: 911 Botch-up in Detroit
Date: 11 Nov 90 14:13:46 GMT
Reply-To: [e-mail] (John Palmer)
Organization: CAT-TALK Conferencing Network, Detroit, MI


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Sander
J. Rabinowitz) writes:

"An Associated Press report mentioned an incident in Detroit where a
"girl (age 7) phoned 911 to report that her brother was being beaten.
"She was told by a 911 operator to "get off the phone" and her call was
"basically ignored. The operator's insistence that the girl hang up
"interfered with the girl's pleadings for assistance.

Detroit 911 has been very helpful and quick during the times that I
had to call them (the guy next door is a drunk who was thrown out of
his house by his wife. Every now and then he comes back, waving a gun
at her and threatening to kill her and her two children).

"(2) I don't believe Detroit's 911 system is one where the caller's
"address is automatically relayed to the dispatcher -- in other words,
"the caller would be required to calmly relay his/her location to the
"operator.

False. The Detroit 911 system has full ANI capabilities. When a call
comes in, the address of the calling number is displayed on the
operators CRT. Both times when I have called, the operator has said
"so the trouble is one house north of <stated my address>" without me
saying a thing.

"(3) (Disclaimer: This point is mostly speculative, but I don't believe
"it's way off the mark) I think it would be safe to say that Detroit is
"understaffed across the board insofar as emergency personnel is
"concerned, and that the problem extends to 911 operators.

That's probably true. King Coleman (Young) likes to divert funds to
other more important areas like building more convention space
downtown.  (By the way -- ignore the recent ABC broadcast which
depicted Detroit as a wasteland. It is yellow journalism at its worst.
We have a few political bad apples to get rid of, but the city is much
nicer than some other cities like NYC, LA and Chicago).

------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (CAT-TALK Maint. Account)
Subject: NSFNet Intercontinental ISO Transmission
Date: 11 Nov 90 15:03:34 GMT
Reply-To: [e-mail] (CAT-TALK Maint. Account)
Organization: CAT-TALK Conferencing Network, Detroit, MI


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail]
(Frederick Roeber) writes:
X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 807, Message 6 of 12

"It has been mentioned that recently much transatlantic computer
"traffic has been routed via satellite because of a broken undersea
"cable.

[questions about Internet links overseas]

The following article appeared in the U-M Computing Center News
(October 25, 1990, V 5, No 18, Pg 10)

                   -----------------------

NSFNET DEMONSTRATES INTERCONTINENTAL ISO TRANSMISSION

[Editor's note: The following article is reprinted, with modifications,
 from the September 1990 issue of the Link Letter (Vol 3, No 4),
published by the Merit/NSFNET backbone project]

At the end of September, partners in the National Science Foundation
Network (NSFNET) announced a succesful demonstration of
intercontinental data transmission using the International Standards
Organization Conectionless Network Protocol (ISO CLNP). The
international exchange of ISO CLNP packets was demonstrated betweeen
end systems at the NSFNET Network Operations Center in Ann Arbor and
in Bonn, West Germany, using the NSFNET backbone infrastructure and
the European Academic Supercomputer Initiative (EASInet) backbone.

The prototype OSI (this, I think is a typo - it should be ISO)
implementation is intended to provide wide area connectivity between
OSI networks, including networks using the DECNet Phase V protocols.

The new software was integrated into the NSFNET's "packet switching"
(data transmission) nodes by David Katz and Susan Hares of the Merit
Computer Network, with support from IBM's software developement
departments in Milford, CT and Yorktown Heights, NY.

NSFNET is the first federally supported computer network to acheive
international ISO CLNP transmission on an operating network, according
to Merit's Hans-Werner Braun, Principle Investigator for the NSFNET
Project.

The Prototype ISO implementation is being designed to coexist with
NSFNET's operational Internet Protocol (IP) network, and is a
significant step towards offering OSI services on the NSFNET backbone.
Eric Aupperle, President of Merit and acting director of ITD Network
Systems, says that "the demonstration shows that we're capable of
transporting OSI traffic. Now we're working to deploy this
experimental service as fast as possible."

An implementation of CLNP was first demonstrated by Merit/NSFNET staff
at the InterOp '89 conference. That implementation of CLNP was
originally developed as part of the ARGO project at the University of
Wisconsin, Madision, with the support of the IBM Corporation.

by Ken Horning
DTD Network Systems.

------------------------------

From: Ofer Inbar <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: CALL FOR VOTES: comp.dcom.fax
Date: 12 Nov 90 04:25:46 GMT
Organization: Brandeis University Computer Science Dept


Just a note to people considering voting on this:

 This is not an official vote as per Usenet guidelines, since the CFD
and CFV did not appear in news.announce.newgroups; consequently, you
will find that it will likely get low propogation.  Also, it will make
things more confusing if someone later tries to create this group
'officially'.

 Whether or not you like the guidelines, realize that there are
newsadmins who will not create an 'unofficial' newsgroup.  So you
might want to forget this and start over again with a CFD, this time
in news.announce.newgroups as well as here.

 Yes, I know, there was an official CFD a while back, but the poster
withdrew it and it has long since expired anyway, without vote.


Cos (Ofer Inbar)  --  [e-mail]
WBRS (BRiS)  --  [e-mail]  [e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 11 Nov 90 03:11:32 -0800
From: Steve Forrette <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: More On MCI Mail Rate Increase
Organization: University of California, Berkeley


In article <[e-mail]> John Higdon writes:

>Microsoft is a company that could probably have all of its phones
>disconnected and not suffer a reduction in communication capabiltiy.

John, you may be interested to know that Microsoft's LEC is GTE!

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 11 Nov 90 12:50:42 -0800
From: Steve Forrette <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: $4 Per Day Roaming Charge
Organization: University of California, Berkeley


In article <[e-mail]> you write:

>What about roaming in foriegn countries (HK in particular)?

I remember a few months back that someone posted an article about
foreign roaming, and that one of the systems in Hong Kong was
compatible with the North American standard.  All you needed was a
credit card for billing, and you were set!


[Moderator's Note: I think the expert on this would probably be John
Covert. He has written before about cell phone use in Germany. Maybe
he can add to this thread.  PAT]

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 10 Nov 90 19:46:25 EST
From: Jack Winslade <[e-mail]>
Subject: Cellular Sleaze
Reply-to: [e-mail]
Organization: DRBBS Technical BBS, Omaha, Ne. 402-896-3537


I'm writing this primarily to the rep's of the various cellular
operators I've seen in this conference lately, although I would like
to share the comments with all.

In article <[e-mail]>, (Douglas Scott Reuben) writes:

>Wouldn't they make more money in the long run by encouraging the cell
>phone to be used as often as possible, rather than tacking on charges
>that tend discourage use?

In article <[e-mail]> (Jim Rees) writes:

> But the people who set cell phone rates don't have much incentive
> to lower rates, especially when they enjoy a duopoly ... companies
> are so sleazy that I would rather not have to deal with them.

Not are they only getting the same reputation (here) as AOS services
and COCOT owners, but in the consumer world, they are being put in the
same class (spelled sleezoid) as streetcorner 'credit' car lots and
late-night 'infomercials'.  (Cellular operators, are you still
listening ??)

Contrary to what industry people may think, consumers ARE noticing
such things as:

o Nonuniform rate structures.  Some people seem to get reasonable
  rates, others (more like the norm) pay through the nose.  Often
  times Mr. Joe Consumer pays more than businesses do, kind of the
  reverse of hard-wired telco pricing.  Rates vary considerably
  even for the same service from the same vendor.  It's often times
  'who you know' that will get you a good rate.

o Unbundling of charges and nickle-diming.  Contrary to the fact that
  yes, it may USE certain resources, since day one, it's been
  CUSTOMARY in the telephone industry NOT to charge for such things
  as busy signals, no-answers, call setup time, etc.  People do not
  mind paying a fair price for services rendered, but they do object
  to such drek as double airtime for 3-way calls, airtime for
  forwarded calls, extortive (and double-billing of) roamer charges.

o Mass-marketing and kickback schemes using almost any dealer who
  has a pulse.  One Omaha tire dealership now throws in a <quote>
  free <end quote> cellular phone with the purchase of four new
  tires.  Of course they do not mention the service commitment and
  non-bargain airtime pricing until they have to.  This does not do
  any good for the image of the industry.

The bottom line is that if the cellular industry does not clean up its
act voluntarily, consumers will start demanding that the industry will
become regulated to one degree or another.  I don't think any of the
cellular operators want that.

Good Day!       JSW

[1:285/666@fidonet] DRBBS Technical BBS, Omaha (1:285/666)

 --- Through FidoNet gateway node 1:16/390
[e-mail]


[Moderator's Note: On the other hand, telcos have never had uniform
local rates; they have recently been unbundling their charges with the
'nickle and dime' approach; and they have been pushing their new
feature services heavily -- to the extent that in Chicago at least,
about half the time there is no installation fee for any of the Custom
Calling features, just to get people signed up as quickly as possible.
With telco also, what you know detirmines many times what you pay.

So why should the cellular companies be different?  And unlike the
telco, where they come one to a community with little or no choice in
the matter for John Consumer, at least the cell operators come in twos
and the consumer has 'twice as much' choice among them. I'd look for
the day to come when telco begins charging for incomplete call
attempts just like some of the cell guys do now, saying it uses up
resources to attempt to make the connection, etc.  PAT]

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 11 Nov 90 04:40:24 EST
From: "Andrew M. Boardman" <[e-mail]>
Subject: *Long* Phone Calls -- What Does Ma Think?


There are all sorts of methods these days for maintaining IP
connections over dialup lines, so the idea has been raised of normally
dialled calls as an alternative to leased lines, i.e., just making one
"permanent" phone call for one's connection.  If one utilises untimed
service of some sort, the economic advantage in enormous.  My
questions:

  - What would one's local phone company think of this?
  - In the expected case that they aren't too fond of losing
    out on the megabucks for a leased line, do they have
    legal ground telling you to stop?
  - Since some uucp sites have so much traffic that they can
    spend days on one call anyway, has anyone ever heard of
    previous telco complaints in this area?

------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Subject: Need Help With Scheduling Software
Date: Sun, 11 Nov 90 06:30:50 PST


Has anyone had any experience with a scheduler for ACD staff that is
both effective and efficient?  The product we are currently struggling
with is called NAMES-10, it's an MS-DOS based package marketed by
AT&T.

It's extremely difficult to use and our supervisory staff spends an
excessive amount of time attempting to get it to meet our needs.  We
have a situation here where the tail (software) is wagging the dog
(organization).

Any and all recommendations are welcome.  Within reason, money is no
issue at this point in time.  We need something that will help us
cover our volumes effectively, without dooming our supervisors to
endless attempts to 'fool' the system into meeting our needs.

Many thanks.


Christine
[e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 11 Nov 90 19:51 EDT
From: <[e-mail]>
Subject: N00 Exchanges, Anywhere?


Are the N00 prefixes used anywhere in the US?  I get quite a variety
of messages from NJ Bell territory when I dial them.  Here's a
summary:

200-xxxx : "The number you have reached, two-oh-oh-ex-ex-ex-ex, is being
            checked for trouble.  Please try your call again later."

300-xxxx : "We're sorry, you have reached a number that has been disconnected
            or is not in service.  If you feel you have reached this
            recording in error, please check the number and try your call
            again." (rings before message)

400 to 600: "We're sorry, your call cannot be completed as dialled.  Please
            check the number and call again."  (interrupts after 3 digits)

700-xxxx :  "We're sorry.  You must first dial a 1 when calling this number.
(800,900)   Will you please hang up and try your call again."  (Rings right
            after seventh digit is dialled.  1+ is not necessary within area
            code 201, but this makes a bit of sense.)

1-700-xxxx :"We're sorry.  Your call did not go through.  Will you please
            try your call again?" (Probably waiting for 11 digits)


Steve Kass -- Dept of Math and CS -- Drew U -- Madison NJ 07940 -- 2014083614

------------------------------

From: Anthony Lee <[e-mail]>
Subject: Routing and Termination Algorithms
Date: 12 Nov 90 04:08:14 GMT
Reply-To: [e-mail]


Could someone please explain the following routing and termination
algorithms ?

1. Hunting,
2. bridging,
3. coverage,
4. least-cost routing.

Are there others?


Anthony Lee
ACSnet:    [e-mail]    TEL:+(61)-7-371-2651
Internet: [e-mail]        +(61)-7-377-4139 (w)
SNAIL: Dept Comp. Science, University of Qld, St Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 2 Nov 90 17:27:06 pst
From: Toby Gottfried <[e-mail]>
Subject: What a Combination!


Quoted from the Government pages of a local telephone directory:

"CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES
   Congressional 24-Hour Voice Mail Service 2 Dollars Per Minute
   There is a Charge to Dial This Number ...... 900 740-3030"

   (followed by local office listings for area Representatives)

No further comment.


Toby Gottfried
FileNet Corp     ...!hplabs!felix!toby
Costa Mesa, CA

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V10 #811
******************************










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Date:     Mon, 12 Nov 90 22:28:09 CST
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[To]:     [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V10 #812
BCC:
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Mon, 12 Nov 90 22:28:00 CST    Volume 10 : Issue 812

Inside This Issue:                         Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Re: Prodigy Pulls Plug on Email Users [John Higdon]
    Re: Prodigy Pulls Plug on Email Users [Lou Judice]
    Re: Info Needed on Prodigy Service [Michael Graff]
    Re: Info Needed on Prodigy Service [Paul Jonathan Estalilla Go]
    Re: Info Needed on Prodigy Service [[e-mail]]
    Re: GEnie Star*Services [David Tamkin]
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Organization: Green Hills and Cows
Reply-To: John Higdon <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Prodigy Pulls Plug on Email Users
Date: 12 Nov 90 00:48:52 PST (Mon)
From: John Higdon <[e-mail]>


Adam M Gaffin <[e-mail]> most correctly enscribes:

> What's really happening is that Prodigy is proving its complete
> arrogance and total lack of understanding of the dynamics of on-line
> communication. They just don't get it. People are NOT going to spend
> nearly $130 a year just to see the weather in Oregon or order trips to
> Hawaii.

> Even the computerphobes Prodigy wants to attract quickly learn the
> real value of the service is in finding new friends and holding
> intelligent "discussions'' with others across the country.

Amen and Amen. Some years ago, when I had divested myself of the
nightmare called Interconnect Telecommunications Systems (don't ask --
but some will anyway), I decided to get back into "computing". It had
been some years since the Altairs and Imsais had been relegated to the
garage for the purpose of dust collecting.

It was necessary to go "au currant", and an IBM PC clone was obtained
which sported a gold plate Hayes 1200 bps internal modem. Packed with
the modem was the obligatory Compuserve intro package. I bit. Got my
account going and after a number of months of playing with OAG,
"weather in Oregon", and endless reading of news articles from the St.
Louis somethingorother, discovered e-mail and discussion groups. And
then I discovered CHARGES. You know, those which occur when you stay
connected for long periods.

But I had learned something: the real fun of connectivity was
communicating with people--friends, strangers with common interests,
even strangers that would like to string you up by your thumbs. But
sitting online with the clock ticking seemed most inefficient. Then
some friends introduced me to UNIX, and the rest, as they say, is
history.

For the free-wheeling, uncensored, internationally distributed, fully
gatewayed, fast, and unmeasured Internet, the price of admission is a
system, the software and a friendly (or several friendly) local
business(es) who has a gigantic VAX or some such who enjoys being
connected to smaller sites. No per-message charges. No censoring of
news submissions (Moderation is not censorship). No advertising. Just
mostly responsible people who can share ideas.

But this is not the purpose of Prodigy. The purpose of Prodigy is to
sell computers, products, services, and itself. The interaction of
subscribers is not only secondary, but probably undesirable to those
in charge. Other than the graphics (and the apparently restrictive
interface), what would Prodigy offer over, say, Compuserve? Many banks
offer online banking direct without a third party. OAG is available as
a separate subscription. Games are available from many sources.

Anyone who operates a computer network that aspires to greatness will
have to remember that the real goal is communication.


        John Higdon         |   P. O. Box 7648   |   [phone]
    [e-mail]     | San Jose, CA 95150 |       M o o !

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 12 Nov 90 08:14:50 PST
From: Peripheral Visionary 12-Nov-1990 1031 <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Prodigy Pulls Plug on Email Users


I've been a Prodigy subscriber for about 6 months, and all I can say
is that anyone with the PATIENCE to use Prodigy for anything more
involved than getting a weather map is a better person than me.
Really, try it sometime, and you'll see what I mean.


ljj

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 12 Nov 90 14:26:55 PST
From: Michael Graff <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Info Needed on Prodigy Service
Reply-To: [e-mail]


After reading the Prodigy items in Digest issues 805 and 809, I think
I'll take a stab at "this Prodigy thing."  I'm an IBMer and a Prodigy
subscriber, but I don't speak for either IBM or Prodigy.

Sandy Kyrish asks where the claim of 500,000 subscribers comes from.
My understanding is that it is the number of active userids.  Prodigy
charges a monthly rate per "household" which allows as many as six
separate userids (one for Dad, one for Mom, and so on).  So, not all
of those 500,000 subscribers are paying.  And some of them probably
don't log on very often.  But from Prodigy's point of view, it doesn't
really matter who's paying and who isn't.  They make their money by
selling the ads that take up the bottom quarter of the screen.
There's no charge for connect time.

What are people responding to with Prodigy?  For one thing, it's
accessible.  It's very easy to learn and get around.  There are no
cryptic commands as on the traditional online services like
Compuserve.  There's no charge for connect time, so there's no
pressure to keep your usage down.  The graphics are cute and fun.

David Lemson mentions MNP.  I don't think it would make any
difference.  Since Prodigy already has its own compression and
correction schemes, adding another one wouldn't help.

Glenn F. Leavell asks about Prodigy screening message content.  Keep
in mind that there are two kinds of messages on Prodigy.  There are
private messages that you send to an individual (email), and there are
public messages that you post on Prodigy's bulletin boards.  Prodigy
screens the bulletins, but as far as I know, they leave the private
mail alone.  The exception on the private mail is if a subscriber
complains about private mail received from somebody else, then Prodigy
will get involved.

Prodigy gets a lot of flap for screening messages on the bulletin
boards, but to me it seems no different from Patrick screening
messages for TELECOM.

Ken McGlothlen talks about Prodigy's slow speed.  Prodigy's new
software is noticeably faster than the previous version.  Also, your
PC hardware makes a big difference, especially processor speed.
Finally, perception has a lot to do with it.  I find it generally
reasonable on a fast XT clone.  Also, it's easy to get a list of all
the JUMPwords.  If you JUMP INDEX, there is an option on that screen
to print them all.

As for navigation, I find it generally easy to get around.  Eaasy
Sabre (that's the correct spelling - it's run by American Airlines)
used to be particularly clumsy, but they improved it a while back.  I
use it to check schedules, but I prefer to buy my tickets from a
travel agent.  The navigation of the bulletin boards is now in its
third version, much better than before, but still a long way to go.
Otherwise, most of the service is very easy to get around.

Adam M. Gaffin talks about the person who sends 1500 email messages.
I dare say, if he tried that on MCI Mail or Compuserve, he would go
broke very fast.

Tad Cook talks about how Prodigy is controlled by IBM and Sears.  I
really don't know how much actual control IBM or Sears puts on
Prodigy.  I've heard plenty of IBMers complaining about how Prodigy's
handling of the email and censorship flaps is making IBM look bad, and
IBM doesn't seem to be doing much to either distance itself or get
Prodigy to straighten up.  In any case, IBM's and Sears' control of
Prodigy is probably less than the public perception.

John Higdon asks about printing or saving information from Prodigy.
Prodigy supports printing in some, but not all, areas of the service.
It's a lot better now than it used to be.  Prodigy doesn't directly
support saving information to a file, but there are plenty of
utilities around that can redirect print output to a file.  I use one
and it works well.

As for the online encyclopedia, I understand that it's the same one
used on PC-Link, GEnie, and other services.  I've looked up a few
things in it and found it to be pretty decent.  With a print
redirection utility, I have saved some items to disk.

Jeff Sicherman mentions GEnie's new Star Services.  Unlimited text
email *is* included in the $4.95 monthly rate, and a lot of the heavy
email users on Prodigy are jumping over to GEnie.  Ironically, GEnie
announced Star Services about the same time that Prodigy announced its
new email charge.


Michael Graff

------------------------------

From: Paul Jonathan Estalilla Go <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Info Needed on Prodigy Service
Date: 11 Nov 90 01:14:31 GMT
Organization: Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA  90041


I got my Prodigy start-up kit for free as a promo offer from Prodigy,
and I am now in the one month "trial" period.

(1) Prodigy is charging me $12.95/month + tax. Is this a new rate (as
the LA Times article on Prodigy users says that the rate used to be
$9.95/mo.)???

(2) My main use for Prodigy is to get stock quotes. Although their
quotes are loooong delayed, they are better than waiting for
tomorrow's newspaper.

(3) I am still debating whether to stay with Prodigy or not; I have a
Macintosh SE, and (a) it is SLOW; (b) I cannot take advantage of
color; (c) AOL has a much better user interface, albeit the per hour
charges.

(4) I am very disappointed in Prodigy. Their databases do not give me
the information I need, only traces here and there, and it is very
hard to navigate through the thing!!! AOL's news reporting was much
better, in my opinion.


Paul Jonathan E. Go

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 11 Nov 90 22:03 CST
From: BBS Public Access <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Info Needed on Prodigy Service


There is a lot of discussion on the Well (San Francisco BBS)
concerning Prodigy.  Much flaming, but some informed commentary as
well.

Speculation has it the published subscription numbers (500,000) are
bogus.  One "subscription" may mean several family ID's - all of which
are included in the 500,000 figure even though they may be inactive or
fictional.  Prodigy users who cancelled their subscriptions and then
returned months later report their old IDs are still on the directory.
This suggests that cancelled subscriptions are still counted in the
500,000.

The current e-mail problem at Prodigy is related to their past
problems with controversial message boards.  Some months ago, Prodigy
removed several controversial message boards that were generating
flames.  This was done presumably to avoid offending advertisers and
preserve the "family" image.  Users of the cancelled boards were
outraged, but they apparently found a work-around with e-mail.
Result: specialty mailing lists flourished and e-mail traffic
exploded.  Some of the people who were coordinating the mailing lists
were sending thousands of e-mail messages every day.

This created another problem for Prodigy, which responded by charging
$.25 per e-mail message after the first 30 messages in a month.  This
is likely to put the kibosh on the mailing lists.

My take on this is that advertising and interactive communications
don't mix - if "interactive" means user-to-user interaction.  Prodigy
never had that sort of interaction in mind, though.

------------------------------

From: David Tamkin <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: GEnie Star*Services
Date: Mon, 12 Nov 90 11:54:08 CST


Jeff Sicherman wrote in volume 10, issue 809:

|    Since Prodigy has come up recently in the Digest, does anybody have
| any experience with the new Genie Star*Services - a $4.95/mo flat rate
| competitor to Prodigy. Offers a subset of regular Genie services
| (email specifically excluded as yet, I believe).

On the contrary, email is specifically *in*cluded.  Time spent on line
composing, sending, and reading text email is covered in the flat rate
during non-prime hours (evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays).
Time spent uploading and downloading binary email, however, costs the
usual $6/hour during non-prime time and $18/hour during prime time.

| Besides being cheaper I'm considering recommending it because of the
| speed considerations: none of the graphics that slows down Prodigy
| and would like to hear about actual comparisons.

Not only is GEnie far faster than Prodigy is said to be and not
limited to proprietary terminal software available for only two
machines, but also there is no constant barrage of advertising.  (Lest
I sound too praiseworthy, I'm not in love with GEnie but it's hard to
make anything look bad in comparison to what I hear and know about
Prodigy.)  GEnie customers speculated that the new pricing was a
response to Prodigy's and perhaps Delphi's rates, but then Prodigy
raised its rates and surcharged higher volumes of outgoing email.

As a general rule, Star*Services cover text email, information bases,
and the text areas of non-tech roundtables.  Computer-topic round-
tables, real-time conversation, and file transfers still carry connect
charges.  During prime time, all of GEnie has a connect time charge.

But to say "Star*Services are a subset of regular GEnie services" can
be misleading.  Star*Services are a proper subset of the whole of
GEnie, yes, in that some parts of the system are not covered by the
monthly fee and a connect time charge still applies in them.  However,
Star*Services are not a separately subscribable option (GEnie's
original releases made that very unclear), and you cannot set up an
account that is restricted by GEnie to staying inside the flat-rate
areas (you can stay inside them by self-discipline, of course), nor
can you opt out of Star*Services and pay connect charges in all parts
of the system instead of the $4.95 monthly fee.

GEnie personnel explained the conversion to me as follows: all GEnie
accounts, starting October 1, 1990, are under the Star*Services plan.
The choice given on line to existing accounts during August and
September was between consenting to the new rate structure as of
October 1 and having your account canceled as of October 1 if you
didn't like the new arrangement (say, you used GEnie for a few minutes
a month and didn't feel you would get $4.95 worth out of it under the
new rates).  That way people who simply stopped using GEnie as of
October 1, 1990 (or hadn't been using it during August or September
and didn't know about the change), wouldn't get charged the $4.95 a
month unless they logged in and used the system.

Anyone who hadn't consented to the change by September 30 and logged
in on or after October 1 had (and still has) to pick the new rate
structure or immediate cancellation.  (By then all customers with
valid addresses on file should have received hardcopy about the
change.)  Any actual use of the system on or after October 1 requires
consent to Star*Services pricing.  Pre-existing accounts for which the
customer doesn't make a choice by March 31, 1991, will be deemed
canceled.

Also, in volume 10, issue 810, David Lesher attributed this to me:

> |"If you have a problem and want BETTER service, call J. C. Penney at
> |xxx.xxxx"

> |Followed, after a modestly long pause, by some suitable message for
> |callers to Dave or Dan.

This is one time Mr. Lesher didn't get it straight from the horse's
mouth, because I didn't write that!  Barton Bruce did.  Not only does
Mr. Bruce deserve credit for his own words, but moreover those are
words with which I disagree strongly: the wrong numbers are not Sears
Roebuck's fault (as they would be if, say, Sears had distributed
advertising with a misprinted telephone number) and should not be
taken out on Sears.  Now, "Sears Roebuck and Company's number is
XY*A*-5600, but they won't sell anything to people who are so stupid
that they can't even dial a telephone" wouldn't bother me a bit.


David Tamkin  Box 7002  Des Plaines IL  60018-7002  708 518 6769  312 693 0591
MCI Mail: 426-1818  GEnie: D.W.TAMKIN  CIS: 73720,1570   [e-mail]


[Moderator's Note: David recently attended an 'open house' sponsored
by Centel at their central office here. Perhaps he will write an
article for the Digest soon talking about the affair.   PAT]

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V10 #812
******************************










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Date:     Mon, 12 Nov 90 23:01:35 CST
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
[To]:     [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V10 #813
BCC:
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Mon, 12 Nov 90 23:01:03 CST    Volume 10 : Issue 813

Inside This Issue:                         Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Microsoft Support Sleeze (was: Microsoft Use of 900) [John G. DeArmond]
    Re: Phone Numbers Indexed by Street Address [Bob Sherman]
    Re: Spring Ahead, Fall Behind [J. Stephen Reed]
    Re: Spring Ahead, Fall Behind [Greg Monti via John R. Covert]
    Re: People Unclear on the Concept [David Tamkin]
    Re: Telecom Art [David Tamkin]
    Re: British Telecom Special Service Codes [Jim R. Oldroyd]
    Re: ISDN Frame Relay Service [Ed Benyukhis]
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: "John G. DeArmond" <rsiatl![e-mail]>
Subject: Microsoft Support Sleeze (was: Microsoft Use of 900 )
Date: 11 Nov 90 06:45:16 GMT
Organization: Radiation Systems, Inc. (a thinktank, motorcycle, car
 and gun works facility)


[e-mail] (John Higdon) writes:

>Oh, I see. The "product" that put them on the map (other than a BASIC)
>is treated as a second-rate stepsister. The company has to protect
>itself from all those unwashed masses who might actually have some
>legitimate problem (oh, but how could they--DOS is perfect, right?)

>NOT with Microsoft. And the underlying problem seems to stem from
>how they handle telecommunications.

>> You can really blow their mind by getting on usenet and addressing your
>> followup communication to [e-mail].

John, I agree with you 100% regarding Microsoft and their tech
support.  I'VE used Usenet in a slightly manner for resolving problems
with Microsoft problems.  A couple of years ago, I had a problem in
which Microsoft C 5.1 would lock up my computers running Novell
networking software code.  I called Microsoft tech support and got a
dweeb who suggested that the problem was Novell's (correct, as chance
would have it) and told me that what I needed to do was trash Novell
and buy Microsoft network or whatever.

I got on the net and flamed Microsoft to a crisp and published Bill
Gates' direct dial number (which I've unfortunately since lost) and
suggested that anyone who disliked this degree of tech support should
call him directly and complain.

A day later I got a call from Jim Dosch who is the manager of Systems
Language Support.  He told me that the problem I was having was a
known one caused by Novell's anet3.com TSR and that an updated version
fixed the problem.  He then gave me his phone number (206 882 6701)
and asked that I call him direct with any future support problems.
I've never used it since I solved the Microsoft support problem the
old fashioned way - I switched to Turbo-C :-)

Perhaps that number will be of use to you in the future.


John De Armond, WD4OQC     Rapid Deployment System, Inc.
Marietta, Ga               {emory,uunet}!rsiatl!jgd

------------------------------

From: Bob Sherman <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Phone Numbers Indexed by Street Address
Date: Mon, 12 Nov 90 05:47:05 GMT


In <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (William M Gilroy)
writes:

>I was wondering how and where I would obtain a listing by street of
>every telephone number on that street. I want something like this:

>    1 Oak st    [phone]
>    2 Oak st    [phone]
>    3 Oak st    [phone]

There are at least two online databases that I know of that can be
subscribed to (at rather high rates) that will give you such info.
However you put in an address, and they then give you the names,
addresses, and phone numbers of eight or ten addresses on both sides.
On the other hand you can put in a phone number, it gives who listed
to, and the same deal on the neighbors if you want it. One database
claims 94 million listings, and the other claims about 114 million
listings. The larger of the two is called "MetroMail" and I "think" it
is operated by a sub of Donnelly..


[e-mail] | bsherman@pro-exchange | MCI MAIL:BSHERMAN

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 12 Nov 90 06:23 GMT
From: "J. Stephen Reed" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Spring Ahead, Fall Behind


David Tamkin (and others) have just rescued a small portion of my
mental health!

Tamkin recently responded to an item on the "leap second":

>> [Philip Gladstone:]
>> A point to note is that the leap second which is inserted (or
>> removed) is the last second before 00:00:00 *GMT*.

> Leap seconds are never removed.  The whole reason that we have leap
> seconds is that the second was redefined in the late 1960's by some
> physical or atomic standard (just as the meter was redefined around
> the same time and the inch followed); there was a choice between a
> definition that was slightly too short for 1/86,400 of an average
> solar day and having to add leap seconds occasionally and one that
> was slightly too long with a result of needing to skip leap seconds
> occasionally.

I remember vividly being a callow lad of 13 on June 30, 1972, when the
leap-second was announced in the papers for that night, as a curiosity
item.  It scared me to death!  Why?  Because I was credulous enough
(as a brainy but unworldly kid would be) to take the AP wire
reporter's explanation at face value.

The way it was phrased, the explanation implied that the earth was not
keeping pace with accurate clocks <because the earth was revolving
more slowly all the time.> (True, in one sense, but far from the whole
truth!)

So I got out my dad's Bowmar Brain (arithmetic functions only, ten
cubic inches, $299.95) to figure the number of seconds in a day, and
then to divide that by five.  (For the article predicted the need for
a leap second every four to five years.  This ended up being
conservative, as someone else noted -- we've had ten or twleve since.)

The quite natural result was that the earth would stop revolving in
about A.D. 19252.  (86,400 seconds/day divided by 5 being 17,280
years.)  And, of course, this would be The End.  Not in a geologic
epoch, when the Sun turns nova, but in 700 human generations.  I was
scared stiff!

As I matured, I suspected that something was wrong with that
explanation of the leap second, but I put it at the back of my mind.
Nonetheless, you don't shake pubescent fears that easily out of your
subconscious.

Later, I read that the mean solar day had been estimated to have
shortened by as few as ten minutes over the past three billion years
of geologic evidence.  Still, though, this nagged at me.

Thank you, Mr. Tamkin et al., for saving my mental equilibrium by
<finally> stating the connection between clocks, the earth, and the
leap second.  Now on to more important things, like predicting when
we'll "liberate" Kuwait.


Steve Reed
Liberty Network, Ltd. * P.O. Box 11296 * Chicago, IL 60611
[e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 11 Nov 90 17:39:37 PST
From: "John R. Covert  11-Nov-1990 2041" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Spring Ahead, Fall Behind

    From: Greg Monti
    Date: 5 November 1990

TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>  writes:

> In any event, do slow down and stay in step with the rest of us,
> starting Sunday morning at 2:00 AM *whatever* time zone you are in. To
> set computer clocks:

>          1-202-653-0351   1200 baud  (NAVOSBY)
>          1-202-494-4774   1200 baud  (National Bureau of Standards)

Hmm, That second one is impossible.  There is no 202-494 exchange nor
is there one in 301 or 703 within the old "7-digit distance" of 202.
Dunno the correct number, but Nat Bur Stds main number is 301 975-2000
in Gaithersburg, MD, if anyone cares to negotiate the bureaucracy to
find it.  :)


Greg Monti, Arlington, VA; work [phone]


[Moderator's Note: Well actually I meant to say area 303, as in
Boulder, CO -- not 202. Thanks for catching it.  PAT]

------------------------------

From: David Tamkin <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: People Unclear on the Concept
Date: Sun, 11 Nov 90 22:43:11 CST


Ed Greenberg wrote in volume 10, issue 805:

| I dropped by the local Burger King the other day, for my ration of
| fast breakfast.  Outside is a brand spanking new COCOT.  Inside is a
| sign that states, "We do not give change for the phone."

The operative word here is "outside."

| Now, given that the BK is in it for the cash, why discourage usage?

Because the BK franchisee doesn't own the COCOT.  The landlord owns
the COCOT.  The BK franchisee got sick of being short of change for
its own customers by the end of the day (and losing sales when
customers walked out) because it provided change for the landlord's
customers.  The franchisee got sick of having its lines lengthened and
its real customers forced to wait because its employees were tied up
handling zero-profit transactions to help the landlord make money.
The only money they owe the landlord is what is stated in their lease.

COCOTS, by the way, should not be spanking.  Spanked, yes.


David Tamkin  Box 7002  Des Plaines IL  60018-7002  708 518 6769  312 693 0591
MCI Mail: 426-1818  GEnie: D.W.TAMKIN  CIS: 73720,1570   [e-mail]

------------------------------

From: David Tamkin <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Telecom Art
Date: Sun, 11 Nov 90 23:03:40 CST


Peter da Silva wrote in volume 10, issue 606:

| The locations of most users can be found by examining comp.mail.maps:
| the location of most sites are given, with street address and latitude
| and longitude. These maps are updated and posted monthly.

Well, that probably holds for .edu sites, but you're best off checking
Organization: lines or .signatures.  There are people who have remote
logins to machines at the home office, and those of us who use the net
on our own time actually place TELEPHONE CALLS (shock!) to *other*
locations (fright!) to use a computer that is on the net rather than
sitting at a terminal that is hard-wired to one.

I have submitted to this forum from machines in Washington, D.C. and
Cupertino, California.  I could submit from one in Columbus, Ohio, and
until a couple weeks ago could have used one in Sparkill, New York.
Until last April I could have subscribed to DASNet and posted from a
system in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.  Where I really am located in
northeastern Illinois, there are three in Chicago, one in Villa Park,
one in Palatine, and this one I am currently using in Wheeling.  For
nostalgia's sake, I'll include a defunct machine in Homer Township,
Will County, Illinois, from which I used to submit.

If by "most" Peter means "strictly more than 50%" I guess he's right,
but as a mapping algorithm I don't think it will be correct often
enough.  Anyone mapping by that theory, please pretend that I always
post from gagme; you'll be off by a negligible quarter-mile.


David Tamkin  Box 7002  Des Plaines IL  60018-7002  708 518 6769  312 693 0591
MCI Mail: 426-1818  GEnie: D.W.TAMKIN  CIS: 73720,1570   [e-mail]

------------------------------

From: Jim R Oldroyd <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: British Telecom Special Service Codes
Date: 13 Nov 90 02:45:27 GMT
Reply-To: "Jim R Oldroyd" <[e-mail]>
Organization: The Instruction Set, Waltham, MA


Recently, [e-mail] wrote:

> [e-mail] (Clive Feather) writes (various bits deleted):

> How on earth did you get hold of this?  It took me about three weeks
> to convince my local BT "service" centre that my local exchange (081
> 446) had become digital. A couple of weeks later they (grudgingly) let
> me have a leaflet which mentioned "Charge Advice" and "Reminder Calls"
> as being "free" (ie no extra rental).  It did not, however, give
> details of the codes needed to access these services.

> Has anybody any idea why BT seem so loath to release any information
> about the services which they offer?  As I recall their leaflet made

> [Moderator's Note: Is BT a lot like the American telcos in this
> respect, that they try to keep their customers from speaking directly
> with anyone who actually knows anything? Here in the States, it is a
> very fortunate subscriber indeed who can get past the several layers
> of supervision in the Business Office and speak with an actual
> technician or central office person.  PAT]

This reminds me of my own experiences with BT, when I lived in London
several years back...

Now, I used to work at Philips TMC - now AT&T/Philips Telecoms (who
make central office switches), so I had access to lots of info about
what switches BT had installed all over the country, and what features
they offered. I later moved to London, to the (then) 01-386 exchange.
Needing tone dialling, I looked in my (now out-of-date) book, and
discovered that 368 did, indeed, support this option.

Well, it took me about nine weeks and 30 or 40 calls to convince the
BT customer service staff that this service really did exist.  In the
end, it was a Senior Supervisor (not just any old Supervisor) who was
able to look up in her manuals the fact that 368 really did support
tone dialling. And it took her about three minutes (while I waited on
the phone) to enable the service.  With delightful grace, she then
waived the #10 change of service fee which would have been applicable!

I did learn one thing from all this.  If you want any real help from
your local BT office (in London, anyway), call the 100 operator and
ask for "XXX Engineering" (where XXX is your exhange).  The operator
will put you straight through, without question.  Once there, ask for
the Senior Technial Engineer - this may take a bit more effort if you
don't know his/her name.  Once you're through, the world's your
oyster!

Enjoy,

Jim


[Moderator's Note: I'm *still* trying to convince repair service
attendants and Business Office people at IBT that I have Call
Screening (*60) on my line. It works fine, usually, but there are a
couple bugs that need attention. But they still insist that I don't
have it on my line. One person today even offered to have it removed
from my bill and credit issued (they do see it on the billing record)
since " ... it is not a service we are offering yet ... and you should
not be paying for something you are not getting ..."  Sigh.    PAT]

------------------------------

From: Ed Benyukhis <motcid![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: ISDN Frame Relay Service
Date: 9 Nov 90 14:29:48 GMT
Organization: Motorola Inc., Cellular Infrastructure Div., Arlington Hgts, IL


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Johnny Zweig)
writes:

> I was talking to Van Jacobson last week and he described a service his
> local telco is going to offer real soon now in which the customer sets
> up virtual calls using the D-channel and then dumps HDLC frames onto
> the B-channel and they get routed by the CO switch. Zounds! This
> sounds really neat -- the functionality of IP coming right out of the
> funny-looking ISDN jack on the wall.

> Does anyone know more about this service?  I am mostly interested in
> how reliable the frame delivery would be, whether frames would be
> delivered in order, whether one could set up calls to the same
> destination over both B-channels in a PRI (to crank out 128kbps to a

> single other machine) and that sort of thing.

The way you describe the connection and looking at the data transfer
rate, you are referring to a BRI and not a PRI.  The subject, of your
post semms to suggest that you want to know more about Broadband ISDN
services and recomendation.  Frame Relay Service is really an OC-1
CCITT standard that is being implemented with laboratory equipment and
in laboratory conditions at this point.  If it is a BRI that you want
know about, as it is currently implemented on some CO switches, here
it is:

B-channel connection can be provisioned with either packet or circuit
services or both on-demand (ODB).  All connections over the B-channel
are set-up via D-channel Q.931 control messages.  However, in the case
of a circuit switched connection, layers 2-7 are not defined nor used.
Users can/should provide their own synchronization and error control
mechanisms.  In the case of the Packet Switching over the B-channel,
layer 2 is LAPB and layer 3 is X.25.  You get your basic synch, error
correction and the flow control with these two layers.  Yes, PVC
guarantees that frames will be delivered in order, and yes, both
B-channesl can be routed to the same destination address.

I am not really sure if this is what you are looking for of if it is
different ISDN services you are interested in.  Drop me a line if you
want to find out more about ISDN or BISDN.

Regards,

Edward Benyukhis, Motorola, CIG
[phone]

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V10 #813
******************************










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Date:     Mon, 12 Nov 90 23:49:58 CST
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
[To]:     [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V10 #814
BCC:
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Mon, 12 Nov 90 23:49:45 CST    Volume 10 : Issue 814

Inside This Issue:                         Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Re: CPC / "Wink" Call Termination [Bob Yasi]
    Re: CPC / "Wink" Call Termination [Tom Gray]
    Re: Call-Waiting Disable [Andrew Boardman]
    Re: A Phone Set Wiring Question [Tom Wiencko]
    Re: Trivia Question About Butt Sets [Miguel Casteleiro]
    Re: Massachusetts DPU Fees for COCOT Info [Barton F. Bruce]
    Re: GTE Mobilnet Restricts International Dialing Nationwide [John Higdon]
    Re: McCaw "Nationlink" vs. Follow Me Roaming [Lang Zerner]
    Re: Zone Maps are Desireable [Dave Levenson]
    Re: NSFNet Intercontinental ISO Transmission [Mukesh Kacker]
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Bob Yasi <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: CPC / "Wink" Call Termination
Date: 12 Nov 90 07:28:26 GMT
Organization: Locus Computing Corp., Los Angeles


> The service described above (called Cut Off on Disconnect around here)
> is the removal of loop current for a few hundred milliseconds. The
> exact timimgs of this cut off will vary greatly depending on the type
> of equipment installed.

My local central office has a DMS (100 or 200?) switch.  The normal
duration of the disconnect signal (called CPC around here) is 800 ms,
or 0.8 seconds.  This "signal" is the electrical equivalent of
unplugging your phone for the specified duration.  You can actually
see it happening if you have a phone that lights up with led's using
the power supplied by the phone line -- the led's turn off from the
lack of power, then come back on again.

But, some answering machines or other "customer provided" equipment
does better with a longer signal.  If you have the same switch as I do
(and maybe even if you don't) you can call repair and they will set a
software option for your telephone line and up the duration to 1200
ms, or 1.2 seconds.  The service reps seemed to know about this as a
general response to "My answering machine acts funny".

In one of the conversations I had with an actual technical person in
the CO, I asked if there were any other "software options" that were
free.  I was told there were none.


   Bob Yazz -- [e-mail]

------------------------------

From: Tom Gray <mitel!spock![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: CPC / "Wink" Call Termination
Date: 12 Nov 90 13:20:50 GMT
Reply-To: Tom Gray <mitel!smithd![e-mail]>
Organization: Mitel. Kanata (Ontario). Canada.


>>I'm wondering if anyone here knows exactly (or not so exactly :-) )
>>what the "wink", or I believe it is sometimes called "CPC" signal is.

Tom Gray wrote:

>The problem described here occurs on loop start lines on which no
>answer supervision is provided. A call is answerd by a machine The

Tom Gray now humbly writes perhaps I should truly read the question
before I pontificate on telephone loop siganlling. The writer asked a
simple question on how his answering machine worked. I replied with
the mechanisms which would be used by expensive CPE equipment which
needs to eliminate fraud and to maximize the use of trunks. My answer
was true for CPE. For the question on answering machines, the machine
detects the end of the conversation by detecting dial tone. When the
calling party clears, the connection will be broken.  The local office
will time out and regard the off hook from the answering machine as an
origination and provide dial tone.

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 12 Nov 90 09:18:29 EST
From: Andrew Boardman <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Call-Waiting Disable


>[Moderator's Note: This of course simply sets one of the S Registers
>to a longer time out value ... long enough that the call waiting tone
>won't disconnect you, although it may very well damage the data
>getting transferred at the same moment. The other hangup (pun intended)
>...how do you get the *other end* to hang around for those
>milliseconds while you are gone?

Most dialup services in my neck of the woods do configure their modems
in this manner.

Consider: when making a voice call, the CW tone momentarily disrupts
the connection with noise.  You have the option of ansewring or
ignoring.  When making a data call, you still get a disruptive burst
of noise, allowing you the option of terminating your connection
gracefully to answer or ignoring it.  The functionality is maintained.

------------------------------

From: Tom Wiencko <vta![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: A Phone Set Wiring Question
Date: 12 Nov 90 13:46:58 GMT
Organization: Wiencko & Associates, Inc.


In article <[e-mail]> "Dave W. Hamaker" <[e-mail]>
writes:

>I expected single-line phones would ignore the yellow-black pair,
>unless rewired internally.  ...

A long time ago it used to be that Princess phones used the
yellow/black pair to carry a local DC voltage to power the little
light which illuminated the dial pad.  If this phone you were wiring
has some sort of light on it, that is probably what the yellow/black
pair is for.


Tom    Wiencko & Associates, Inc.   [phone]
      {backbone}!emory!stiatl!vta!wiencko!tom

------------------------------

From: Miguel Casteleiro <inesc![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Trivia Question About Butt Sets
Date: 12 Nov 90 20:31:12 GMT
Organization: INESC - Inst. Eng. Sistemas e Computadores, LISBOA. PORTUGAL.


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Jim Rees)
writes:

> In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (David Barts)
> writes:

>> Why are butt set leads colored red/black/green instead of
>> red/green/yellow?

> Wire color codes -- one of my favorite questions!  I can't answer this
> one, but this has always amused me:

>     Electricity <100v    Electricity >100v    Telephones

> Ground    Black            Green            Yellow
> Neutral    --            White            Red
> Hot        Red            Black            Green

Well, here it's different:

    Electricity >100v

Ground        Black or Blue
Neutral        Yellow and Green (in stripes)
Hot        Brown

The rest are the same colors!


Miguel Casteleiro at INESC, Lisboa, Portugal.   UUCP: ...!mcsun!inesc!jmc

------------------------------

From: "Barton F. Bruce" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Massachusetts DPU Fees for COCOT Innfo
Date: 12 Nov 90 17:49:58 EDT
Organization: Cambridge Computer Associates, Inc.


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Carol
Springs) writes:

> the Mass. DPU saying that they had a "package" of info for me, for
> which the cost would be $45 if I wanted it.  I immediately phoned to

The Attorney General's Office maintains a consumer info service that
is geared to getting info out of stubborn other agencies and giving it
to the requesting consumer. I have gotten DPU stuff before this way
when there was NO charge but NO WAY to get it other than going and
reading it there.

They got it internally and simply sent me copies!

------------------------------

Organization: Green Hills and Cows
Reply-To: John Higdon <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: GTE Mobilnet Restricts International Dialing Nationwide
Date: 12 Nov 90 17:03:13 PST (Mon)
From: John Higdon <[e-mail]>


George Goble <pur-ee![e-mail]> writes:

> I received notice last month that GTE Mobilnet was dropping the
> ability to direct dial international calls from cell phones, even if
> you were roaming on somebody else's system.

A call to Mobilnet's "competition", Cellular One (PacTel/McCaw)
reveals that company allows international dialing. They also informed
me that if I wanted to switch and break my "Business Club" contract
with Mobilnet, they would help me. Business Club is Mobilnet's way of
tying you into a year-at-a-time service commitment. You agree to stay
on for a year (automatically renewable) and they will give you all
custom calling and $5.50 off the normal monthly charge. Even if you
don't use the custom calling, it's worth it to save on the monthly.

Anyway, according to the Cellular One rep, by eliminating the
international dialing, Mobilnet has themselves broken the contract in
that you are getting less service than you signed up for. Then I
called Mobilnet and pointed out that I was unable to place an
international call the night before. She confirmed that due to "roamer
fraud", it was necessary to restrict international dialing. She
indicated that someone would call me back. Since this was obviously a
front line person with no horsepower, I saved the speech.

When I get that call back, I will point out that taking the easy way
out and penalizing the customer is the least acceptable option. Why
doesn't Cellular One have this problem? The answer could lie in the
fact that unlike Mobilnet, Cellular One allows equal access. The
customer deals directly with his long distance company and if there is
any LD dispute, Cellular One is left out of the discussion and not
holding the bag. My question will be to the Mobilnet rep, "Why doesn't
Mobilnet allow equal access?"

I haven't decided whether or not to actually switch carriers yet.
GTE's attitude, as usual, is reprehensible. On the other hand, I make
maybe 2 or 3 international calls per year and switching my TWO cell
phones is a pain in the rear. The MicroTac I can do myself but the
6000 has the wrong head for self-programming. Perhaps I'll make that
decision based on what this Mobilnet person says when my call is
returned tomorrow.

> [Moerator's Note: The more I think about it, the more I realize what a
> good deal Ameritech Cellular is: very inexpensive rates and an
> excellent signal. Re international dialing on GTE, I suspect you will
> still be able to zero plus the calls through the desired carrier; i.e.
> 01 + overseas number + calling card number.

Patrick, it must be nice living in civilization. You have superior
cellular service for a fraction of what we get reamed here. I just
called my deep throat at Pac*Bell and found out that my crossbar MAY be
replaced AS EARLY AS December, 1991. Think about that next time you
play with your CLASS features! You are correct: international can be
dialed '01+' and you get ka-bonged. And wonder of wonders, Sprint
didn't even block my test call to Japan through their 800 number from
my cell phone!


        John Higdon         |   P. O. Box 7648   |   [phone]
    [e-mail]     | San Jose, CA 95150 |       M o o !

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 12 Nov 90 19:20:52 PST
From: Lang Zerner <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: McCaw "Nationlink" vs. Follow Me Roaming
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Inc., Mt. View, CA


Pat--

In article <[e-mail]> you write:

>...I always give them my 'direct cell phone number' whenever they want to
>have a good time or buy something from me: 911-6278.  PAT]

Did you mean to put a smiley-face in there, or are you advocating the
tying up of 911 emergency trunks simply to have a good prank?
Especially after the recent discussion here raising similar concerns
about putting OUT-OF-ORDER stickers on COCOTs that violate PUC
regulations, I am surprised that you have presented such a potentially
damaging prank without mentioning the possible risk involved.

Pat, I've come to expect you to be vigilant when it comes to
responsible editing of comp.dcom.telecom messages (censoring numbers
which are inappropriate to publish, for example), so I would not be at
all surprised if I misunderstood what you wrote.  However, if your
intent really is to give your "victims" a little scare by having them
reach the police when they call about illegal activity, you could at
the very least give them the local NON-emergency number.

Be seeing you.

Lang Zerner


[Moderator's Note: I know drug dealers are for the most part among the
dumbest people alive. Very few of the 'street sales persons' -- whatever
their 'product line or service' -- have a brain equal to the one God
gave a goose; but do you think anyone is fooled by a message inviting
them to have a good time by calling 911-2368?  Yeah, you are probably
right, there are some.  PAT]

------------------------------

From: Dave Levenson <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Zone Maps are Desireable
Date: 12 Nov 90 23:34:20 GMT
Organization: Westmark, Inc., Warren, NJ, USA


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Andy
Jacobson) writes:

> Well, Cincinatti Bell (Not part of the old AT&T, and thus never
> actually divested) does just that in their directory. They also list a
> small number of prefixes right around the river that can be reached
> from either the Ohio(513) or Kentucky(606) side without dialing the
> area code. I assume they can do this as its all within their LATA.
> Rather a nifty service if you ask me ... I don't remember what the
> prefixes are, but I wonder if you could reach those numbers from
> outside the LATA by dialing either 513- or 606- area codes.

That has been done in many places, where a local calling area
straddles an area-code boundary.  I lived in the Washington DC metro
area for the first twenty years of my life.  Throughout that period,
(well, going back to when DDD and area codes first turned up!) the
local calling area included all of the DC (202), and portions of MD
(301) and VA (703).  Calls within the local calling area could always
be dialed with seven digits, even if you were crossing two area code
boundaries (such as from Prince George's County, MD (East of DC) to
McLean, VA (West of DC)).  It used to be possible to reach numbers in
the Maryland suburbs from far away by dialing either 301 or 202.

In the Washington area, that has just changed.  It is now necessary to
dial the area code when placing local calls which cross the area code
boundaries.  This frees up all of the prefixes in 202 for assignment
in the 301 area code.  It also frees up the prefixes in the nearby
Maryland suburbs for assignment within the District.  They haven't
needed an area code split, but they needed a dialing plan change to
accomodate growth.

There are probably lots of other areas where local calls which cross
an area code boundary can (or could) be dialed with seven digits.  Can
anybody point to other places where this is/was done.  Have others
changed as the DC has recently?


Dave Levenson        Internet: [e-mail]
Westmark, Inc.        UUCP: {uunet | rutgers | att}!westmark!dave
Warren, NJ, USA        AT&T Mail: !westmark!dave
Voice: 908 647 0900     Fax: [phone]

------------------------------

From: Mukesh Kacker <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: NSFNet Intercontinental ISO Transmission
Date: 12 Nov 90 18:33:39 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Mt. View, Ca.


>At the end of September, partners in the National Science Foundation
>Network (NSFNET) announced a succesful demonstration of
>intercontinental data transmission using the International Standards
>Organization Conectionless Network Protocol (ISO CLNP). The
>international exchange of ISO CLNP packets was demonstrated betweeen
>end systems at the NSFNET Network Operations Center in Ann Arbor and
>in Bonn, West Germany, using the NSFNET backbone infrastructure and
>the European Academic Supercomputer Initiative (EASInet) backbone.

>The prototype OSI (this, I think is a typo - it should be ISO)
           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>implementation is intended to provide wide area connectivity between
>OSI networks, including networks using the DECNet Phase V protocols.

This is not a typo. OSI stands for "Open Systems Interconnectioni"
which is broad suite of protocols for data transmission in computer
networks following a seven layer model. The other suite of protocols
normally used on NSFNET/Internet is called the Internet suite or
commonly as the TCP/IP suite.

ISO stands for "International Standards Organization" and is the
standards body under which the OSI suite of protocols is being
developed. However ISO is not limited to computer networking
standards.  The standards for the paper sizes used on your copier or
the nuts and bolts sizes on your furniture were probably developed
under ISO.

ISO CLNP referred above is one of the Layer 3 (Network Layer)
protocols in the OSI protocol suite. This set of standard
protocols(OSI) is available in products from most major computer
vendors including the ones made by my employer Sun Microsystems Inc.


Mukesh Kacker    OSI Engineer   Sun Microsystems Inc.
Mountain View, CA 94043    e-mail: [e-mail]

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V10 #814
******************************










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[To]:     [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V10 #815
BCC:
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Tue, 13 Nov 90 00:31:15 CST    Volume 10 : Issue 815

Inside This Issue:                         Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Re: Info Needed on Prodigy Service [Ed Hopper]
    Re: Info Needed on Prodigy Service [Mike Van Pelt]
    Re: Info Needed on Prodigy Service [Toby Nixon]
    Re: Genie Star*Services [Mike Van Pelt]
    Re: Saudi Arabia's Telephone System [Hakan Winkvist]
    Re: *Long* Phone Calls -- What Does Ma Think? [John Higdon]
    Re: A Phone Set Wiring Question [Vance Shipley]
    First Issue: AT&T ACCUNET DataBriefs [Peter M. Weiss]
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Ed Hopper <[e-mail]>
Date: Mon, 12 Nov 90 07:23:18 CST
Organization: Ed Hopper's BBS - Houston, Texas 713-997-7575


[e-mail] (John Higdon) writes:

> I have a question: is it true that the Prodigy interface doesn't allow
> any of the material that comes in online to be printed or saved as
> files? If this is the case, then what ever benefits over and above an
> online "shopping channel" the system may possess would be pretty well
> negated.

> I ask this after having just seen a Prodigy commercial that touts an
> online encyclopedia. If you can't print anything, then I would assume
> that you would have to have an awfully good memory or be able to write
> fast. Is it all as bogus as it appears? Do you "really gotta get this
> thing"?

I tried Prodigy during its intro to Houston.  True to the spirit (and
a mean spirit it is) of Prodigy, you can print what "they" want you to
print.  At the bottom of each screen are several option buttons.  If
the prodigy.gods decided that you should be able to retrieve
information, your airline schedule on SAABRE, for example, a "print"
button appears, you can select that option and print the screen (as
ASCII text).  An MS-DOS print screen command didn't work, I believe.

But then, what did you expect from IBM?

After getting disgusted with Prodigy and still wanting a good source
of wire service news and SAABRE access, I signed up with the online
service of the Fort Worth Star Telegram, StarText.  Also $9.95 a
month, but you pay toll.  Of course, if you're in Seattle, etc. the
local news in Fort Worth is not of much interest.  It was very useful,
however, during the Panama invasion to dial up StarText and capture
and print out the latest AP story.  I'd post it on the (cork) bulletin
board at work as they came in.  I wish more papers did this sort of
thing.


Ed Hopper

------------------------------

From: Mike Van Pelt <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Info Needed on Prodigy Service
Date: 13 Nov 90 02:33:04 GMT
Reply-To: Mike Van Pelt <[e-mail]>
Organization: Video 7 + G2 = Headland Technology


I've got Prodigy; mostly because my sister-in-law in Denver has it,
and I save more than $10/mo in phone bills for conversations between
her and my wife.  With the new charges, that may no longer be the
case.

The new charge of $ .25/message over 30 per month starts in January.
This is made worse by the fact that email is limited to 48 lines, at
about 40 characters per line.  Yecch.  Ginny and Barb typically send
four or five letters per session to get everything said that they want
to say.  Then, whoever's receiving the message has to go through all
manner of contortions to get the messages in chronological order.
Mail is in your mailbox in "Last in, first out" order, and Prodigy
provides a "NEXT MAIL" button, but no "PREVIOUS MAIL", so you have to
go all the way back to the mail menu and manually select the previous
message.

I've glanced at a couple of the bulletin boards, but it is so
*G*R*O*T*E*S*Q*U*E*L*Y* *P*A*I*N*F*U*L*L*Y* *S*L*O*W* that I haven't
looked at them in months.

I joined a mailing list at one point, but quickly gave that up.
Again, it's **SLOW**, and very inflexible.  Everyone on the mailing
list has to create a "mailing list" alias specifying everyone on the
list.  And again, you can not easily read mail in chronological order.

The $ .25/message charge doesn't only affect mailing lists; my
sister-in-law sends several messages per day to various "modem pals."

As for printing, you can print screens -- if, and only if, Prodigy saw
fit to equip that screen with a "PRINT" button, or enabled the "COPY"
function on the Jump Screen.  You can print out your stock quotes, and
the encyclopedia entries are printable.

You can not save to disk with the Prodigy software, but there are
shareware utilities that get around this.  I sometimes run a TSR that
diverts all print into a file, which works if the screens you're
interested in are printable.  There is also a utility that will print
an "unprintable" screen, but I haven't used it.

In general, if you're technically sophisticated enough to be reading
TELECOM Digest, then you'll find that Prodigy is an insult to your
intelligence.  It resembles most of all those TeleText things in the
airports.

So, I'm trying to convince my in-laws to get a GEnie account or a Unix
EMAIL account.  If and when I'm sucessful, the Prodigy account goes.

On the plus side, Ginny would never touch the computer until we got
Prodigy.  Now she's playing games on the PC, and even using Microsoft
Word.


Mike Van Pelt
Headland Technology/Video 7
 ...ames!vsi1!v7fs1!mvp

------------------------------

From: Toby Nixon <hayes![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Info Needed on Prodigy Service
Date: 12 Nov 90 17:00:35 GMT
Organization: Hayes Microcomputer Products, Norcross, GA


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Glenn F.
Leavell) writes:

> If much of this is true, it raises some possibly interesting
> questions: If Prodigy is returning messages to the sender based on
> content, does this mean that they are reading all messages sent on the
> system?  Is this "right"?  Is this the same as censorship?  Becuase
> Prodigy is a private service, are they allowed to censor non-offensive
> material?  But, they are using a common-carrier (the phone) as their
> only access method.  Does this have any bearing on the situation?

I am not speaking for Hayes here!

Prodigy doesn't read mail sent directly from one subscriber to
another.  However, all forums/newsgroups/SIGs/(whatever they're called
on Prodigy) are MODERATED, just like comp.dcom.telecom, and the
moderator can reject any message they deem to be inappropriate.

What happened in this case is that these folks' messages inciting a
boycott were getting rejected by the moderators, so they (the
agitators) started mass mailing messages to other users individually.
When the recipients of these messages complained to Prodigy
management, the senders were expelled.

It's censorship, yes, but because it's not done by the government it
is completely legal.  There's no law against private censorship in
this country; you don't have unrestricted rights to newspapers, radio,
TV, etc.  Using the phone as an access method doesn't change this at
all; the phone company isn't doing the censoring.

I think that since Prodigy moderates their forums/SIGs, they accept
responsibility for the content.  That puts them outside the realm of
being a common carrier -- they shouldn't receive the protections a
common carrier receives, but they also aren't required to carry
anything regardless of content.  Prodigy, after all, isn't a regulated
monopoly with exclusive right to serve a particular territory, like
your local exchange carrier.  You CAN choose to use other services.

As for their kicking people off the system for broadcasting individual
messages: if their rules say you can't do that, then they're within
their rights to terminate service. Compuserve has strict rules against
employees of other information services recruiting users via
Compuserve messages, too, and they'd probably squelch any public
criticism that was as repetative and harrassing as (alledgedly) were
these Prodigy messages.

All those angry ex-Prodigy subscribers are perfectly welcome to move
their business to Internet, FidoNet, Compuserve, Genie, or just about
anyplace else. _I_ did, as soon as I got the first bill from Prodigy
following the free introductory period.


Toby Nixon, Principal Engineer    | Voice   [phone]  Telex 151243420
Hayes Microcomputer Products Inc. | Fax     [phone]  CIS   70271,404
P.O. Box 105203                   | UUCP uunet!hayes!tnixon  AT&T    !tnixon
Atlanta, Georgia  30348  USA      | Internet       hayes![e-mail]

------------------------------

From: Mike Van Pelt <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Genie Star*Services
Date: 13 Nov 90 03:23:13 GMT
Reply-To: Mike Van Pelt <[e-mail]>
Organization: Video 7 + G2 = Headland Technology


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] writes:

>   Since Prodigy has come up recently in the Digest, does anybody have
>any experience with the new Genie Star*Services - a $4.95/mo flat rate
>competitor to Prodigy. Offers a subset of regular Genie services
>(email specifically excluded as yet, I believe). Besides being cheaper

Email is specifically *IN*cluded.  For your flat $4.95/mo, you have
unlimited Email, and unlimited use of the things on Star*Services,
which includes most of the "chat" type Roundtables.  What is excluded
is mostly (1) file X/Y/Zmodem upload/download, (2) Realtime
Conferencing (Like Compu$erve's "CB Simulator") and (3) all of the
computer-related Roundtables.

There's nothing different you have to do to access the non-flat-rate
services.  Just remember that when you enter one of those sections,
the clock starts ticking.

>I'm considering recommending it because of the speed considerations:
>none of the graphics that slows down Prodigy and would like to hear
>about actual comparisons.

There isn't any comparison.  It is vastly faster, as it's ASCII, not
some graphics protocol.  You can use your favorite terminal program.
The commands might be confusing to a computer novice, but GEnie has a
"Smart front-end" called "Aladdin" which takes care of all that for
Email and Roundtable BBS'ing.

Configuring Aladdin would probably be confusing for a computer novice,
but using it is very simple.  Start up Aladdin, hit "1" for pass one,
and go out to dinner while it calls in and retrieves your email and
all new messages on your roundtables, then hangs up.  When you return,
read and reply offline with a "mini-wordstar" type editor, then hit
"2" for pass two, and go watch the Simpsons while your messages are
sent.  Very nice.  I mostly use just the Star*Services, but Aladdin
would be even more of a win if you're using the $6/hour services.

Aladdin is free, except for the cost to download it via Zmodem or
whatever, and there is no restriction on handing it out to others, so
it may be available on your local BBS.  You need version 1.30 for the
new Genie command structure.

I just hope the flat rate isn't a "bait-and-switch" ... Even if it is,
and they go back to $6/hour, I think that with Aladdin it will be
cheaper than Prodigy, no matter what your Email usage is.

A disadvantage is that you can't use it between 7AM and 6PM, or they
sock you for $18/hour.


Mike Van Pelt
Headland Technology/Video 7
 ...ames!vsi1!v7fs1!mvp

------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Hakan Winkvist)
Subject: Re: Saudi Arabia's Telephone System
Reply-To: [e-mail] (Hakan Winkvist)
Organization: Communication Systems, Lund Institute of Technology, Sweden
Date: Mon, 12 Nov 90 09:15:22 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Henry Troup) writes:
X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 792, Message 7 of 10

>Mike Doughney writes:

>> It almost looks like American workers had a hand in its production;

>Bell Canada built and used to operate the Saudi phone system, on
>contract for the government.  I think that the latest operations
>contract went to someone else.

>So the central office switches will be a mix of 1-ESS and DMS-100/200,
>as my memory of the Saudi connection is that it goes back twenty years
>or so.

In Saudi Arabia existed a few years back following number of switches
in the public telephone network:

   4      Ericsson     ARE 13     transit switches
around 60 Ericsson     AXE 10     as both local and transit switches.
                                  Some of the transit switches are used
                                  to switch cellular mobile traffic
                                  according to the NMT-450 system.
around 10 Ericsson     ARE 11     local switches.
          Philips      PRX        local switches, mostly rural.
          Philips/AT&T PRX-D/ESS5 Local switches
  10      Hitachi                 local containerized switches.
                                  (Old crossbar switches)
   2      AT&T         ESS1A      Used at the international airports in
                                  Jeddah and Riyadh.

Hakan Winkvist

------------------------------

Organization: Green Hills and Cows
Reply-To: John Higdon <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: *Long* Phone Calls -- What Does Ma Think?
Date: 12 Nov 90 02:14:54 PST (Mon)
From: John Higdon <[e-mail]>


"Andrew M. Boardman" <[e-mail]> writes:

> "permanent" phone call for one's connection.  If one utilises untimed
> service of some sort, the economic advantage in enormous.  My
> questions:

>   - What would one's local phone company think of this?

Pac*Bell used this as one of the justifications for charging for all
business local calls on a timed basis. Long data calls were
specifically singled out.

>   - In the expected case that they aren't too fond of losing
>     out on the megabucks for a leased line, do they have
>     legal ground telling you to stop?

In the case of California, this would only apply to residence service.
I recently discussed this hypothetically with an associate. Telco
might not be able to tell you to stop, but you can be sure that a)
they would eventually notice it; and b) they would find a surefire way
to regrade the service to business.

The telco may not take action against a single person or company, but
you can bet that a number of "permanent" unmeasured local connections
would probably send telco packing to the nearest PUC to get flat-rate
service discontinued.

>   - Since some uucp sites have so much traffic that they can
>     spend days on one call anyway, has anyone ever heard of
>     previous telco complaints in this area?

I have never heard of this happening. I am familiar with some larger
sites in the area, and while the modems may be off hook a major
portion of the time, it is never with one call.  The longest UUCP
calls last on the order of 20 minutes. Besides, a business would be
measured and telco couldn't care less -- the meter would be running.


        John Higdon         |   P. O. Box 7648   |   [phone]
    [e-mail]     | San Jose, CA 95150 |       M o o !

------------------------------

From: Vance Shipley <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: A Phone Set Wiring Question
Organization: SwitchView - The Linton Technology Group
Date: Mon, 12 Nov 90 17:44:22 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> "Dave W. Hamaker" <[e-mail]>
writes:

>The phone seems to be made by COMDIAL and the black wire was connected
>to a terminal labeled "L1," while the yellow wire was connected to a
>terminal labeled "G."  I can give more detailed info on the device if
>I know what to look for.  Any ideas?

The telephone has been set up for A&A1 control.  This is to interwork
with a key telephone system, see last months postings on A&A1.


vance

------------------------------

Organization: Penn State University
Date: Monday, 12 Nov 1990 12:11:49 EST
From: "Peter M. Weiss" <[e-mail]>
Subject: First Issue: AT&T ACCUNET DataBriefs


"Welcome to ACCUNET DataBriefs!  This is the first issue of our new
quarterly newsletter dedicated to the AT&T ACCUNET Family of Digital
Services." reads the introductory paragraph.

Contents of the first issue:

Innovative Center Optimizes Network Design
Oil Company Gets More For Its Money
Frame Relay Speeds Data Transfer
Centers Focus on Service-Specific Rules
Linking Distributed Information
Departments
Interview
Product Update

For more information, telephone: [phone] ext 381


Peter M. Weiss                    | pmw1 @ PSUADMIN  |  vm.psu.edu | psuvm
31 Shields Bldg - PennState Univ.   University Park, PA USA 16802

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V10 #815
******************************










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From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
[To]:     [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V10 #816
BCC:
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Tue, 13 Nov 90 01:52:38 CST    Volume 10 : Issue 816

Inside This Issue:                         Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    ... And it Keeps on Ticking [Joel Shprentz]
    Modifying the NANP? (was: What Happens When 800 Fills Up) [Fred Goldstein]
    Charging For Incomplete Calls (was: Cellular Sleaze) [Henry E. Schaffer]
    Are Cellular Calls Free to Landline Customers, or Not? [Michael C. Berch]
    900 Number Junk Mail [Danial Hamilton]
    George Bush Pushing 900 Numbers [Steve Forrette]
    CID Decoding Hardware Available [Bob Falcon]
    Special Section on Communications Technology (WSJ - Nov 9) [Werner Uhrig]
    Why Are They Called 'Generics'? [Jeff Wasilko]
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Joel Shprentz <[e-mail]>
Subject: ... And it Keeps on Ticking
Date: Mon, 12 Nov 90 10:17:39 EST


Following the good advice from you and Jim Rees, I got my Western
Union clock running this weekend.

F cells are a little hard to come by, so I bought two alkaline D cells
with a holder and wired them to the motor solenoid and lamp circuits.
The original battery wiring was not connected, so I'm not sure I got
the polarity right.  It works.

The clockworks were in good shape.  I wound and unwound the spring
several times to spin off the dust (there wasn't much).  The minute
hand's final gear was off by one notch; I adjusted it to reset to :00
instead of :03.

The clock case was covered with years of grime.  A little cleaner and
elbow grease made it presentable again.  The glass rattled in the case
because the clips inside were loose.  I replaced each clip's dried
rubber with foam weatherstripping.

The clock has been running well since Sunday afternoon.  It seems to
keep good time -- I'll measure its accuracy during the next few days.
The spring rewind motor runs for about 13 seconds each hour.

Jim is sending me his circuit to generate hourly pulses from a cheap
digital clock.  The Naval Observatory is a local call, so I'm hoping
to use my computer to synchronize the clock to its original time
standard.


Joel Shprentz                   Phone:  [phone]
BDM International, Inc.         Uucp:  {rutgers,vrdxhq,rlgvax}!bdmrrr!shprentz
7915 Jones Branch Drive         Internet:  [e-mail]
McLean, Virginia  22102


[Moderator's Note: Your batteries won't last very long, unfortunately.
Why don't you instead find a little AC/DC transformer which puts out
about 3 volts at say, 500 m.a.  Plug the transformer in the wall and
run thin wire up behind the clock, and use it to power the motor which
winds the spring. Also, rewire the contact which makes the little red
lightbulb light (normally when the setting circuit is powered) so that
it lights for the 13 seconds or so when the clock winds once an hour.
Finally, by removing the cotter pin you'll find in the 'finger' which
the setting circuit uses to jerk the minute hand into place, you'll
change the grace period for setting from two minutes on either side of
the hour to about 29 minutes on either side of the hour! (It still has
trouble if the hand is right on the six.)  Good luck, and enjoy it!  PAT]

------------------------------

From: "Fred R. Goldstein" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Modifying the NANP? (was: What Happens When 800 Fills Up)
Date: 12 Nov 90 16:40:12 GMT
Organization: Digital Equipment Corp., Littleton MA USA


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] writes:

>I think the problem posed by this question goes beyond the issue of
>just 800 numbers:

>  The escalating splitting of municipalities into multiple area codes,
>the proliferation of faxs and cellular phones that will exacerbate
>this suggest that the once adequate phone numbering system is getting
>out of hand and is unequal to the load of modern telecommunications
>possibilities. The resulting confusion of phone numbers versus
>geographical areas occasioned by the splitting and the uncertainty of
>charges is just once manifestation of it.

>  What are the telephone companies, research institutions, regulatory
>agencies, or anyone else doing to address this. To what extent may
>ISDN provide some solutions to this (I can think of a few).

Jeff points out a potentially serious problem.  The North American
Numbering Plan is very expandable and flexible, but the expansion is
occuring more rapidly than (I suspect) was originally foreseen, and
it's generating a higher pain level than the public seems happy with.

Right now the plan says that NPAs are split when they get crowded.
Thus West LA gets 310, Bronx gets 908, etc.  Soon (after 1995) we'll
be able to have NPA codes like 260, 420, etc.; these REQUIRE strict 1+
dialing rules to avoid ambiguity.  (Some small NPAs have no NN0 codes,
which gives them a little slack.)

A possible solution, which to the best of my knowledge has not been
seriously entertained by Bellcore (yet), is to use "overlay" NPAs.
This is hinted at by 908, which gets Bronx plus Manhattan's cellular
phones.  An overlay NPA is geographically coterminous with another
code, but comes from the NNX space (post-1995, of course).

Residential and POTS numbers can be allocated from the remaining
"traditional" pool; these aren't the ones causing the exhaustion.
Business can pay extra for numbers in the traditional NPA, but default
DID rates get you overlay numbers, which are also used for cellular,
PBX trunks (beyond the listed one?), fax machines, data services, etc.

Then we can stop splitting NPAs.  Existing numbers remain intact, in
general, but growth gets new numbers.  The last few NYX codes (i.e.,
710, 810, 909, 410) can be reserved for areas that really do need to
split, after overlays reduce demand for current-NPA numbers.

I wonder if the idea will sell.  (The NANP discussion at ANSI T1S1
ended last year, due to lack of consensus, so I can't bring it up
there.)


Fred R. Goldstein              Digital Equipment Corp., Littleton MA
[e-mail]   voice: [phone]
 Do you think anyone else on the planet would share my opinions, let
 alone a multi-billion dollar corporation?

------------------------------

From: "Henry E. Schaffer" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Charging For Incomplete Calls (was: Cellular Sleaze)
Reply-To: "Henry E. Schaffer" <[e-mail]>
Organization: NCSU Computing Center
Date: Mon, 12 Nov 90 21:24:48 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> Jack.Winslade@f666.n285.z1.
fidonet.org writes:
X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 811, Message 6 of 11

>o Unbundling of charges and nickle-diming.  Contrary to the fact that
>  yes, it may USE certain resources, since day one, it's been
>  CUSTOMARY in the telephone industry NOT to charge for such things
>  as busy signals, no-answers, call setup time, etc.  ...

>[Moderator's Note: ...  I'd look for
>the day to come when telco begins charging for incomplete call
>attempts just like some of the cell guys do now, saying it uses up
>resources to attempt to make the connection, etc.  PAT]

  There has been a custom, rooted in history, of not charging for
events which could be the fault of the phone company.  This saves an
enormous amount of controversy and wear and tear on good will of the
telco.  Dialing and receiving a reorder does indicate use of some
telco resources, but also may indicate a telco problem (e.g.,
insufficient resources, fault in switching, ... .)

Charging for this would cause resentment far beyond the amount of
revenue it would generate.  An example of this is the public attitude
towards charges for no answer (due to lack of supervision available to
some of the LD providers.)

  Because of this I predict that the telco and cell providers will all
charge only for services actually (sucessfully) rendered.


henry schaffer  n c state univ


[Moderator's Note: There have been many 'customs rooted in history'
where the telcos in general, and the Bell System in particular are
concerned. The judge tossed all that out in one fell swoop. History
and traditions be damned, you might say. In the whole industry nothing
works the way it used to. I'd like to think you are correct; it is
very important than you be correct ... but I think we are going to see
more and more rip-offs of an unsophisticated public. I do not mean
Digest readers; I mean John Q. Public.  PAT]

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 12 Nov 90 18:28:06 -0800
From: "Michael C. Berch" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Are Cellular Calls Free to Landline Customers, or Not?


I have read, from time to time, messages in TELECOM Digest which
assert that it is supposed to be toll-free for a landline telephone
subscriber with flat-rate service to call any cellular subscriber in
whatever the regional cellular calling area is supposed to be.  The
only charge is airtime to the cellular subscriber.

Indeed, I call a particular cellular subscriber often (a member of my
staff) and have never been charged, either from my home or office.  (I
assume the office calls, being business service, are billed as Zone
1.)  However, last month I called him from a coin phone (PacBell, not
a COCOT) and was told the call was not free.  I provided a calling
card number and was connected.  Afterward, I dialed the PacBell
operator, explained my impression of the tariff, and asked for credit.
She demurred, but I convinced a supervisor (or so I thought) and was
toldI would get credit.  Needless to say, there was no credit on my
next bill, and the call was charged as a standard call to an Oakland
NXX.

Can anyone shed some light on this?  Does it matter with whom the
cellular customer has a contract (out here, GTE Mobilnet vs. Cellular
One)?  Are coin phones treated differently than normal residential or
business service?


Michael C. Berch
[e-mail] / uunet!presto.ig.com!mcb / ames!bionet!mcb


[Moderator's Note: In Chicago, calls to cellular numbers are 'local'
calls, meaning one untimed unit charge applies from residence phones.
From IBT payphones you still pay 25 cents.  PAT]

------------------------------

From: Danial Hamilton <motcid![e-mail]>
Subject: 900 Number Junk Mail
Date: 9 Nov 90 14:11:51 GMT
Organization: Motorola Inc., Cellular Infrastructure Div., Arlington Hgts, IL


About a month ago, out of curiosity and a certain amount of naivete
about the purpose of these companies, my wife called a 900 number in
response to a card that came in the mail.

I don't remember what the offer was, but my wife ended up disconnecting
the call when she realized the value of the offer would soon be
exceeded by the cost of the call.

Anyway, we are now being deluged with similar offerings in the mail.
I mean we are getting these things about three or four times a week.
Most of them are postcards that say we have "Definitely won one of the
following prizes ... Please call 1 900 xxx xxxx to claim your prize."

There is always a one inch square that contains about 500 words in
three point type, disclaiming the need to make a call ("You can mail
us this card, but of course that will take weeks and weeks, so why not
call and get your prize NOW!") and listing the prize odds as
confusingly as possible, but always 1:1000000 for the cash prize and
1:1 for the junk prize.

The cards aren't really a problem, they come in the mail, I drop them
in the trash.  I just wondered if the one time response flagged us as
suckers for this kind of junk or is everyone getting flodded with
these offers?

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 12 Nov 90 04:18:03 -0800
From: Steve Forrette <[e-mail]>
Subject: George Bush Pushing 900 Numbers


The other day, while watching the election returns on TV, President
Bush came on the screen.  He was asking for the public's support of
the USO.  To make a donation, the viewer was asked to call a 900
number (Three or so dollars a call, I think).  I suppose that it is
the Commander-In-Chief's job to generate support for the armed
services, but something just doesn't seem right about the President of
the United States advertising a 900 number.

------------------------------

Subject: CID Decoding Hardware Available
Date: 11 Nov 90 05:02:50 EST (Sun)
From: Bob Falcon <[e-mail]>


Hi Pat and all,

This is from  NOV. 5, 1990 {PC WEEK} :
[page 73]


        Caller ID+Plus To Tap ID Phone Service

   A small Texas developer plans to tap into the telephone business
application market next month with a contact-management system that
uses [the] phone companies' new "caller ID" services.

   Caller ID+Plus, from Rochelle Communications Inc., consists of a
hardware device that connects a PC's serial port [to] with a telephone
[line] to access the caller-ID service.

That service, formerly known as Custom Local Area Signaling Service
[CLASS] ,automatically identifies an incoming call's phone number.  It
is currently offered for local customers in five states and the
District of Columbia.

   If the caller's number has been stored on Caller ID+Plus' DOS based
database software, a file is automatically called up on-screen that
gives a user access to three windows: one that includes the caller's
name, company and address; one that contains a list of prior contacts
with the caller; and one that contains general information and any
notes taken about the caller, said Gilbert Amine, the company's
president.  A new file can be created to store the number of a
first-time caller, he said.

   The $249 package is slated for formal introduction at Comdex/Fall
next week.  It will be available late this month or in early December
directly from Rochelle and through outlets, said Amine.

Rochelle Communications, of Austin Texas,  can be reached at
[phone].

                          --------------

I thought this would be of interest to the readers of the Digest here.
$249 may not be 'cheap' but it gives you the hardware to *PLAY* with.
And who knows , someone may even find the software that comes with it
useful <Big Grin>.


Catchya later,

Bob Falcon [ Co-Sysop : Turbo 386 Remote Access ]

[ (1:273/906) @Fidonet ] [ [phone] HST/DS ]
internet: [e-mail]   or   [e-mail]
uucp: [backbonesite]!bpa!alba2l!rescon!bfalcon

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 12 Nov 1990 7:09:28 CST
From: Werner Uhrig <[e-mail]>
Reply-To: Werner Uhrig <[e-mail]>
Subject: Special Section on Communications Technology (WSJ - Nov 9)


Friday's {Wall Street Journal} contained a special TECHNOLOGY section.
The contents are listed below.  Reprints are available for $2 from:

                  TECHNOLOGY
               Dow Jones & Company Inc.
               200 Burnett Road
             Chicopee, Mass 01021



              Table of Contents

OPENERS

5    FACTS AND FIGURES
    Telecommunications trivia - from cellular phones to Yellow Pages
    to fax machines

CUTTING THE CORD

6    WIRELESS WORLD
    A telephone in everyone's pocket: That's the daunting goal of the
    communications industry

16    NO VACANCIES
    The wireless revolution faces a major obstacle: There's no room
    on the frequency spectrum

18    ROCKET TO REALITY
    The hopes of the commercial-launch business plummet back to earth

21    PERPLEXING PRICING
    Cellular-phone users find that talk isn't cheap, and they're not
    sure why

SIDE EFFECTS

23    NO PLACE TO HIDE
    The dark side of the telecommunications revolution: You're never
    out of touch.

27    PHONY POWER
    Technology leads to new absurdities in a Hollywood obsessed by the
    telephone

34    THE PARTY LINE
    When you speak on a cellular phone, the world may be listening in

39    MISTERY VOICE
    The person who answers your call to an 800 number probably knows more
    about you than you realize

TOMORROW

42    FUTURE PHONES
    Someday your telephone won't ring, it will shout the name of the
    caller;  it will also listen to you and obey your command

45    MOTOROLA ON THE MOVE
    The company is pushing a 77-satellite cellular system that would
    serve remote areas around the world

48    NINTENDO NATION
    The Japanese company's video-game players may be linked in a vast
    network

52    BABY BELLS GROW UP
    They await a key ruling before resuming their lobbying effort to
    win freedom from Judge Greene's control

ESSAY

54    THE GREAT COMMUNICATOR
    You're in luck!  Whereever you are, I can find you!

------------------------------

From: Jeff Wasilko <[e-mail]>
Date: Mon, 12 Nov 1990 17:59:37 EST
Subject: Why Are They Called 'Generics'?


As I was catching up on my Digest-reading, a thought occured to me --
why are switch programs called 'generics'?

Thanks,

Jeff Wasilko
RIT Communications

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V10 #816
******************************










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From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
[To]:     [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V10 #817
BCC:
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Wed, 14 Nov 90 01:00:42 CST    Volume 10 : Issue 817

Inside This Issue:                         Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Re: Phone Numbers Indexed by Street Address [Barton F. Bruce]
    Re: Real-Time Information Over Networks [Barton F. Bruce]
    Re: Need Help With Scheduling Software [Bill Crane]
    Re: Request Info Sources About ISDN [Eric Smith]
    Re: Centel PBX - Strange Codes? [Lars Poulsen]
    Re: George Bush Pushing 900 Numbers  [Werner Uhrig]
    Re: AT Bus Hardware For ISDN [Ed Hopper]
    Re: *Long* Phone Calls - What Does Ma Think [Christopher Ambler]
    Call Waiting in Twin Cities Area [Kevin Bluml]
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: "Barton F. Bruce" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Phone Numbers Indexed by Street Address
Date: 13 Nov 90 01:43:49 EDT
Organization: Cambridge Computer Associates, Inc.


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (William M
Gilroy) writes:

> I was wondering how and where I would obtain a listing by street of
> every telephone number on that street. I want something like this:

With NYNEX's extremely overpriced CDROM based product, one can simply
scan up and down a street. Great fun finding neighbors you never knew
you had.

I don't know what the retreival capabilities of the more reasonably
priced and wider area CDROM listings are.

There is a YELLOW PAGES CDROM that doesn't mention street capability,
but come to think of it that would be GREAT! I often know exactly
WHERE something is, but don't know if it is listed under JUNK or
ELECTRONICS or USED-COMPUTERS, and a street scan would let me
recognise the name or category. Ask the folks at 1-800-45-SPEED for
info if CDROM business listings are of interest.

------------------------------

From: "Barton F. Bruce" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Real-Time Information Over Networks
Date: 13 Nov 90 02:03:19 EDT
Organization: Cambridge Computer Associates, Inc.


In article <[e-mail]>, ingr!b11!b11![e-mail]
(Tony Goodloe) writes:

> I'm looking for reference works on doing things like voice and
> realtime data transmission over non-deterministic networks like
> ethernet. Anyone have any pointers?

I am very interested, too, but am looking for working hardware.

The first such thing I would like to find would be a little butt-set
like device capable of plugging into a thin-net BNC, an 10baseT jack,
or an AUI connector on a tranceiver. The simple one should only be
able to 'dial' its mate, presumably elsewhere in the building and
plugged into a PBX extension. One could go off hook and dial from any
wiring closet.

The second device would be much more sophisticated, and would make use
of enough compression to make using several such devices over a
typical office's 56kb internet connection quite feasable. Imagine
signature lines including a phone/voice-mail address that looked like
140.186.64.37!

Anyone know of any?

------------------------------

From: chara!daysinns![e-mail]
Date: Tue, 13 Nov 90 16:13:38 EST
Subject: Re: Need Help With Scheduling Software
Organization: Days Inns of America


In article <[e-mail]> you write:
X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 811, Message 8 of 11

>Has anyone had any experience with a scheduler for ACD staff that is
>both effective and efficient?  The product we are currently struggling
>with is called NAMES-10, it's an MS-DOS based package marketed by
>AT&T.

My sympathy is with you.  We also use(d) NAMES.

>It's extremely difficult to use and our supervisory staff spends an
>excessive amount of time attempting to get it to meet our needs.  We
>have a situation here where the tail (software) is wagging the dog
>(organization).

Yes, that describes NAMES perfectly.

>Any and all recommendations are welcome.  Within reason, money is no
>issue at this point in time.  We need something that will help us
>cover our volumes effectively, without dooming our supervisors to
>endless attempts to 'fool' the system into meeting our needs.

Let me tell you what not to use.

We have also used EMPS (marketed by Cybernetics Systems International
in Miami).  EMPS has a much better user interface than NAMES, so its
easier to use, but the schedules it produces aren't worth a whole lot
by our estimation.  We scrapped EMPS in favor of NAMES, and are now
scrapping NAMES as well.

FYI, I work at the reservation center for Days Inns.  We have an AT&T
System 85 in Atlanta supporting 200 reservations agents, and two other
System 85's in Knoxville supporting 400 more agents.  Our center in
Knoxville is about to purchase MPS by TCS.  I have not worked with
TCS, but I saw a demonstration that was given by one of their
salesmen.  I have some reservations about the product, but the folks
in Knoxville were willing to go along with it.

Two of us here in the Atlanta office are currently writing our own
package (This software is being developed with our own resources away
from the company).  We feel especially qualified, having viewed the
shortcomings of two other packages.  Our product should be ready
within four months, at which time we intend to market it.

Just out of curiosity, what kind of setup do you have (how many agent
positions, what kind of hardware, anticipated call volume, type of
operation)?  (Our product is not ready to be marketed, I'm just
curious).  Also, could I dig up the name of a TCS representative and
send it your way?


Bill Crane        ...!gatech!daysinns!bill      [e-mail]
Days Inns of America Inc., Atlanta GA

------------------------------

From: Eric Smith <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Request Info Sources About ISDN
Date: 13 Nov 90 03:19:44 GMT
Organization: Frobozz Magic Widget Company


In article <[e-mail]>  arnold%audiofax.com@mathcs.
emory.edu (Arnold Robbins) writes:

> However, my experience has been that AT&T is *SO* large that finding
> someone who knows what you want so that you can order it is next to
> impossible.

No kidding!  I want to get information on AT&T 7500 series ISDN data
sets and voice terminals, and possibly to buy some.  I called AT&T
Direct.  They never heard of them.  They said that the 7500 series are
"probably obsolete."

I called AT&T Business Telephone Systems & Facsimile.  I called AT&T
PBX & Data Systems.  I called the local AT&T Business Marketing Sales
Office.  People at each of these offices denied the existence of any
7500 series devices, although I suspect that some of the people I
spoke to were using them.  I know the local AT&T Microelectronics
office has them.

Each AT&T employee gave me another number to try.  Eventually I spoke
to one woman a second time, and she tried harder to help me.  She was
able to come up with a ComCode for the 7507 (105-678-304), at a price
of $1080, but she didn't have any information on it, and AT&T's
national parts center (or whatever it is called) doesn't carry them.

The Business Telephone Systems people and the Business Marketing Sales
Office people didn't want to talk to me because I don't own an AT&T
PBX, or have an account with AT&T.

If I were an AT&T stock holder, I would be very upset that they are
trying very hard NOT to sell their products.  Anybody got a good
suggestion for a *responsible* person at AT&T to whom I can write?


Eric L. Smith      Opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those
[e-mail]   of my employer, friends, family, computer, or even me!  :-)

------------------------------

From: Lars Poulsen <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Centel PBX - Strange Codes?
Organization: Rockwell CMC
Date: Tue, 13 Nov 90 08:11:40 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail]
(Gil Kloepfer Jr.) writes:

>At the office, we have a Centel PBX system. ...
>If I dial '87' on the phone, I get a second dial tone.  This isn't the
>same as dialling '9' for an outside line -- it also sounds like a
>standard dial tone.  However, it performs some funky dialing depending
>on what I do.  For example -- if I dial NNX-YYYY-111-1111 it seems to
>dial the standard NNX-YYYY -- but I do need to dial the 7 ones after
>it.

This sounds like the access code to a software defined network. Is
your facility a pampered engineering unit in an otherwise cheapskate
large corporation ?

The data communications company that I work for, is owned by Rockwell,
which is a large aerospace company. We recently were merged into
Rockwell's MCI based software defined network. Where we used to dial
long distance the same way as local (just hit "9" for an apparently
outside dial tone, which was really generated by the PBX so that the
numbers dialled could be validated/translated/routed), this will now
only work for 911, 411 and a specified lit of local prefixes.
Everything else must use the "COMNET" access, which is very much like
the above.  The "111-1111" corresponds to our personal access code,
which is like a calling card. Our facility gets a phone bill from
corporate telecom each month for each access code.

So instead of going straight into MCI's local POP (point of presence),
we now send them to Rockwell's switch in Seal Beach (near Long Beach)
where the access code is validated, and then they are splashed to MCI
down there. The obvious bad part is that it's a pain in the butt to
remember yet another code. The good part is that we will increase our
volume discount from about 15% to about 20% by joining a larger pool.

My guess, is that when you dial as above, the calls get charged to
some other division of your corporate parent. 111-1111 should not have
been enabled; it's probably owned by the telecom unit as a test code.


Lars Poulsen, SMTS Software Engineer
CMC Rockwell  [e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 13 Nov 1990 3:55:59 CST
From: Werner Uhrig <[e-mail]>
Reply-To: Werner Uhrig <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: George Bush Pushing 900 Numbers


[ Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 816, Message 6 of 9 ]

> The other day, while watching the election returns on TV, President
> Bush came on the screen.  He was asking for the public's support of
> the USO.  To make a donation, the viewer was asked to call a 900
> number (Three or so dollars a call, I think).  I suppose that it is
> the Commander-In-Chief's job to generate support for the armed
> services, but something just doesn't seem right about the President of
> the United States advertising a 900 number.

Did you watch his LIPS ??!!??  :-))
(It May have been dubbed in after he was told to say 1-800-...)

I keep seeing a sleezy 1-900 ad in the CBS Nightwatch program since a
couple of nights ago also, but I failed to take note to see if it is
the same ad Bush was on earlier (maybe someone told him he was
supporting sleeze ?!?  This one is hyping something like:

"support our troops, let them know that you support them, call
1-900-mumble ...  Operation Mail Call  (sounds like paper, doesn't it?!!)

And just during the last few seconds:  $2.50 a minute

I wonder if a very slow secretary is sitting on a PC and an impact
printer sending letters to some APO-address now that ATT's free fax
program is discontinued (if I remember my rumours right...)


Internet: [e-mail]   [e-mail]
          [e-mail]     BITnet: werner@UTXVM
UUCP:    ...!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!werner   OR  ...!utastro!werner

------------------------------

From: Ed Hopper <[e-mail]>
Date: Sun, 11 Nov 90 19:42:21 CST
Organization: Ed Hopper's BBS - Houston, Texas 713-997-7575
Subject: AT Bus Hardware For ISDN


[e-mail] (Arnold Robbins) writes:

> In article <[e-mail]> holos0![e-mail] (Weaver
> Hickerson) writes:

> >I'm interested in finding what types, if any, of AT bus hardware is
> >available/in the works for ISDN, as well as simply learning more about
> >the service.

> At SuperComm '90 this past spring, AT&T had a huge "booth".  One of
> the things they showed was an ISDN card for the AT bus.  So, I know it
> exists.

> However, my experience has been that AT&T is *SO* large that finding
> someone who knows what you want so that you can order it is next to
> impossible.

Just to avoid the inevitable "AT&T is so dumb they could sell ice
cubes in the desert" BS, here are a couple of leads as to where you
can and cannot find that card.

I believe the card is a product of AT&T Network Systems. These are the
guys who sell 5ESS and that sort of stuff to the LECs.  The idea being
that the LECs would sell it to endusers via their hardware
subsidiaries.  They also sell "7500" series ISDN sets the same way.
The card may also be available via the PBX sales folks, but I doubt it

(for a large enough order they could probably get it via the "special
bid" procedure inside AT&T).  There has existed for some time a
similar card intended for the System 75/85/Definity DCP protocols.
Last I heard, that card was not compatible with BRI (2B+D). There is
also a slight possiblity that AT&T Paradyne has an offering in this
area.

The card is NOT, I repeat, NOT an AT&T Computer Systems product.
Computer Systems does not sell DCE, period.


Ed Hopper
AT&T Computer Systems

------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Fubar's Carbonated Hormones)
Subject: Re: *Long* Phone Calls -- What Does Ma Think?
Date: Tue, 13 Nov 90 9:48:59 GMT


John Higdon <[e-mail]> recently informed us:

>"Andrew M. Boardman" <[e-mail]> writes:
>>   - Since some uucp sites have so much traffic that they can
>>     spend days on one call anyway, has anyone ever heard of
>>     previous telco complaints in this area?

>I have never heard of this happening. I am familiar with some larger
>sites in the area, and while the modems may be off hook a major
>portion of the time, it is never with one call.  The longest UUCP
>calls last on the order of 20 minutes. Besides, a business would be
>measured and telco couldn't care less -- the meter would be running.

Well, I run a Usenet carrying BBS. The incoming line is measured
service residential, and the outgoing line is flat-rate residential. I
told the telco-order-taking-being that the measured service number
would be for a *HOBBY* BBS (read: not business), and would never be
called out on. Fine.  I even got a personalized number (54-FUBAR...
waited a year for the previous "occupant" to "vacate" ... even offered
him $50 to swap ... but I digress).  The outgoing line is for UUCP
connections at 2400MNP (4800). While I don't carry a full feed, the
calls HAVE been known to go up to 30 hours a shot.  At one point, I
can recall a transfer that went for three days (had been down for a
while, and news was queueing up as fast as I could get it). This was
all GTE, and I have since moved to San Luis Obispo, where we have
Pac*Bell.  Longest call here has been on the order of eight hours. But
I can forsee such long calls again.

On another aspect, my feed has told me that if I buy a pair of
telebits, he'll run SLIP for me ... so I *WOULD* be on the phone 99%
of the time ... but remember, this is all a hobby. I take no money
for my BBS ... so what do you think the phone*co would say?


++Christopher(); --- [e-mail] --- [e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 13 Nov 90 19:34:49 CST
From: Kevin Bluml <[e-mail]>
Subject: Call Waiting in Twin Cities Area


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Arun Baheti
<[e-mail]>) writes:
X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 807, Message 8 of 12

>I'm having trouble disabling the call waiting feature in the Twin
>Cities area.  While the standard methods (*70 and 1170) are listed in
>Does anyone else have experience with the Twin
>Cities system?

Pat's answer is correct I think. Each office (exchange) is updated
seperately. Mine (612-722) does not yet have the disable capability.
As noted in the US West phone book.. "You can deactivate Call Waiting
 ...by following the instructions below. HOWEVER (emphasis mine) it is
not available in all offices. Call your service representative for
information."


Kevin V. Bluml  - Cray Research Inc. 612-683-3036
USmail -   655E - Lone Oak Drive, Eagan, MN 55121
Internet - [e-mail]  UUCP - uunet!cray!ferris!kevin

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V10 #817
******************************










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Date:     Wed, 14 Nov 90 2:51:10 CST
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[To]:     [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V10 #818
BCC:
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Wed, 14 Nov 90 02:51:03 CST    Volume 10 : Issue 818

Inside This Issue:                         Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Bronx Area Code [Douglas Scott Reuben]
    Re: NSFNet Intercontinental ISO Transmission [R.Kevin Oberman]
    Why Prodigy Will Make It, Regardless [Brendan Kehoe]
    Computer Accessible Phone Directory? [Nadim Massoud]
    Re: GTE Mobilnet and International Calls [Douglas Scott Reuben]
    T3 Equipment Info Needed [Ron Watkins]
    Talk to a Pioneer [Will Martin]
    The Real Meaning of ISO [Ole J. Jacobsen]
    Re: Info Needed on Prodigy Servie [Randy Day]
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: 13-NOV-1990 12:05:41.30
From: Douglas Scott Reuben <[e-mail]>
Subject: Bronx Area Code


Just a quick note about the new Bronx, NY area code...

I think the new are code is 917, not 908. After reading Fred
Goldstien's post, I was pretty dumb, and called 908-555-1212 to see if
I would get NY DA. Well, I got New Jersey Bell DA that cost a nice 60
cents! :-)

I know, I know, I should know that 908 is the new area code for
Jersey...!

BUT, after making this silly mistake, I tried 1-917-555-1212, and
rather than my phone dropping into the "We're sorry, your call can not
be completed as dialed..." message right away, I got the * AT&T *
recording saying that "<AIS tones> Your call can not be completed as
dialed...Please check the number and dial your call again ... 718-2T".
I was calling LOCALLY (from NY Metro), not LD.

Why does it do this? Was 917 assigned somewhere "LD" before? (I don't
think it was ... was it?). Strange that we get an AT&T intercept
rather than a NY Tel recording. (Note: I tried this from a DMS-100, a
5XBar, and a 1(A?) ESS, all of which had the same results!)

On an aside, for those in the NY area, let's say I want to call Jersey
DA, and dial it via 10NYT-1-201-555-1212. This routes the call over NY
Tel's network, even though it goes across state lines. (This was
mentioned in previous issues of the Digest.) So how am I billed? 60
cents? Or perhaps 40 cents? (what NY Tel charges for local DA above
your three call allowance from residence phones).

Just curious ...

Doug

[e-mail]
[e-mail]

P.S. THANKS (again) to everyone who responded to my question about "Wink/
     CPC" signalling. I tried to respond to many of you, but my mailer
     bounced most of the .COM mail ... It does that occasionally.
     I DO appreciate the time you took to answer! -DR

------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: NSFNet Intercontinental ISO Transmission
Date: 13 Nov 90 16:10:02 GMT


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Mukesh Kacker)
writes:

>>The prototype OSI (this, I think is a typo - it should be ISO)
>            ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>>implementation is intended to provide wide area connectivity between
>>OSI networks, including networks using the DECNet Phase V protocols.

> This is not a typo. OSI stands for "Open Systems Interconnectioni"
> which is broad suite of protocols for data transmission in computer
> networks following a seven layer model. The other suite of protocols
> normally used on NSFNET/Internet is called the Internet suite or
> commonly as the TCP/IP suite.

OK. I guess I'll have to pick some nits here. OSI is a reference model
for networking, not a protocol suite. It is an ISO standard itself
(ISO 7498), and any set of protocols which fit this reference model is
OSI. It does not imply interoperability or any such useful thing, but
moves in that direction. For example, there are five different
Transport Protocols that are ISO standards and fit in the OSI model,
cleverly called TP0, TP1, TP2, TP3, and TP4. Each serves different
purposes and political requirements. And just wait until you get to
deal with the 50 or so address formats!

Various bodies, governmental and otherwise, are writing "profiles" to
specify just what protocols they will use and how. In the US and UK
there is a "Government OSI Profile" that is mandated for most
government systems.  Unfortunately, UK GOSIP and US GOSIP don't
interoperate directly bacause UK requires a different set of protocols
at the lower levels then the US. There are enough options in the OSI
world that everyone can have a standard network that won't communicate
with anyone else's.

> ISO stands for "International Standards Organization" and is the
> standards body under which the OSI suite of protocols is being
> developed.

Reasonably accurate except that the name of the body is "The
Organization for International Standardization", at least in English.
The name "ISO" was selected because it "looks right" in a lot of
languages without being an actual acronym for the name of the body in
any language, thus avoiding offending either anglophiles or
francophiles.

This is the sort of silliness international bodies have to go through
to keep users happy and why there are five Transport Protocols, of
which only three are likely to ever be implemented and probably only
two really used much. Of course, some country will probably select TP1
and a major computer vendor select TP3 just to be a pain :-).

But enough OSI bashing. Given market forces some rational set of
protocols should emerge and they may even work. And OSI does allow a
lot of neat functionallity beyond what the TCP/IP suite allows. Just
don't expect it tomorrow!


R. Kevin Oberman   Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Internet: [e-mail]    415) 422-6955

Disclaimer: Don't take this too seriously. I just like to improve my typing
and probably don't really know anything useful about anything.

------------------------------

From: Brendan Kehoe <[e-mail]>
Subject: Why Prodigy Will Make It, Regardless
Date: 13 Nov 90 17:24:48 GMT
Reply-To: Brendan Kehoe <[e-mail]>
Organization: University of Pennsylvania


 When all of this hit the fan, I called up a friend of mine who
mentioned that he was using Prodigy quite a bit. Boy did HE have a lot
to say. He said that very morning he'd mailed off his last check with
a 3-page letter explaining why he was cancelling the service. From
what he said, more than "9 or 15" people are disgruntled about all of
this [censorship, email tariffs, etc]. He said he personally knew
upwards of 200 people that chose to sign off the system at about the
same time.

 But debating whether or not they should do all of this is, in my
opinion, a pretty big waste of time. Why? Because of the market
Prodigy's trying to hit. They're not aiming for the people that see
the GEnie ads in Compute! magazine, or those that try out CompuServe
with their intro kit; they're looking for the people that are walking
through Sears' electronics department looking for a good deal on video
tapes & happen to see this bright yellow box with people smiling all
over it, right next to the computer they were given for Christmas.
They don't want the people that have any kind of technical ability at
all. They want those that still view computers as complete and utter
mysteries never to be solved.

 And as long as they blitz the media & have it as widely distributed &
available as it is now, they'll never have a shortage of customers. In
about a month this will probably die down to a low murmur (though I'd
LOVE to see this covered on the Today show, but I doubt it will
happen), and they'll keep raking in the naive customers.

 Whatcha think?


Brendan Kehoe | [e-mail] [ It's here, but it won't resolve yet ]
For now: [e-mail] | Also: [e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 13 Nov 90 02:52:14 EST
From: NADIM MASSOUD <[e-mail]>
Subject: Computer Accessible Phone Directory?


Hi, I was wondering why there isn't (or is there?) a way to find a
person's telephone number in the USA, by calling via modem. In France,
any Minitel terminal owner (the terminal is free) can do this, with a
variety of options in the search. Does anyone know if this is planned
or already exists? I also would apreciate any comments about the
future of Minitel in the USA.

A Minitel is a videotext terminal. A regular minitel works at 1200/75
bau ds, and anyone with a phone can have on free in France. There are
a few Minitel services in the USA ... emulations exist for various
micros.


[Moderato's Note: Actually, there are a few telco operated programs
like this in the USA, but they seem to be few and far between.
Illinois Bell has a service called 'Directory Express' which is like
what you described above. It is tariffed for business customers, and
at present has only a few. Primarily heavy users of directory
assistance are interested, since the service costs quite a bit per
hour of use monthly.  PAT]

------------------------------

Date: 13-NOV-1990 12:21:46.64
From: Douglas Scott Reuben <[e-mail]>
Subject: re: GTE Mobilnet and International Calls


Hi-

I too got a notice in my bill from GTE Mobilnet (San Francisco).

They said that ALL international calls were blocked. Again being dumb
I called up GTE (and after waiting for 20 minutes, as usual...), I
asked if that included Canada. The sales rep. said "Yes, any call
outside the lower 48 states..." (Does she really mean this? IE, we
can't call Alaska and Hawaii direct? Doubtful...)

I told her that I would like to call Canada at times, and that if I
use my calling card, then I will get billed more because:

    (A)- There is an 80 cent surcharge on AT&T Card calls.

    (B)- If I dial 0+416-555-5555, I pay airtime, even if no one
         is there. IE, once I access AT&T's Calling Card system,
         charges begin, since AT&T's Calling Card system doesn't
          pass along answer superivision on a call-by-call basis.
         (I doubt that this is possible, or even desireable on
         their calling card system). So, if the number is busy,
         or there is no one there, I pay airtime anyhow, which
         I shouldn't have to. (IE, that's not what I bargained
         for in my Business Club or whatever they call it when
         I initially signed up for that type of account.)


She seemed to know where I was coming from, and said "I see how this
could be a problem for you ... I'll have a sales rep or manager call
you back to see if we can arrange to let you make Canadian and 011
from YOUR mobile phone number."

So I guess they can allow this from individual phones. I've noticed
Metro One (the generally overpriced rip-off "A" outfit in New York,
the one that has NO *611/611 number for Customer Service - you must
dial the 800 and pay airtime - which as a recent poster here noted can
be as high as 95 cents per minute! - but anyhow..) ... so Metro One in
NYC has an option that you can toggle on or off at their switch to
block "011" calls.  (And other types of calls as well.). Could this be
what GTE is doing? IE, it turned off "011" (and Canadian) access for
everyone, and then turns in back on for those who complain on a
case-by-case basis? If this is so, it sounds pretty silly to me...

Yet they were VERY polite to me and almost apologetic about all this,
and noted that since I roam a lot, it should not affect me too much,
since they can only block such calls in their system, not in everyone
else's. (IE, you can dial 011 and Canada from non-GTE system, it would
seem ... It works fine from New York City's "B" System - NYNEX, and
Connecticut's "B" system, SNET.)

So hopefully I won't have to send GTE a letter about this! :-)

And while John Higdon may be right that this is sort of a poor showing
by GTE Mobilnet, he hasn't seen anything if you want to talk about
*MY* favorite mobile company, Metro Mobile! :-) After sending them a
*5* page letter asking WHY they charge airtime for Call-Forwarding, I
got a call back on my answering system from a "Mr. Linderman".

He said "Hello, Douglas? This is Mr. Linderman from Metro Mobile. I am
returning your call ... errr ... letter ... errr calling about the
letter you sent last week." That's it. No callback number, no
extension. Metro Mobile has like 6 800 numbers, and a number for their
main national heaquarters in New York City. I call ALL of them - no
Mr. Linderman. THEN, as I am about to hang up, I am told "We do have a
Chairman of the Board named that, but I *doubt* he would call *you*!"
Err ... yeah, GEE! Thanks! I guess I should know that us peasants never
get such calls!

So compared to Metro Mobile of Connecticut, GTE Mobilnet/SF is a
dream!  (Not to mention Ameritech which sounds quite responsbile as
well.

Hmmm ... Since GTE also charges airtime for Call-forwarding (and
waiting, and three-way, and voicemail - checking and receiving!) I
wonder if I can 're-cycle' my Metro Mobile letter and send it along to
GTE ... ?! The letter is sort of generic - just cross out the "Metro
Mobile" and put "GTE" in there instead! :-)

Should I *really* be spending more time complaining about cell service
than I actually spend using the silly phone anyow??? :-(


Doug

[e-mail]
[e-mail]

------------------------------

From: Ron Watkins <[e-mail]>
Subject: T3 Equipment Info Needed
Date: Tue, 13 Nov 90 07:39:20 EDT


I am in need of vender names, phone#numbers and description of their
T3 products.

I need a box to sit on either end of a fiberoptic cable and make ~24
T1 channels.

Can anyone recommend such a beast?

Thank you,

Ron Watkins

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 13 Nov 90 8:11:41 CST
From: Will Martin <[e-mail]>
Subject: Talk to a Pioneer

Reference the recent discussion of Telephone Pioneers: if you want to
talk to a Telephone Pioneer, they staff the "Contact 2"
consumer-assistance phone lines run by Channel 2 (KTVI) here in St.
Louis. These lines are open for calls from 11 AM - 1 PM and 5-7 PM
Central Time, at these numbers:

800-782-2222   314-282-2222

I don't know if there is any geographic limit on the 800 number; do
these new 800 services still have geographic limits, or has the old
concept of "WATS Bands" disappeared with the flood of competing
800-providers?

I have no idea how busy these people are with the consumer-affairs
service this is designed to provide -- if things are slow, they might
be willing to chat about the Pioneers and telecom issues. If you have
a consumer problem with a company in the St. Louis area, you can use
these numbers to register a complaint or get information or maybe help
with the difficulty. (The other two mjor network-affiliate TV stations
in this region also have such lines, but they don't have the Pioneers,
which is what makes this Telecom-related.)

Regards,

Will
[e-mail] OR [e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 13 Nov 1990 8:28:22 PST
From: "Ole J. Jacobsen" <[e-mail]>
Subject: The Real Meaning of ISO


Quick note: ISO does *not* stand for "International Standards
Organization".  It is *not* and acronym, but it does refer to the
organzation whose official name is: INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR
STANDARDIZATION.  This "mistake" is perhaps the most common in the
entire communications industry.


Ole J Jacobsen, Editor & Publisher ConneXions--The Interoperability Report
Interop, Inc., 480 San Antonio Road, Suite 100, Mountain View, CA 94040, USA
Phone: [phone]  FAX: [phone]  Email: [e-mail]

------------------------------

From: microsoft![e-mail]
To: nucsrl![e-mail]
Date: Tue Nov 13 12:56:54 1990
Subject: Re: Info Needed on Prodigy Service
Organization: Microsoft Corp., Redmond WA


I use Prodigy three to five times a week. I use it almost exclusively
for stock quotes and for doing stock trades. I think the service is
pretty primative, especially the mail servcies. The potential is
there, but their execution is stone-age. The number of useful things
you can do are very limited (for instance, the news part is a complete
waste.  You have to scan the news in the order they provide. There is
no capability to scan headlines and pick the stories you're interested
in, much less search-by-keyword capabilities.)

The only thing that keeps me using Prodigy is that the fee is fixed.
This is what I really respond to. Getting stock quotes/doing stock
trades is much cheaper via Prodigy than via something like Dow Jones
News Retrival (which I also subscribe to).


Randy Day

(Opinions expressed here are mine and mine only. They are not a reflection
of my employer's opinion.)

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V10 #818
******************************










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Date:     Thu, 15 Nov 90 0:59:15 CST
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
[To]:     [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V10 #819
BCC:
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Thu, 15 Nov 90 00:58:26 CST    Volume 10 : Issue 819

Inside This Issue:                         Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Re: Why Are They Called 'Generics'? [Fred R. Goldstein]
    Re: Why Are They Called 'Generics'? [Jeffrey C. Martin]
    Re: Why Are They Called 'Generics'? [Dave Levenson]
    Re: *Long* Phone Calls -- What Does Ma Think? [Paul Gauthier]
    The Right Choice [Dan Breslau]
    More Splitsville [Jeff Sicherman]
    Re: N00 Exchanges, Anywhere? [Carl Moore]
    Northern Illinois CLASS Installation Schedule [Dan Veeneman]
    Need Info on ANSI X.12 [[e-mail]]
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: "Fred R. Goldstein" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Why Are They Called 'Generics'?
Date: 13 Nov 90 18:47:23 GMT
Organization: Digital Equipment Corp., Littleton MA USA


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Jeff
Wasilko) writes...

>As I was catching up on my Digest-reading, a thought occured to me --
>why are switch programs called 'generics'?

You had to own/manage a Rolm 7000-series CBX to really appreciate what
a generic is!  (No, it doesn't mean "cheaper than name-brand
software".)  Back in the '70s and early '80s I used to run a bunch of
them.

Some early computer-controlled telephone switches had highly
customized software.  You told the manufacturer what your hardware
configuration was, how many of this and how many of that feature, how
you routed your calls, your numbering plan, etc., and they linked an
executable software module Just For You.  At Rolm, this process was
called "Sysgen", and produced a "configuration".  Changing this
required a "deconfiguration" (print it out with any changes made) and
"reconfiguration".  So, for example, if you wanted to changed the
wired-for configuration to include more tie lines, DID trunks, or a
different mix of ordinary/fancy phones, you had to reconfigure. Even
changing a hunt group pilot number nominally took a six-week-plus
reconfiguration cycle, though _certain_ things could be patched if you
knew whom to ask.  (And a few things could be changed using
undocumented commands.)

Needless to say, Rolm had "releases", but not "generics".  A generic
is a set of software that could be field-customized to meet the user's
requirement.  It may or may not have all the optional feature
licenses, but it's generally configurable, so customers don't need
factory intervention in order to set the machine up and maintain it.
Most PBXs today as well as central offices use generic software.

If there's another explanation, I'd be curious to hear it too.


Fred R. Goldstein              Digital Equipment Corp., Littleton MA
[e-mail]   voice: [phone]
 Do you think anyone else on the planet would share my opinions, let
 alone a multi-billion dollar corporation?

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 14 Nov 90 17:07:51 EST
From: Jeffrey C Martin <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Why Are They Called 'Generics'?
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories


In article <[e-mail]>, Jeff Wasilko <[e-mail].
rit.edu> writes:

> As I was catching up on my Digest-reading, a thought occured to me --
> why are switch programs called 'generics'?

Generic: adj, "relating to ... a whole group or class" (from
Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary).

The word "generic" started out in the No. 1 ESS with its usual
adjectival usage, as "generic program": i.e., a program usable in
multiple central office environments, customized by changing
"parameters" and "translations."

Over time, people shortened the term to "generic" and started using
the word as a noun.

Here's a fairly early reference, from the September, 1964 issue of
"The Bell System Technical Journal":


       No. 1 ESS: System Organization
               and Objectives

By W. KEISTER, R. W. KETCHLEDGE and H. E. VAUGHAN
     (Manuscript received January 22, 1964)

"This paper is an introduction to the No. 1 electronic switching
system, a new general-purpose switching system developed for use in
the Bell System.  Organization and objectives of the system are
outlined to provide a back- ground for the detailed technical papers
which follow."

3.3 Programs

"Approximately 90 programs totaling about 100,000 words are used to
control the operations required for telephone service and to control
the maintenance of the system. These programs, each an ordered set of
instructions to provide a particular function, are stored in the
program store. The call programs provide the solution to any problem a
customer can present to the system, either directly or through some
other switching system. An assembly of call programs must tailor-make
a connection according to the demands of the customer.

"Several approaches toward providing programs for a large number of
different offices could be used. A generic program, which is the same
for each office, with detailed differences listed in a parameter
table, is the approach used in No. 1 ESS. The generic program includes
all features for a large number of offices, covering sizes from 2,000
to 65,000 lines and means for handling growth and changing traffic
conditions. This approach simplifies record keeping, because only the
parameter tables which specify present size and operating conditions
are unique to each office. Additional data which characterize a
particular office are found in translation tables also in the program
store. Typically, 18 different sets of translations are required in
each office. These include directory number to equipment number
translations for both lines and trunks, class of service, and special
treatment for lines and trunks.

"In the future, economics may dictate the need for several generic
programs - for instance, one for small offices, one for large offices,
one for four-wire offices, and perhaps some combinations of these..."

This excerpt was from the lead article in a two-volume special issue
on the No. 1 ESS switch.  That special issue was a true classic.  When
I joined No. 1 ESS development in late '72, those two volumes were
still the basic reference for bringing people on board with the
switch, and I believe they remained so throughout its development
life.  They still make for pretty good reading.


Jeff Martin    ..tt!ihlpf!jeffm

------------------------------

From: Dave Levenson <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Why Are They Called 'Generics'?
Date: 15 Nov 90 04:59:26 GMT
Organization: Westmark, Inc., Warren, NJ, USA


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Jeff
Wasilko) writes:

> As I was catching up on my Digest-reading, a thought occured to me --
> why are switch programs called 'generics'?

The term comes from the early history of electronic switching.

The switch required memory.  Three kinds of memory.  There is memory
which contains the parameters which are customized for every
installation.  This has subscriber class-of-service, call-routing
tables, and other such.  It is called "Translation" because it is the
tables that translate the dialed number into a physical route.
Translation is where the custom features are enabled or disabled.  It
is writeable only from the administrator's console.

The second kind of memory is called "status".  (Earlier, it was called
'call-store'.  It holds the details of the calls in progress right
now: the digits you've just dialed, the state of your switchhook, and
the map that indicates which trunks and links are idle, busy, or in
maintenance mode.  Status memory is where you look when you're
debugging a central office crash.  It is writeable by the operational
software and may be readable by the administrator.

The third kind of memory contains the operational software.  It is
identical in every installation -- the per-installation customization
is in translation memory.  Because it is always the same, it is called
generic.  It is ROM.  Bell Labs writes it!  (Or they did in the old
days.)


Dave Levenson            Internet: [e-mail]
Westmark, Inc.            UUCP: {uunet | rutgers | att}!westmark!dave
Warren, NJ, USA            AT&T Mail: !westmark!dave
[The Man in the Mooney]        Voice: 908 647 0900  Fax: [phone]

------------------------------

From: Paul Gauthier <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: *Long* Phone Calls -- What Does Ma Think?
Organization: Math, Stats & CS, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
Date: Tue, 13 Nov 1990 14:01:29 -0400


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Andrew M. Boardman)
writes:

[Why not make one *long* call rather than lease a line?]

>  - What would one's local phone company think of this?

  Many people have pointed out that the phone company would come after
you right quick with some concocted reason to make you lose any
advantage this scheme might have. If this is the case, why not simply
rig the software to break the connection once daily and then redial.
Maybe even less frequently depending on what duration the phone
company would find distressing.


PG

------------------------------

From: Dan Breslau <codex![e-mail]>
Subject: The Right Choice
Date: 13 Nov 90 17:30:43 GMT
Organization: Codex Corp., Canton MA


The following was sent to me by a friend of mine; I asked her if it
would be OK to post it here.  Her reply:

> YES!!!! Put it on the USENET!  And by all means, add US Sprint's 800
> number!   It's 1/800-877-4646.

Disclaimer: Neither the original writer nor I have any relationship
with these companies, other than as customers.

                               -----------

To all of you who are *still* using AT&T, I offer the following little
story:

Saturday, after working all day and late into the night, (3 AM, to be
precise) I return home, trying not to wake the housemates, and collect
my mail from the dining room table.  Scanning through the usual junk
mail and bills, I pause to read yet another solicitation from AT&T,
telling me how they've changed, they're not the same since I've left
them, and that I should come back.

Now my parents still have AT&T (due only to the remoteness of their
home -- the other companies don't reach that far north), and I have
asked them if they've noticed any difference.  All I get is stoney
silence, before the usual "you-never-come-and-visit-anymore" sigh.
Hmmm.

I look over the letter.  Right on the top, it says, in BOLDFACE TYPE,
they've LOWERED THEIR RATES!  "Wow!", I say, "can it really be true?"
Then, a little memory creeps in and whispers: "Wait. Don't be duped."
I walk over and pick up a copy of the {Wall Street Journal} from the
previous week. (Wednesday's, I think.)  Front page: AT&T INCREASES ITS
LONG DISTANCE RATES.

Now, I may not be a rocket scientist, but I can read.  These two
things do not add up.  Truth in advertising?  There is an "800" number
on the letter.  It's 3 AM.  I go to the phone.  I dial.

It's really not like me to harrass a poor telephone operator who is
only doing her job.  Really.  I'm a live-and-let-live kind of person.
But it's 3 AM, and AT&T has just sent yet another sleazey piece of
propaganda.  The operator doesn't know anything about the rate hike or
the mailer.  She gives me to her manager, who is so programmed that I
don't think he could tie his shoe without an instruction manual.

  ME:  I have just received this letter from AT&T saying that they've
       LOWERED THEIR RATES.

AT&T:  That's right.  We've LOWERED OUR RATES on long distance service.
       Would you like to change from your present carrier?

  ME:  Well, perhaps.  Do you read the Wall Street Journal?

AT&T:  No, ma'm, I don't.

  ME:  Do you think that *your* supervisor reads it?

AT&T:  I have no idea.

  ME:  I thought not.  Why do you think that last Wednesday's Wall Street
       Journal would have an article on the front page saying that you've
       *raised* your rates?  Is AT&T going to sue the Journal for libel?
       Would you like me to be a witness?

AT&T:  I don't know anything about a lawsuit, ma'm.

  ME:  Well, now think for a minute.  I read that AT&T was *raising* their
       rates just nine days ago.  But you are telling me that AT&T has
       LOWERED THEIR RATES today. Am I supposed to believe this advertisement,
       or the Wall Street Journal?

The manager then proceeded to tell me this long-winded story about how
the mailer was printed weeks ago, and the advertising department might
not have known that the *other department* that is in charge of rates
would be raising them, but anyway, it's not much of a rate hike, only
a few cents per minute, really, and it doesn't add up to very much
when you get right down to it.  And only a couple of other people had
called to complain tonight, so what was the big deal?

I thought of all the things I wanted to say, cleared my throat, and
asked to be removed from any future mailings.  I also asked if they
would mail out an apology to everyone for lying to them about LOWERING
THEIR RATES.  Know what I got for an answer?

*click*

I suggest US Sprint.  Great service, very, very inexpensive.


------------------------------

Date: Tue, 13 Nov 90 13:00:47 PST
From: [e-mail]
Subject: More Splitsville


  PacBell and GTE just announced a proposal to split the current 714
area code (Orange, Riverside, and San Bernadino counties) in two,
taking effect in January 1993. Boundaries are not firm (hearings will
be held) but it is expected that Orange County (Disneyland, Knotts
Berry Farm, and many other attractions) will stay in the 714 code and
the remaining counties will receive a new one. The newspaper article
doesn't mention it but a TV report specified 909 and the area code
list in the archives shows that as unassigned. The reason given was
the proliferation of phone numbers (as with the 213-310 split for Los
Angeles). This was probably exacerbated by growth rates of Riverside
and San Bernadino (due to housing costs elsewhere) and the
proliferation of cellular phones and faxes and modems in Orange
County, which is a relatively affluent area.


Jeff Sicherman

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 13 Nov 90 9:38:22 EST
From: Carl Moore (VLD/VMB) <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: N00 Exchanges, Anywhere?


[e-mail] writes:

>1-700-xxxx :"We're sorry.  Your call did not go through.  Will you please
>            try your call again?" (Probably waiting for 11 digits)

With an attempt at 700-xxxx just above it which got a message saying
you first had to dial a 1.  It wasn't said in the message I am
responding to, but 1 + 7-digit number should not work in an area using
NXX (not NNX) prefixes.

Try getting a Los Angeles area directory and looking up areas 213 and
818 for prefixes of the N00 form.

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 14 Nov 90 15:52:24 CST
From: Dan Veeneman <[e-mail]>
Subject: Northern Illinois CLASS Installation Schedule


I just got off the phone with an Illinois Bell supervisor, who told me
that CLASS services for 708-639 (Cary, a far northwest suburb) will
not be available until next year.  She couldn't tell me exactly when
it *would* be available, as she had not yet received the installation
schedule for 1991.  She stated that the list she is using now for 1990
was received by her office in January, and that they are "doing their
best" to stay on schedule.  Her example was Waukegan, which had a
cutover date of October 15.

BTW, ANAC (Automatic Number Announcement Circuit) for the 312 and 708
area follows the pattern 1-200-xxxx, where the xxxx changes
approximately every other month (and yes, IBT is very tight-lipped
about letting that number out).  People I knew who had the number
generally got it by looking over a service person's shoulder as he/she
dialed it in to their buttset.


Dan
[e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: Tuesday, 13 Nov 1990 17:18:55 EST
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Need Info on ANSI X.12


   I am looking for information on EDI, specifically on ANSI X.12. I
would greatly appreciate any information anyone could send me on the
ANSI X.12 standards, or a phone number I may call to get the info.

Thank you.

FEK101

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V10 #819
******************************










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Date:     Thu, 15 Nov 90 1:45:05 CST
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
[To]:     [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V10 #820
BCC:
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Thu, 15 Nov 90 01:44:56 CST    Volume 10 : Issue 820

Inside This Issue:                         Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    New Area Code in Southern California [David G. Cantor]
    New Area Codes and International Dialing [Olivier Giffard]
    Cable and Wireless 800 Service [Douglas Scott Reuben]
    FAX Machine at Home: Options For Incoming Transmissions [Joel M. Snyder]
    Wrong Number Rights [Paolo Bellutta]
    Re: $4 Per Day Roaming Charge [Douglas Scott Reuben]
    Re: People Unclear on the Concept [Kenneth Herron]
    Re: A Phone Set Wiring Question [Rich Zellich]
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Reply-To: [e-mail]
Subject: New Area Code in Southern California
Date: Tue, 13 Nov 90 11:43:20 -0800
From: "David G. Cantor" <[e-mail]>


A partial quote from today's {Los Angeles Times}:

      "Faced with a shortage of phone numbers because of rapid growth
      in Orange County and the Inland Empire, GTE and Pacific Bell
      officials have decided to carve out a new area code out of the
      existing 714 area, officials said Monday.

      Phone company officials said they will announce today who among
      the region's 4.7 million customers will be affected by the split
      when it takes effect in January, 1993.

      Unlike past area code changes in the state, this one has a twist:
      For the first time, the phone companies will offer three proposed
      boundaries for the new area code and allow time for public
      response to help decide how the boundaries will look, officials
      said. . ."

The new area-code number was not given.  Together with the existing
area codes, 213, 310 (already planned for West Los Angeles), 619, 714,
805, and 818, this gives Southern California 7 area codes.  Perhaps it
would be much simpler for all concerned if the telcos were simply to
switch to 8-digit numbers for all of Southern California.  Of course,
it could then be given a two-digit "country code" :-).


David G. Cantor   Department of Mathematics  University of California
Los Angeles, CA 90024-1555   Internet:  [e-mail]

------------------------------

From: Olivier Giffard <[e-mail]>
Subject: New Area Codes and International Dialling
Date: 14 Nov 90 17:08:09 GMT
Reply-To: Olivier Giffard <[e-mail]>
Organization: Chorus systemes, Saint Quentin en Yvelines, France


I've just tried to dial a number in the 917 area code (non existent
yet) from France. I got a French intercept message just after dialing
the 7 of 917 saying that this code was not in service. What means has
a switch in France to know that. There must be some kind of table to
look up in; but then how is it updated?  In particular I'm wondering
whether area code 917 will be available from France the very second it
is put in service. I suppose there must be some kind of cooperation
between ?BellCore? and foreign Telecom companies?  Can anyone comment
on this?

------------------------------

Date: 13-NOV-1990 12:51:26.16
From: Douglas Scott Reuben <[e-mail]>
Subject: Cable and Wireless 800 Service


Hello again!

I've noticed that Cable and Wireless's programmable 800 service hasn't
been working too well lately.

I've tried reprogramming numerous times, and each time it accepts the
new number, but even hours later won't switch it over.

I've spoken to customer service and to some higher-ups, and they said
there is a general problem in the system, and they were looking into
it.

Has anyone else heard about this or had trouble using it lately?

Also, since I was calling anyhow, I mentioned that I too was
experiencing a problem with an early return of answer supervision. (A
previous poster a long time ago -- the one who (thankfully!) mentioned
C&W's programmable 800 service noted this as well). They sounded
genuinely concerned, and are looking into that as well. (This is a
problem if one calls the 800 number from a carphone or to a land
number which is forwarded to the 800 number -- billing will start for
such calls BEFORE you hear a busy, a ring, or someone picks up. You
SHOULD only get answer supervision if someone picks up ... right?)

Overall, though, I have been very impressed with their service and
ig*9]pricing, and their staff are exceptional -- I'd put them at
almost the same level as AT&T's, in some cases even better! And the
fact that they are open 24 hours a day, and you can talk to a
technician at 3AM if you need to is an added bonus! Once they get
these (hopefully) temporary problems fixed, Cable and Wireless
800/Programmable is truly a superior 800 service provider!


Doug

[e-mail]
[e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 12 Nov 1990 23:29:07 MST
From: <[e-mail]>
Subject: FAX Machine at Home: Options for Incoming Transmissions


Telecom readers:

I am facing a problem which I believe that several of you have already
faced, and many of you will soon: the proliferation of things-that-use-
the-phone.

This week I invested in a FAX modem (Dove FAX if any of you care;
works incredibly well for $280).  But now I need some way to receive
FAX transmissions at home.  I think that there are four distinct
options, which I will rank from most to least expensive.  My query to
you all is simple: what advice and information do you have to offer?
Please send your feedback to me at [e-mail], and I do
promise to organize a summary for distribution through the Digest.

Here are the options (are there any more?)

1. Get an extra telephone line.  This is clearly the most desirable,
but is also the most expensive.  A $50 to $100 fee, plus a monthly
fixed expense of $10 to $20 per month (note: all rates are given with
a midpoint of the cost quoted me by US West or local merchants).

2. Get distinctive ringing.  With this option, you have two telephone
numbers, but only one line -- calls to number A ring differently from
number B.  The key here is that you can get a box (any suggestions
which one?) for around $100 which will route calls to one jack or
another (that is, voice phone or FAX machine) based on the ringing.
Downsides: the $100 box; you can't use both devices at once; a monthly
fee of $2 to $7 (plus possible installation fees of about $10 to $20,
although U S West has a "special" until December 5).

3. No telco change, but get FAX/voice box.  It seems that some FAX
machines send a tone called CNG when they are calling.  Note that this
is different from modems, where the originating modem is silent until
the answering modem says something.  What this FAX feature means is
that one could build a box to distinguish between the two.  Several
people already have (any suggestions as to which one?)  for $60 to
$100 which picks up the phone and listens for CNG tones, passing the
call to the FAX if it detects CNG and to the phone/answering machine
if not.  Downsides: similar to (2), although there is no recurring
charge.  My big question on this option is, "how many FAX machines
present CNG tones?"  Is this something which all FAX machines built in
the last two or three years have, or is this a feature which some FAX
machines built even today don't have?  Anyone know any more about
this?

4. Null hypothesis.  No changes.  Downsides: you have to pre-arrange
whenever you expect to receive a FAX.  But, it's CHEAP!

Again, please don't send replies to the list.  Send them to me, and I
will collect and summarize!  If you just want a copy of the answers,
look for it in TELECOM Digest late next week.

Thanks in advance for any help and advice!


Joel M Snyder, The Mosaic Group, 627 E Speedway, 85705  Phone: [phone]
(University of Arizona, Dep't of MIS, Eller Graduate School of Management)
BITNET: jms@arizmis  Internet: [e-mail]  SPAN: 47541::uamis::jms

------------------------------

From: Paolo Bellutta <[e-mail]>
Organization: I.R.S.T. 38050 POVO (TRENTO) ITALY
Subject: Wrong Number Rights
Date: Tue, 13 Nov 90 10:11:47 MET DST


In TELECOM Digest V10 #804: Andy Jacobson <[e-mail]>
writes:

> My opinion is : F***em! If Neiman Markup, or Snears has dumb
> customers, take their orders! Take their credit card numbers! Tell
> them what the prices are. Tell them where the store is located!  When
> they wind up at the city dump, they have no one to blame but
> themselves. You have every right to give 'em grief. The stores have
> ___NO___ right to even suggest that you change your number.

I hate flames, but this drove me crazy.  Don't get me wrong, I found
US people very kind, a different class I would say, compared to the
rudeness of Italians (especially public services).  And for the two
(supposedly) wrong numbers problems my friends and I had in the US, I
have plenty of good memories of your country.

1) The first time I came in the US I wanted to book the first night of
stay.  It was in Chicago, I had little money and decide to call a
cheap hotel that was reported on a book I bought in Italy. I called
four or five times before being fed up to be hung up without answer (a
simple 'wrong number" would have reduced the number of calls). Now I
suppose that the number PRINTED on the book was wrong. This caused
little trouble since I had lots of numbers to call for lodging.

2) Two years ago, friends of mine visited the US for the first time.
They visited the south west.  They wanted to book a room in Page
(border Utah - Arizona) and they called a motel.  They called the
number that was reported on the directory listing of the motel chain
(I don't recall the name).  They took the reservation, name, C.C.  #.
Being a bit late, they called again to be sure the reservation was
held after 6pm.  They arrived, after a 400 miles ride, at the motel in
Page at 9pm.  No reservation, no vacancy, nearest place: St.George.
They arrived in bed at 4am next day.

Do you still believe that if the number is PRINTED wrongly, you have the
right to make fool of the people calling you? If so, think what would be
your reaction to situation 2) in a country of which you barely understand
the language?


Paolo Bellutta ([e-mail])


[Moderator's Note: I think if the number is incorrectly printed, and
people like yourself for example, are victimized as a result it is
indeed a shame. But the other victim is the person receiving an
endless stream of wrong number calls. If anything, your own anger as a
result of the inconvenience should be directed toward the business
place which mis-printed it's literature. They are the ones who caused
the confusion, are they not?  But I do see your point, and Americans
can be very rude at times to guests in our country.  PAT]

------------------------------

Date: 13-NOV-1990 13:06:03.51
From: Douglas Scott Reuben <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: $4 Per Day Roaming Charge


Some Digest readers mentioned recently that the reason cellular
roamers were assesed a "daily charge" was so that the roaming system
could cover the costs of verifying with the roamer's home system if
the roamer is a customer "in good standing", ie, has paid all the
bills, etc.

Although I agree that this is necessary and quite desireable, I would
tend to argue (as have others) that $2 or 3 per day is WAY too high a
charge for such a service. Not only is it too high, but roam rates in
some systems (especially those set up along highways on the outskirts
of large cities) tend to be SO much higher than a home customer pays
that the profit from one 1 minute call alone will probably be enough
to cover the costs of verification. (I'm not sure how true this is,
but it seems that many smaller systems are set up, if possible, along
the periphery of a larger system, generally along a stretch of
highway, so that they can "get" customers who live in/use the larger
system. IE, I'm driving south of Albany,NY, and once I leave the
Albany system there is some system called "Cell One of Upstate New
York" [upstate= south of Albany??!!?]) along I-87.

This system stays in range for about 25 minutes, and had quite good
coverage on the Thruway/I-87. They charge $3 per day to roam, and
about 90 cents per minute! I doubt they charge their "home" customers
(all 20 of them! :-) ) the same rate. So do they figure they will make
a lot of extra $$$$ because they have one or two towers near the
Thruway and will pick up Albany customers (or other cusotmers going
along I-87) who don't realize that they are in a the "Upstate/Cell
One" system?)

Moreover, even though there may be costs associated with verification
of a roamer, doesn't this occur BOTH ways? IE, although
Metrophone/"A"/Phil.  may charge ME $3 per day for roaming, Metro
Mobile (my 'company') charges the same for Metrophone customers
roaming in Metro Mobile's area. So why can't they just say "We'll
verify your customers for free if you verify ours for free as
well..."? Or do they both make too much money with this example of a
'nickel-and-dime surcharge' that they see no reason to end it?

(I don't get charged if I use my Pac*Bell calling card in NY Tel
territory for "verification", and NY Tel customer's don't get charged
in California, besides local usage rates, or course. I'm sure NY Tel
has to verify Pac*Bell cards [one would hope! :-) ], yet they don't
charge anything extra. Why do Cell companies think they should be able
to do this?)

Finally, even if they should be allowed to charge for this, why is it
that some companies, like Cell One/Boston, don't charge a daily roam
charge?  (They don't charge for Metro Mobile or Metro One (NY)
customers; they may have other agreements with other carriers.) If
they can work out a system where there is NO roam charge as in the
case of Boston, what is to prevent this on a uniform, national basis??


Doug

[e-mail]
[e-mail]

------------------------------

From: Kenneth Herron <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: People Unclear on the Concept
Date: 13 Nov 90 16:30:20 GMT
Reply-To: Kenneth Herron <[e-mail]>
Organization: U of Kentucky, Mathematical Sciences


>I dropped by the local Burger King the other day ... Outside is a
>brand spanking new COCOT.  Inside is a sign that states, "We do not
>give change for the phone."

>Now, given that the BK is in it for the cash, why discourage usage?

Fast-food cash registers are more secure than the usual models; it may
be that the front-line workers can't open the cash drawer without
ringing up a sale.  Back when I worked at Arby's, we had the same
problem when a coin-op car wash opened next door.


Kenneth Herron

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 13 Nov 90 13:10:40 CST
From: Rich Zellich <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: A Phone Set Wiring Question


I recently moved to a newly-built home, into which I had had two
three-pair cables installed.  One cable is for possible future use;
currently I have two lines used on the other cable.

On hooking up various phones I, too, found that one single-line phone
would take *both* lines off-hook.  This is a "novelty" phone - a
slightly-undersized payphone lookalike, so it is not wired for any
DC-operated lights, keyset use, or anything like that.  It is also a
fairly good phone, which I have been using as my main telephone for
several years now.

I haven't yet tried to disassemble it to see where the other two wires
are going.  What I would like to find is one of the little
three-inch-long cords used to connect a phone to a wall jack, with
only two wires wired for use instead of all four -- that should fix the
problem without having to modify the phone.  Of course, finding such a
cord is turning out to be a problem ... I can't even find a four-wire
one anywhere so far (without cannibalizing one from another phone,
anyway).

On the reverse side of the coin, I have a recently-acquired 6-outlet
surge protector that also has a pair of phone jacks built in.  *It*
only has two wires connected, so I can't use it to protect both lines
into one of my two-line phones (an old GTE telephone-terminal with
built-in 300 baud modem).  The phone/terminal has two single-line
input jacks, and I have to split the two-line service at the wall jack
(and feed only one of the lines throught the protector to the
terminal), rather than at the output side of the surge protector.
Guess the surge protector is worth about what I paid for it (under $10
from EggHead Discount Software on a super-sale deal).

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V10 #820
******************************










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Date:     Thu, 15 Nov 90 23:00:13 CST
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
[To]:     [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V10 #821
BCC:
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Thu, 15 Nov 90 23:00:00 CST    Volume 10 : Issue 821

Inside This Issue:                         Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    AT&T MAIL ACCESS Program Description [Nelson Bolyard]
    The Horrors of GTE (Was: Logistics of Modem Hunt Group) [Andy Jacobson]
    Comp.dcom.fax - Interim Mass Acknowledgement [Evan Leibovitch]
    Noise Reduction [Jeff Sicherman]
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Nelson Bolyard <[e-mail]>
Subject: AT&T MAIL ACCESS Program Description
Organization: Silicon Graphics, Inc., Mountain View, CA
Date: Wed, 14 Nov 90 01:31:30 GMT


Executive (:-) Summary: If you have and use AT&T Mail's "ACCESS"
program for the PC or MacIntosh, please write a description of how it
works, how you use it, how user-friendly it is, etc, and mail it to me
or post it to the TELECOM Digest (comp.dcom.telecom).

In article <[e-mail]> Mike Van Pelt <[e-mail]> wrote
about the GEnie Star*Services, and provided a wonderful description of
GEnies' program called Aladdin.  Aladdin essentially allows you to
forget that GEnie is an on-line service.  Instead of perceiving
yourself as logged into a computer far away, you interact with your
own personal computer, and it deals with GEnie off-line (that is to
say, behind your back, while you're not looking).

Like Mike, I want to use e-mail to converse with a distant relative.
Since I am already on the Internet, I want an e-mail service for my
relative with a mail gateway to the Internet.  GEnie's Star*Services
e-mail has no such gateway (or so I have been told by one of GEnie's
e-mail operations personnel, not a customer sales rep).

So I chose AT&T Mail.  $30/year, a few cents per message (I forget the
exact amount), no connect time charges, 800-number so no toll charges.
And they have a mail gateway to the Internet.

AT&T has a pair of programs that they want you to buy to use AT&T
Mail.  Both are named "ACCESS", one is for the PC, one for the
MacIntosh.  Each reportedly costs about $150 (just went up, used to be
about $100).

I have been trying, unsuccessfully, for about six weeks to get some
information on those programs.  I have called 800-MAIL-672 about six
times, and written numerous e-mail letters to people at attmail.com.
So far, I've received three brochures, one of which has two sentences
about ACCESS, one has one paragraph, and one (actually a sheet
describing system requirements) that tells me the PC version is
actually five TSRs, which take up a total of something like 350 K
bytes (I think).  One e-mail letter I got from someone at attmail.com
told me that ACCESS provides only "glass teletype" terminal emulation,
no VT-100 or other terminal emulation.  So I know what it DOESN'T do,
but what DOES it do?  It has fewer ADVERTISED features than any other
terminal emulation programs I can think of (like Procomm Plus) that
cost less than one third of the price of ACCESS.

Now I suppose, if its main purpose is to be like Aladdin and hide the
interaction with the central mail hub from the end-user, that it's OK
for it to not have good terminal emulation.  But why should I have to
make a wild-a**ed guess about what their $150 program does before
buying it?

Evidently, AT&T has NO brochures to SELL their expensive program!  The
only way to get the owners manual is to buy the product, and there's
no satisfaction-or-your-money-back no-questions-asked 30-day
guarantee.  No demo version is available, and the local AT&T sales
reps don't know about ACCESS and can't demo it.

Every time I think about this, I remember something I read in an old
TELECOM Digest article about "couldn't sell drugs at a Grateful Dead
concert".

So, please, if you use this ACCESS program and are willing to play
AT&T sales rep, please tell me all about it.  Or, if you're in the San
Francisco Bay area, and are willing to do a demo, please call me.


Nelson Bolyard [e-mail] {decwrl,sun}!sgi!whizzer!nelson
415-335-1919   Disclaimer: Views expressed herein do not represent the
views of my employer.


[Moderator's Note: You do *not* need those programs to use ATT Mail! I
use one of my terminals and the printer attached to it and get along
just fine.  Some time ago, they tried to tell me I needed a PC to use
the mail. Whether or not the program you describe, at the price
offered is worthwhile or not is a judgment you need to make.   PAT]

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 13 Nov 90 03:38 PST
From: Andy Jacobson <[e-mail]>
Subject: The Horrors of GTE (Was: Logistics of a Modem Hunt Group)


In TELECOM Digest V10 #810: John Higdon <[e-mail]>writes:

>NONE of the responses obtained from GTE personel bear any resemblance
>to reality. From personal experience it is possible to say that if you
>want to determine anything about GTE's system, you will have to use a
>back door approach. It is necessary to befriend a sympathetic employee

Back in March I moved out of the locale my switch served. I wanted to
keep my same number, and I of course with great dread called the GTE
customer service office to inquire how. I was told I could either pay
thousands of dollars one time plus hundreds a month for foreign
exchange service, or I could get the handy feature "Remote Call
Forwarding" (RCF) where my number would be permanently forwarded to a
number of my choosing from the CO in my old neighborhood, but with no
dial tone provided.

On the surface this would seem like the solution.  But as you might
guess, it costs $80 one time, plus $25 a month, plus $0.05 per
forwarded call (measured service).  I _had_ basic non-measured POTS at
$10 a month, and I was moving to the free call zone of the original
switch. How could it be that it was so much more expensive to give me
less service? All they were doing was not giving me a subscriber loop!
As well, the residential CSO wouldn't handle it.  I would have to
completely switch my service to business class. I wasn't running a
business, I just wanted to keep the same phone number on a three mile
move.

It was explained to me that only a business would want to keep their
same number, and then only till the next directory came out. (I love
having GTE tell me what I do not apparently have a right to want.) I
was furious. I remember seeing in a phone book RCF was available for
cheap. It was.  It's called Pac*Bell. I called them up and was told
that I could have it for $5 one time charge, and $2 a month,
residential service, no problems, no questions asked. My number was
unfortunately not in Pac *Bell-land though. How could GTE ream me like
that for the same exact thing that Pac*Bell could do for cheap?

I called the Public Utilities Commission. I explained the situation to
the representative who apologized for being ignorant of what RCF was.
The next day the fully briefed PUC representative told me that GTE
never bothered to file a tariff for residential RCF, just business
class, whereas Pac*Bell did both. So what could I do about it?
Nothing. I can't make GTE file a tariff if they don't want to. I could
file a formal complaint, but because it was not in reference to a
filed tariff, it would most likely disappear in the cracks.  Luckily,
I had a friend in my old neighborhood who has now an extra outgoing
line with free local calling. (The phone has no ringer and I use
regular Call Forwarding).

Maybe a month later, I'm on the phone with an AT&T rep about the cost
effectiveness of buying a PBX. He tells me that the residential
organization I represent could really save big on aggregate buying of
LD service from AT&T (SDN I suppose). But what about local trunks?
Well, if we only were in Pac*Bell land we could have them for $4 and
some change a month. But in GTE land, it's $19.80 for the same damn
thing. He confides in me that he has lost PBX sales in GTE land
because of this factor. Who to? GTE of course! GTE's "CentraNet"
(Centrex).that is, which is aimed at the PBX market, and priced per
line lower than a simple non-DID outgoing trunk!

 Yes, GTE's got you coming and going. No doubt they're using their
predatory power as common carrier to tariff PBX's out of cost
effectiveness. (I should note too that it's not only AT&T's PBX, but
it's also AT&T's 1ESS, and Centrex that GTE is peddling). GTE's edge
however may be short-lived, as according to their CentraNet sales rep,
GTE has no plans to upgrade their 1E switches, and thus no plans to
offer ISDN. (I repeat from an earlier posting GTE = Generic Telephone
Equivalent). All the above being bad enough, GTE's POTS is 10-20% more
expensive than Pac*Bell, and GTE still uses it's status as local
carrier to cross peddle it's trashy equipment. Well after 1984 they
were pushing Sprint LD service down people's throats at their public
offices. Still to this day GTE is doing it. (They slammed me to Sprint
in July all by themselves.  Sprint said GTE issued the order.)  I
personally think that the omission of GTE is one huge glaring error
(among soooo many) of the MFJ. GTE gets away with so much that the
BOC's can't, and wouldn't.


A. Jacobson <[e-mail]>

------------------------------

From: Evan Leibovitch <[e-mail]>
Subject: Comp.dcom.fax - Interim Mass Acknowledgement
Date:     Wed, 14 Nov 1990 00:32:07 -0500


The following 163 people have submitted valid votes either for or
against the proposed group.

Since no individual acknowledgements will be sent, this will be the
only receipt for your vote. If you have submitted a vote but your name
is not here, please re-submit it to:

[e-mail]
-or-
uunet!attcan!telly!fax

Thank you for participating.


VOTES RECEIVED TO DATE (NOV 14):

[e-mail]
Allan D. Griefer <[e-mail]>
Andy Jacobson <[e-mail]>
Andy Malis <[e-mail]>
Andy Rabagliati <uunet!inmos.com!andyr>
[e-mail]
Atro Tossavainen <[e-mail]>
Barton F.Bruce <[e-mail]>
Bengt Larsson <[e-mail]>
Bill Campbell <[e-mail]>
Bob Clair <[e-mail]>
Bob Sloane <[e-mail]>
Bob Yasi <[e-mail]>
Brain in Neutral <[e-mail]>
Bryon Johnson <[e-mail]>
Chip Hill <[e-mail]>
[e-mail]
[e-mail]
Dion Johnson <[e-mail]>
Dmitry V. Volodin <[e-mail]>
Douglas F. DeJulio <[e-mail]>
Ed Basart <[e-mail]>
Ed Braaten <[e-mail]>
Ed Vielmetti <[e-mail]>
Frank D. Cringle <uunet!materna!fdc>
Fred E.J. Linton <uunet!EAGLE.WESLEYAN.EDU!FLINTON>
Geoff Twibell <[e-mail]>
[e-mail]
Harald Boegeholz <[e-mail]>
Hardy Pottinger <[e-mail]>
Ittai Hershman <[e-mail]>
[e-mail] (Programmin' up a storm.)
James H. Thompson - HNL <uunet!verifone.com!jimmy_t>
Jeff Beadles <m2xenix!qiclab!onion![e-mail]>
Jim Knowles <[e-mail]>
John Mann <[e-mail]>
Ken Dykes <[e-mail]>
Kevin Purcell <[e-mail]>
Larry Masinter <[e-mail]>
Lars H}kedal <[e-mail]>
Mark Alexander Davis <[e-mail]>
Neon.Stanford.EDU!kaufman
Olaf Brandt <uunet!lupine!olaf>
Peter Quirk <[e-mail]>
Petri Helenius <[e-mail]>
[e-mail] (Frederick G. M. Roeber)
Robin Schaufler <[e-mail]>
Roger Fajman <[e-mail]>
Samuel Lam <[e-mail]>
Scott Kay <[e-mail]>
Stefan Karlsson <[e-mail]>
Steve Elias <[e-mail]>
Steve Hayman <[e-mail]>
Toby Nixon <hayes![e-mail]>
[e-mail]
[e-mail]
[e-mail] (Stacie Simerson)
asuvax.eas.asu.edu!stjhmc!stjhmc.fidonet.org!ddodell
[e-mail] (Stan Voket)
atlas.dev.abccomp.oz.au!peter
atrc!mofh![e-mail] (alvan tom)
att!akgua!akgue!wrg
[e-mail] (Bruce Balden)
bandw![e-mail] (Craig Goss)
[e-mail]
[e-mail] (Doug Blair)
[e-mail] (BMUG)
christopher williams <[e-mail]>
[e-mail]
coplex![e-mail] (John Vaccaro)
cvax.cs.uwm.edu!levine
[e-mail] (Cyndee Richards)
dciem!jsitcom!brett
[e-mail] (Daniel E Zuccarelli)
[e-mail] (Gihan Dias)
[e-mail] (Eric Dittman)
[e-mail] (woody)
[e-mail] (Dave Rand)
[e-mail]
[e-mail] (Rob Gibson)
elsie.nci.nih.gov!ado
[e-mail] (Elliott S Frank)
[e-mail] (Fernando J. Selman)
fmsystm![e-mail] (Macy Hallock)
foxtail![e-mail]
[e-mail] (Fred Rump from home)
[e-mail] (Stephen Friedl)
[e-mail] (Geert Jan de Groot)
[e-mail]
halcyon![e-mail]
[e-mail] (H. S. Magnuski)
[e-mail] (Ron Heiby)
[e-mail] (Vera Heinau)
[e-mail]
igloo.Scum.com![e-mail] (Bill Fischer)
inesc![e-mail] (Miguel Casteleiro)
[e-mail] (Jim Gottlieb)
[e-mail] (Jiro Nakamura NeXT Developer)
[e-mail] (Jeff Wasilko)
[e-mail] (John R. Levine)
[e-mail] (Jon Sreekanth)
[e-mail]
klaus u schallhorn <cnix![e-mail]>
[e-mail] (Ken Mandelberg)
[e-mail] (Laird Heal)
[e-mail] (Lar Kaufman)
[e-mail] ("Mark Corbould")
[e-mail] (Michael C. Berch)
[e-mail] (Mark M Mehl)
[e-mail] (Melchior A. Meilchen)
[e-mail] (Jim Mercer)
merk!cogsys![e-mail]
midway.uchicago.edu!pbhx
[e-mail]
mje99![e-mail] (Mark J Elkins)
[e-mail] (M.R.Murphy)
[e-mail] (Nigel Allen)
nmrdc1.nmrdc.nnmc.navy.mil!rdc30med
ocf.Berkeley.EDU!appel
olsa99!tabbs![e-mail] (Aris Stathakis)
[e-mail] (Paolo Crini)
[e-mail]
[e-mail] (Leonard Peirce)
[e-mail] (Mark Steiger)
[e-mail] (Daniel Poirot)
polari![e-mail] (Don Wennick)
[e-mail] (Peter Preuss)
[e-mail] (Ray Smith)
[e-mail]
[e-mail] (Richard H. Miller)
[e-mail] (Robert A. Kukura)
[e-mail] (0000-Admin(0000))
[e-mail]
[e-mail] (Russell Lawrence)
[e-mail] (Jeff Sicherman)
[e-mail] (Scott J Loftesness)
[e-mail] (Stuart Lynne)
[e-mail] (Thorn Roby)
uhunix.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu!syoon
unix.cis.pitt.edu!tjw
uunet!aspect!kevinc
uunet!blackbox!cbradley (Chris Bradley)
uunet!bywater!scifi!njs (Nicholas J. Simicich)
uunet!cdl!pajari ()
uunet!consult!bob
uunet!domain.com!mdv (Mike Verstegen)
uunet!gammalink.com!mikes (mike spann)
uunet!kksys.KKSYS.MN.ORG!gk (Greg Kemnitz)
uunet!motcid!marble!ibbotson (Craig Ibbotson)
uunet!motcid!void!marocchi (Jim Marocchi)
uunet!paralogics!compsm!rlg
uunet!pnet51.orb.mn.org!elec (Doug Renner)
uunet!wubios.wustl.edu!phil (J. Philip Miller)
uunet!yale!bronson!tan (Tan Bronson)
uunet.UU.NET!decwrl!teda!attain!jxh
[e-mail] (Vance Shipley)
virtech![e-mail] (Conor P. Cahill)
[e-mail]
well![e-mail] (Bill White)
[e-mail]
[e-mail] (Bill Fischer)
[e-mail]
[e-mail] (Paul J Zawada)


Evan Leibovitch, Sound Software, located in beautiful Brampton, Ontario
     [e-mail] / uunet!attcan!telly!evan / [phone]

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 13 Nov 90 13:01:22 PST
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Noise Reduction


  Due to roommate pressure over phone hogging with modem use, I am
putting another line in. However, I will be forced to accept the
existing four-wire, non-twisted-pair that is currently installed,
using the second line of the pair. Based upon previous discussions in
the digest, I expect noise problems with the modem. What can I do to
avoid or minimize this. Hardware solutions may include a new modem but
nothing *too* expensive please.


Jeff Sicherman

[e-mail]

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V10 #821
******************************










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          16 Nov 90 6:44 CST
Date:     Fri, 16 Nov 90 6:32:04 CST
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
[To]:     [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V10 #822
BCC:
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Fri, 16 Nov 90 06:31:28 CST    Volume 10 : Issue 822

Inside This Issue:                         Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Re: Why Are They Called 'Generics'? [William F. Thompson]
    Re: Are Cellular Calls Free to Landline Customers, or Not? [Bob Sherman]
    Re: CPC / "Wink" Call Termination [Steve Forrette]
    Re: Cellular Daily Roaming Surcharge $4.00 per Day? [John Macdonald]
    Re: AT Bus Hardware For ISDN [Rick Rodman]
    Re: Saudi Arabia's Telephone System [Carl Moore]
    Re: *Long* Phone Calls -- What Does Ma Think? [John Higdon]
    Re: The Real Meaning of ISO [Henry Troup]
    Re: Spring Ahead, Fall Behind [Tom Neff]
    Re: Dealing with Telemarketers [Tom Neff]
    Re: Talk to a Pioneer [Richard Gehrig]
    Re: Modifying the NANP? [Carl Moore]
    Gratuitous Bashing vrs. Legitimate Complaints [Jack Dominey]
    Calling USA From Mexico [George S. Thurman]
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Wed, 14 Nov 90 01:28:29 EST
From: William F Thompson <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Why Are They Called 'Generics'?
Organization: Tex and Edna Boil's Prairie Warehouse and Curio Emporium


 From article <[e-mail]>, by Jeff Wasilko <jjwcmp@
ultb.isc.rit.edu>:

> As I was catching up on my Digest-reading, a thought occured to me --
> why are switch programs called 'generics'?

I always wondered that too (and I even develop software for them).
But wonder no more - they're now called Software Releases.


Bill Thompson   AT&T Network Systems    att!ihlpf!foz

------------------------------

From: Bob Sherman <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Are Cellular Calls Free to Landline Customers, or Not?
Date: Wed, 14 Nov 90 09:59:32 GMT


In <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Michael C. Berch)
writes:

>I have read, from time to time, messages in TELECOM Digest which
>assert that it is supposed to be toll-free for a landline telephone
>subscriber with flat-rate service to call any cellular subscriber in
>whatever the regional cellular calling area is supposed to be.  The
>only charge is airtime to the cellular subscriber.

A recent item in one of the communications trade publications stated
that a major New England cellular provider was about to begin
reversing that trend by charging the landline caller for calls made TO
cell phones.

In other words, if the cell phone places the call, they pay the air
charges, but if a landline places the call to the cell phone, they
will be charged the air charges.. If you remember back a ways, it was
always that way with the old mobile phone service on vhf/uhf channels.
You told the operator you wanted to place a "mobile call" and they
handed you off to the mobile operator, and you gave them the YJ, JP,
JL or whatever number you were calling. The costs appeared on YOUR
bill. Same if you make a call through the "marine operator".

Seems to me that this could cut down on some of the junk calls that
are being placed via random dialing through the cell phone prefixes
(in this area anyways). It will be interesting to see if the this
becomes a trend, and spreads to other parts of the country.


[e-mail] | bsherman@pro-exchange | MCI MAIL:BSHERMAN

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 13 Nov 90 13:35:51 -0800
From: Steve Forrette <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: CPC / "Wink" Call Termination
Organization: University of California, Berkeley


In article <[e-mail]> you write:

>For the question on answering machines, the machine
>detects the end of the conversation by detecting dial tone. When the
>calling party clears, the connection will be broken.  The local office
>will time out and regard the off hook from the answering machine as an
>origination and provide dial tone.

This is not true for all machines.  My Panasonic DOES deal with CPC.
It's really nice not having to listen to dialtone at the end of each
message.  Also, it can even detect a hangup during the play of the
outgoing message.  It stops play immediately, and resets for the next
call.  I've the KX-T1427 model, and it's great!  (Yea, I know, if I
was REALLY hi-tech, I'd have a voice board, but oh well.)

------------------------------

From: John Macdonald <eci386![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Cellular Daily Roaming Surcharge $4.00 per Day?
Reply-To: John Macdonald <eci386![e-mail]>
Organization: Elegant Communications Inc.
Date: Wed, 7 Nov 1990 09:47:45 -0500


|[Moderator's Note: That's why I fully support the concept of learning
|to program your own phone, and getting accounts on many systems.  PAT]

Perhaps eveyone should throw out their AT&T cards and get a separate
one for each local telco they deal with too.  The problem here is that
cellular service sort of falls in the cracks of the great breakup -
they are local service providers except that their service is
available over a wide range of locations.


John Macdonald     jmm@eci386

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 15 Nov 90 22:50:43 -0500
From: Rick Rodman <virtech![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: AT Bus Hardware For ISDN


AT&T's card requires CPU attention from the AT-bus computer (read:
pokey).

Contact DGM&S in New Jersey for some nice hardware using 80188 and TI
320C30 DSP!

Also there is a very expensive board from Mitel.


Rick Rodman      uunet!virtech!rickr    "Yesterday's Tomorrow is Here Today"

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 13 Nov 90 17:45:11 EST
From: Carl Moore (VLD/VMB) <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Saudi Arabia's Telepone System


Mark Hahn <[e-mail]> writes:

>To call my old home phone, dial 011-966-387-42688.  011-966 is, of
>course, the international access for Saudi.  3 is, I think the escape
>for Aramco.  87 is, I think, the city code for Dhahran.

I don't have a map of Saudi Arabia in front of me as I write this.
Could it be the other way around?  (I.e., could you have 3 as city
code for Dhahran and 87 as an "exchange" reserved for Aramco there?)
Here is what I have for Saudi Arabia city codes:

966 Saudi Arabia
    1  Riyadh
    2 or 21 Jeddah
    2 or 22 Mecca
    41 Medina

------------------------------

Organization: Green Hills and Cows
Reply-To: John Higdon <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: *Long* Phone Calls -- What Does Ma Think?
Date: 14 Nov 90 10:48:44 PST (Wed)
From: John Higdon <[e-mail]>


[e-mail] (Fubar's Carbonated Hormones) writes:

> While I don't carry a full feed, the
> calls HAVE been known to go up to 30 hours a shot.  At one point, I
> can recall a transfer that went for three days (had been down for a
> while, and news was queueing up as fast as I could get it). This was
> all GTE, and I have since moved to San Luis Obispo, where we have
> Pac*Bell.  Longest call here has been on the order of eight hours. But
> I can forsee such long calls again.

My news/mail system DOES carry a full USENET feed, and exchanges news
with no less than eight other sites. It has five modems, three of
which are Telebits. Back before Telebits, eight hours was not uncommon
for a news delivery. Now, the longest connection I have seen is about
three hours, but that happens only when there has been constipation in
the feed and backed-up news is flushing out. IMHO, any site that does
any amount of news should be using high speed modems. In any event,
telco has never given any flack about long local calls (on residence
service).

> On another aspect, my feed has told me that if I buy a pair of
> telebits, he'll run SLIP for me ... so I *WOULD* be on the phone 99%
> of the time ... but remember, this is all a hobby. I take no money
> for my BBS ... so what do you think the phone*co would say?

My experience is that telco will not give you any trouble. It might be
questionable if you are trying to create a "leased line" out of an
unmeasured dialup. But just "long" calls are not a problem. As far as
defining what type of service you qualify for, the tarrifs are quite
clear. For non-business related hobby use, you get residence.


        John Higdon         |   P. O. Box 7648   |   [phone]
    [e-mail]     | San Jose, CA 95150 |       M o o !

------------------------------

Date: 14 Nov 90 14:03:00 EST
From: Henry Troup <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: The Real Meaning of ISO


Ole J. Jacobsen writes:

> Quick note: ISO does *not* stand for "International Standards
> Organization".  It is *not* an acronym, but it does refer to the
> organzation whose official name is: INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR
> STANDARDIZATION.  This "mistake" is perhaps the most common in the
> entire communications industry.

Isn't the real "real name" in French?  Same as CCITT is "Comitte
Consulatif Internationale pour Telefon et Telegraf" (errors in French
spelling and lack of accents notwithstanding).

I think that the CCITT at least dates from the period where French was
the standard language of diplomacy, and therefore international
organizations used it as the official language of choice.

------------------------------

From: Tom Neff <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Spring Ahead, Fall Behind
Date: 14 Nov 90 00:23:15 GMT
Reply-To: Tom Neff <[e-mail]>


When I see all these automated clock setting tools being posted far
and wide on CompuServe, Usenet etc., I can't help wondering: is the
NBS up to the job of answering all the new calls generated from
thousands of American basements and desktops?

------------------------------

From: Tom Neff <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Dealing with Telemarketers
Date: 14 Nov 90 00:48:18 GMT
Reply-To: Tom Neff <[e-mail]>


I discovered a really fun way to deal with telemarketers!

*RING* *RING*

ME: Hello?

TM: Hello, is this Thomas Neff?

ME: Yes, can I help you?

TM: Well Mr Neff, I'm calling from XXXXX and I was wondering if you had
    a few moments to talk about blah blah blah blah.......

(I wait for the whole sentence to finish -- don't cut him off)

ME: What number are you calling from?

TM: Um... urgh... errr... um....  Well have you heard about our blah
    blah blah....?

ME: I asked you what number you're calling from.

TM: Well... <frantically searching his scripts for something to say>
    Perhaps this isn't a good time to call you...

ME: No, it's a fine time to call.  What number are you calling from?

TM: <...pause...>

*CLICK*

I've done this three times recently, with only minor variations.  It is
more fun than ice cream!  The poor TM slaves have to go by their
carefully prepared scripts, but nothing has prepared them for my
perfectly reasonable non-answerable question!  I can't be accused of
abusive behavior, yet they MUST hang up!

Pass it on ... it would be terrific if a few thousand exchanges like
the above took place this month :-)

------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Date: Wed Nov 14 15:48:40 CST 1990
Subject: Re: Talk to a Pioneer


Regarding TELECOM Digest V10 #818 11-13,

>Reference the recent discussion of Telephone Pioneers: if you want to
>talk to a Telephone Pioneer, they staff the "Contact 2"
>consumer-assistance phone lines run by Channel 2 (KTVI) here in St.
>Louis. These lines are open for calls from 11 AM - 1 PM and 5-7 PM
>Central Time, at these numbers:

>800-782-2222   314-282-2222

>I don't know if there is any geographic limit on the 800 number; do
>these new 800 services still have geographic limits, or has the old
>concept of "WATS Bands" disappeared with the flood of competing
>800-providers?

Yes ... "WATS Bands" are alive and well, as well as "customized" 800
services.  Customized 800 services available now can terminate on POTS
(Plain Old Telephone Service) lines, with no special equipment or
"dedicated" lines needed.  Some 800 services allow the customer to
pick and choose which area codes to receive 800 calls from.

The 800 number above (for Channel 2 (KTVI)) can be reached by callers in
Illinois and Missouri only.


Richard Gehrig
attmail!bcm1a05!rgehrig
Rookie Reader

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 14 Nov 90 18:32:53 EST
From: Carl Moore (VLD/VMB) <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Modifying the NANP?


As Doug Reuben pointed out, 908 is in New Jersey (it's being formed by
splitting 201), not New York.  In a posting some months(?) ago, I
cited a {N.Y. Times} article saying that the latest proposal for
implementing the 917 area code, given that only one borough line
remains WITHIN 212, was to put Manhattan's cellular and mobile lines
along with all of the Bronx into 917; only the Manhattan land lines
would remain in 212.

Much further back, someone (not me) put down the idea of putting new
telephone listings into new area codes.  Area codes are being kept
contiguous (right) to avoid confusion.  (The Manhattan overlay -- see
above -- is unprecedented.)  The weirdest shape for an area code that
I know of is that of 409 (formed 1983 by splitting 713) in Texas; it's
got the pre-split 713 area except for a hole punched out for Houston
and nearby suburbs.  (As for new listings, they are likely to go into
new PREFIXES within a given exchange area; for example, I am on
302-731 and I know of newer arrivals on 302-292 in Newark, Delaware.)

Yes, I am aware of the NN0 area codes, to start coming on line when
the N0X/N1X are used up.  But wasn't there a note in the Digest saying
that Mexico will (then or later) become reachable via pseudo area
codes of 52x form (where x won't be zero)?

Afterthought: 917 in Bronx would be right next door to 914 in
Westchester.


[Moderator's Note: Carl, I think you might agree that 312/708 has some
odd boundary lines also, with one small section of 312 completely
surrounded by 708 at Ohare Airport and one section of 708 completely
surrounded by 312 on the northwest side of Chicago in an area not
actually in the city.  PAT]

------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Subject: Gratuitous Bashing vrs. Legitimate Complaints
Date: Wed, 14 Nov 90 00:00:00 EST


I must protest the article in V10 #819 from Dan Breslau, forwarding a
message from a Sprint customer.  I work for AT&T and am probably being
hypersensitive, but I think I have a legitimate complaint.

I believe the article does fit the general thread we've often seen
here of "customer rep horror stories".  That's fine, every company has
its share of ignorant and annoying people on the phones.  A sales rep
(much less a supervisor!) who can't handle a reasonable question is a
liability and should be pulled off the line quickfashion.

My problem with the article is that the customer was basically trying
to pick a fight.  S/he didn't really seem interested in finding out
why the flyer said one thing and the {Wall Street Journal} article
headline said another.  S/he decided that the flyer was "a sleazey
(sic) piece of propaganda". So s/he harangues the supervisor who is
foolish enough to admit he hasn't read the WSJ.

The overwhelming majority of "war stories" published in TELECOM Digest
are from people who were genuinely trying to obtain information, order
service, get repair, etc.  I can sympathize.  But it seems out of
character to run a story from someone who admits the purpose of the
call was to "harrass a poor telephone operator who is only doing her
job".  I can't even tell if the customer bothered to read either the
article or the flyer.

I'm sure our Moderator must constantly winnow gratuitous bashing from
legitimate complaints.  The article in question is somewhere in
between, but from my partisan position, looks closer to the former.

P.S. I suspect the flyer and the Journal were talking about different
rates, either business vs. residential, day vs. evening/night, or
standard vs.  calling plan.  But without reading both, and knowing
when this took place, (last week?  last month?  this summer?) I can't
tell for sure.


Jack Dominey | AT&T Commercial Marketing | 800-241-4285 | AT&T Mail !dominey

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 14 Nov 90 03:05 GMT
From: George S Thurman <[e-mail]>
Subject: Calling USA From Mexico


A friend of mine will be going to Mexico on vacation in a few weeks,
and he would like to know if there is a way to reach a US operator
(AT&T or any other carrier) from the following cities:
Cuernavaca, Taxeco(sp) and Acapulco(sp).


Thanks,

G. S. Thurman
[e-mail]

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V10 #822
******************************










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Date:     Fri, 16 Nov 90 7:32:45 CST
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
[To]:     [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V10 #823
BCC:
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Fri, 16 Nov 90 07:32:05 CST    Volume 10 : Issue 823

Inside This Issue:                         Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Re: A Phone Set Wiring Question [Barton F. Bruce]
    AS 1317 BU Telephone Set [Howard Pierpont]
    All Those Jacks [Richard Lerner]
    Slick-96 [Kevin Griffin]
    Re: Microsoft Use of 900 Number for Tech Support [Gordon Letwin]
    GTE Mobilnet's Response [John Higdon]
    RBOC Special Services (was: British Telecom Codes) [Jim R. Oldroyd]
    Breaking News? 714 Split [Andy Jacobson]
    Measured Local Service [Sander J. Rabinowitz]
    Area-Code 714 Will be Split [Steve Rhoades]
    ISO's Meaning (was: NSFNet etc.) [Jim Breen]
    Unitel (Canada) Fax Service [Paul Gauthier]
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: "Barton F. Bruce" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: A Phone Set Wiring Question
Date: 13 Nov 90 16:49:00 EDT
Organization: Cambridge Computer Associates, Inc.


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Dave W. Hamaker) writes:

> I expected single-line phones would ignore the yellow-black pair,

> I was subsequently surprised to discover that one of my telephone
> sets ... would take both lines off hook when in use.

Your set was probably wired for "A" lead control and the black and
yellow wires were expected to be connected to "A" and "A1" in a 1A2
key system to light the lamps and cut ringing and knock it off hold if
it had been help by a key phone.

Don't bother getting a two wire cord. The two terminals those wires
went to were probably just interconnections to two wires coming from
the hook-switch and have NO OTHER connections internally. Try
replacing them and move one of the two hook-switch wires OFF one of
your two terminals and onto the OTHER. This leave the H/S contact
doing nothing. There is NO path between your yellow and black, and no
floating wires.

Failing that, take the yellow and black wires off the terminals, and
fold an inch or so of tape onto itself (sticky to sticky) lengthwise
to sandwich each flapping spade lug individually.

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 13 Nov 90 14:20:18 PST
From: Howard Pierpont <[e-mail]>
Subject: AS 1317 BU Telephone Set


I recently purchased, it is amazing what tele addicts will do, an AS
1317 BU Telephone Set. The inside cover has the schematic and shows
that the earpiece was an "over the head" [operator] style arrangment.
The unit was "Push to Talk Pull to receive" wooden box wall mount
unit. It is 95% complete and I am interested in learning more about
the unit or how to make it functional today.


Howard Pierpont            Home
Digital Equipment Corp.    P.O. Box 128 South Berlin, MA 01549
450 Donald Lynch Blvd      AT&T 508-838-2696
Marlboro, MA 01752         NYNEX Cell Voice Mail 508-751-2772

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 13 Nov 1990 17:28-EST
From: [e-mail]
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Subject: All Those Jacks


Could someone post a list and short description of the various jacks
used in the telecommunications world?  For example, what is the
difference between an RJ11, RJ31X, RJ35, etc.?  I looked in the
archives but didn't find this information.

Thanks,

Rick

------------------------------

From: KEVIN GRIFFIN <[e-mail]>
Subject: Slick-96
Date: Tue, 13 Nov 90 06:40:45 CST
Organization: Ed Hopper's BBS - Houston, Texas 713-997-7575


Can anyone tell me what a "Slick 96" switch is and what kind of
services are available from it. One of my local (SWB) techs told me
that one is about to be installed in my local exchange, but he didn't
want to tell me anything about it.


Kevin Griffin

------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Gordon LETWIN)
Subject: Re: Microsoft Use of 900 Number for Tech Support
Date: 14 Nov 90 01:27:47 GMT
Organization: Microsoft Corp., Redmond WA


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (John Higdon)
writes:

> hpubvwa!ssc![e-mail] writes:

> > Higdon has a HUMBLE OPINION??!?  No, but seriously, they recently
> > instituted this for support of MS DOS ONLY ... all their applications
> > support is free.

> Oh, I see. The "product" that put them on the map (other than a BASIC)
> is treated as a second-rate stepsister. The company has to protect
> itself from all those unwashed masses who might actually have some
> legitimate problem (oh, but how could they--DOS is perfect, right?)

What a hostile person you are.  If you reasoned as well as you hate
you'd get somewhere.

DOS has been sold strictly as an OEM product.  That means it was
"wholesaled" to an OEM for them to sell with their product, the
computer.  Microsoft receives only a few dollars a copy for each
MS-DOS.  In a similar manner, car makers may license a Bosch ABS
system.  If you have a problem with that ABS, you don't call Bosch,
you call GM.  GM made the retail profit on the product and part of
their contract with Bosch is that GM supports it.  The same holds true
for MS-DOS.  Part of our contract with the OEM is that they support
the product they sell, not us.  We provide support to OUR customer -
the OEM.  They can call us any time.  We also provide them training
programs, I'm pretty sure.

One thing which confuses people is that the disks say Microsoft all
over them, whereas their ABS system just says "GM".  This makes it
harder for folks to understand that they bought it from the OEM, not
Microsoft.  There's two reasons for this.  One is Copyright.  The ABS
is protected by patents, but software is protected by Copyright.  One
requirement for copyright protection is a notice; our product *has* to
say Microsoft on it and in it to be protected.  Secondly, an operating
system is a standard product and the OEM needs to assure the customer
that they're getting the real standard, so the OEM wants to make sure
that the user knows it's Microsoft DOS.  In the early years this
wasn't always true; some OEMs forbade us to say that their BASIC was
Microsoft BASIC.

So we offer "free" support for our retail products because we received
the retail markup and support is one of the things you do to earn that
money.  We didn't receive the retail markup for DOS, the OEM did, and
the OEM is the person who needs to support it; that was their
agreement.  As a convenience to customers who don't want to call the
OEM or whose OEM's are not doing a good job, Microsoft now offers
support for DOS, but we have to charge for it now since we didn't get
any money for that service when we sold your OEM the DOS.


gordon letwin
not an official microsoft spokesperson

------------------------------

Organization: Green Hills and Cows
Reply-To: John Higdon <[e-mail]>
Subject: GTE Mobilnet's Response
Date: 13 Nov 90 20:29:16 PST (Tue)
From: John Higdon <[e-mail]>


I had no actual conversation with anyone at GTE Mobilnet today
concerning their blocking of international dialing. We played
voicemail tag. I left a stern message concerning the attitude toward
customers, treating them all like crooks. A responding message
indicated that they simply were trying to reduce loss. I responded
with the comment that it was their problem and that I was going to
investigate Cellular One.

And then the surprise. There was a message informing me that
international dialing had been reinstated on my two accounts! There
was no other comment, but IDDD does work on my cellular phones.

Apparently the "national policy" isn't carved in stone.


        John Higdon         |   P. O. Box 7648   |   [phone]
    [e-mail]     | San Jose, CA 95150 |       M o o !

------------------------------

From: Jim R Oldroyd <[e-mail]>
Subject: RBOC Special Services (was: British Telecom Codes)
Date: 14 Nov 90 04:59:46 GMT
Reply-To: "Jim R Oldroyd" <[e-mail]>
Organization: The Instruction Set, Waltham, MA


Recently, Moderator (PAT) wrote:

> [Moderator's Note: I'm *still* trying to convince repair service
> attendants and Business Office people at IBT that I have Call
> Screening (*60) on my line. It works fine, usually, but there are a
> couple bugs that need attention. But they still insist that I don't
> have it on my line. One person today even offered to have it removed

I've seen a few messages recently suggesting that there are
interesting services (*60, *69, *72, I think) which I do not havem but
which I would like.  My RBOC (New England Telephone, on 617-227) knows
nothing of these.  Does anyone have a list of them, and are there any
secret words one needs to know in order to convince them to provide
you with the service?

If anyone has a list, with dialing codes, service name, and short
description, that would be great.  Oh, yes, and the magic words too!


Jim


[Moderator's Note: There are no magic words or secret codes. Either
your phone switch is equipped with CLASS or it is not. If it is, and
has been for awhile, then all the reps seem to know about it. If it is
very new, or in beta test (as it is here apparently, now I am told),
then there will be a lot of confusion among reps as to what is and
what is not available. Now that mine is installed and my contacts at
IBT are aware of it, they call *me* a couple times a week to see how
it is working. The codes are: *60 = invoke call screening; *80 = suspend
call screening; *66 = Repeat Dialing; *69 = Auto callback to the last
call you received.  PAT]

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 14 Nov 90 02:12 PST
From: Andy Jacobson <[e-mail]>
Subject: Breaking News? 714 Split


According to Tuesday editions of the {L.A. Times}, Pac*Bell and GTE
announced Monday that they will be splitting up area code 714.  The
change is to take effect in Jan. 1993. Unique about this split is that
the telcos won't just decree new boundries, but will actually submit
three proposed boundries, and allow for public comment on the three
plans. (How is not explained).

Seems Southern California with its incredible growth is just sucking
up area codes right and left. 619 (San Diego and eastern California)
was carved out of 714. Then 818 (San Fernando valley) and now 310(West
L.A. and South Bay) out of 213. In 1993, 714 splits again, what next?
At this rate NANP will be using NNX's very soon.


Andy Jacobson <[e-mail]>

------------------------------

Subject: Measured Local Service
Date: 13 Nov 90 20:36:13 EST (Tue)
From: "Sander J. Rabinowitz" <[e-mail]>


I wonder how any TELECOM Digest readers might react to the following:

For the last five months, my Dad's telephone bill included a statement
urging him to switched to a measured local service (i.e. first 50
calls are free with the remaining calls being charged). Presently, for
a fixed monthly fee, unlimited local calls are allowed. The statement
also reads something like this (these are not Michigan Bell's exact
words):

"As a free service to you, we have kept track of the number of local
calls you've made this month so you can see if you save money with our
measured service.  This month, you made -0- local calls--therefore,
you would have saved $3.44 this month had you used our other plan."

Now I KNOW for each of the last five months, more than 50 local calls
per month were made on that line.  (I made many of them myself.  =)
Meanwhile, my own telephone bill doesn't have that message, even
though my line also has the unlimited calling feature.

Is this something for the local public service commission to look at?
It seems like a harmless computer glitch, but I can't shake the
feeling that something fishy is going on here.


Sander J. Rabinowitz    |   ![e-mail]   | [phone]
Farmington Hills, Mich. | -OR-  [e-mail]   |       8-)

------------------------------

From: Steve Rhoades <[e-mail]>
Subject: Area-Code 714 Will be Split
Date: Wed, 14 Nov 90 11:03:39 PST


The folks at GTE and Pac*Bell held a press conference yesterday
announcing that they will be splitting area-code 714, which serves
Orange County in Southern California.

The new area-code will be 909 (gasp!).  They will be holding public
hearings as to how the area will be split.  Several plans are in the
offering:

1.) Have Pac*Bell's area retain 714 while GTE gets 909.

2.) Orange County retains 714 while the bordering counties, some of which
    are in 714, get the new 909.

3.) Have all new phone numbers issued after Jan. 1993 get the
    new area-code. (I never heard of this before.)

Pac*Bell claims that the proliferation of cellular phones and pagers
are causing them to run out of numbers in 714 sooner than expected.
This will be the second time 714 was split.  The first was several
years ago when San Diego and the desert areas broke away to form 619.

The new area code will be effective in Jan of 1993.


Internet: [e-mail]  |  Voice-mail: [phone]
UUCP: ...elroy!tybalt!slr         |  USmail: Box 1000, Mt. Wilson, Ca.  91023


[Moderator's Note: And 619 is *hardly* an over-populated area code.
You'd think they could have shoved the boundaries around on that one a
little and recovered quite a bit of territory.  Currently Telenet uses
909 as the 'area code' for their administrative lines in Virginia. I
guess they will change it to something else starting in a couple
years.  PAT]

------------------------------

From: Jim Breen <[e-mail]>
Subject: ISO's Meaning (was: NSFNet etc.)
Organization: Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Date: Wed, 14 Nov 90 22:12:16 GMT


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] writes:

> Reasonably accurate except that the name of the body is "The
> Organization for International Standardization", at least in English.
> The name "ISO" was selected because it "looks right" in a lot of
> languages without being an actual acronym for the name of the body in
> any language, thus avoiding offending either anglophiles or
> francophiles.

Reasonably accurate, except that it's "International Organization for
Standardization". I'm quoting from my copy of ISO 8802-2, which on my
desk right in front of me. The name appears about five times on the
first three pages.


 Jim Breen ($B?@Ip(J) ([e-mail])
Dept of Robotics & Digital Technology. Monash University
    PO Box 197 Caulfield East VIC 3145 Australia
      (ph) [phone] (fax) [phone]

------------------------------

From: Paul Gauthier <[e-mail]>
Subject: Unitel (Canada) Fax Service
Organization: Math, Stats & CS, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
Date: Wed, 14 Nov 1990 20:18:39 -0400


  A Canadian Company has recently begun to offer a special reduced
rate to fax users. The user pays only a small monthly fee ($10, I
think) and receives a little black box which attaches to their fax
machine. When the fax machine dials I presume this black box
intercepts the dial and calls a 1-800 number or somesuch and then
routes the call out from there.  The user recieves a big discount on
calls placed in this manner. MT&T (Bell Canada) offers a similar
service, but you have to pay for a special line which will place local
calls of any type, but will only allow fax calls to be place long
distance.

Of course, when I read this in the paper I wondered how they detected
this. I called MT&T and asked what would happen if a voice call was
placed on such a line. They assured me it would be very quickly
disconnected. The person I spoke to also claimed that MT&T was
'listening' to the call and was actually sensing fax protocol and thus
deciding whether the call should be allowed to continue or not.

  Does anyone know if such services actually detect and interpret fax
protocol to decide whether to axe the call? The idea that first struck
me was using this service to get cheap rates for long distance modem
calls.  If all the hardware is listening for is something that
resembles a data call (carrier) then perhaps a modem would fool it.
Any thought?


PG

[e-mail]    [e-mail]    [e-mail]

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V10 #823
******************************










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Date:     Fri, 16 Nov 90 8:10:50 CST
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
[To]:     [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V10 #824
BCC:
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Fri, 16 Nov 90 08:10:38 CST    Volume 10 : Issue 824

Inside This Issue:                         Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    A Current Prodigy Subscriber Responds [George Sinos]
    Re: Info Needed on Prodigy Service [Craig R. Watkins]
    Message Relay Service: Nova Scotia, P.E.I. [Nigel Allen]
    AT&T Puts it in Writing - Rate Increase [Jody Kravitz]
    Ohio Bell Class of Service Requirements [Macy Hallock]
    Crosspoint Switch For IBM-PC [Jim Marocchi]
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Wed, 14 Nov 90 21:31:39 EST
From: George Sinos <[e-mail]>
Subject: A Current Prodigy Subscriber Responds
Reply-to: [e-mail]
Organization: DRBBS Technical BBS, Omaha, Ne. 402-896-3537


I just thought I would throw in two cents from a current Prodigy
subscriber.

The new software must be considerably better than the old, it can be
used either with a mouse or with the keyboard.  The menuing system is
a bit on the tutorial side, but you must remember, Prodigy is not for
the hard core BBS types.  It is for the computer owner that can't
really figure out how to use his computer or what he bought it for in
the first place.

Is it slow?  Slower than I would like, but it works.  Are there 500k
users?  That's hard to say.  I, my wife, and my three kids that live
at home each have individual IDs but pay one bill.  Is this one or
five users?

Do they kick people off the system?  Well, according to the incredibly
long agreement that you must read and accept before you can officially
log on they reserve the right to do that, to read your mail and return
it to you for any reason they want, and you or they can terminate at
any time for any reason.

Personal experience: Slow but very good service.  Why do we keep it?
Because there is execellent educational material availble for my kids.
They use it much more than my wife or I, and it's a heck of a lot
cheaper than buying games for my pc.

Personal experience: On a Saturday morning a shower head in one of our
bathrooms broke.  Later that day, I was digging around on Prodigy and
ran across Consumer Reports.  My wife suggested I look up shower
heads.  The top rated shower head just happened to be sold by one of
the Prodigy vendors.  I switched to that vendor, ordered the shower
head and it was in my house the following Tuesday night.  On Sunday
morning, however, I noticed that the same shower head was advertised
nationally for two dollars off the price I had paid.  When my bill
arrived, it had been adjusted accordingly.  I think that is good
service.  I think that is what Prodigy is supposed to be all about.

I think email is a tacked on gee-gaw and not really meant to be the
main thrust of Prodigy.  Remember, the whole thing was started by IBM
and Sears.  These two companies put this whole thing together to gain
a competitive advantage, not to provide a nice place for computer
hobbyists to play.  All the other services, are just there to keep you
coming back so you can be exposed to the ads on the bottom of the
screen.  The closest analog I can think of is commercial television.

We will continue to subscribe as long as it is useful to us.  We will
not even consider doing anything quite so rude as posting public
messages insulting our host.  (Don't you think you would be escorted
out of Kmart if you stood in the middle of the store complaining about
prices?)  When we don't like it anymore we will just stop using it and
cancel our agreement.


George Sinos, Papillion, Nebraska.

 --- Ybbat (DRBBS) 8.9 v. 3.11 r.4
[1:285/666@fidonet] DRBBS Technical BBS, Omaha  (1:285/666.0)

 --- Through FidoNet gateway node 1:16/390
[e-mail]

------------------------------

From: "Craig R. Watkins" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Info Needed on Prodigy Service
Date: 15 Nov 90 09:35:20 EST
Organization: HRB Systems


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail]
(Ken McGlothlen) writes:

> The first thing that struck me was that it was sure awfully slow.
> Configuration was easy enough, but the graphics were painfully slow,
> and the characters flowed across the screen at a speed slightly better
> than a 300bps modem (from a 2400bps connection).

I've used Prodigy on a Mac, a couple different PC's, and I've even run
it on my VAXstation (under SoftPC).  While I was running it on a
386SX, I found I could speed it up a decent amount by calling at 9600
baud.  There's a SCRIPT.R file on your disk for connecting to Tymnet
at 9600.  You have to find a 9600 baud Tymnet number to tell Prodigy
to use along with type "R."  You also will have to hand-edit some
configuration file(s) to tell Prodigy to use 9600 baud since the only
menu selections are 1200 and 2400.  I don't remember what the file(s)
were, but it wasn't hard although it did require some guesswork -- try
switching the setup between 1200 and 2400 and see what changes.  (The
SCRIPT.R file is on the Mac disk, too, but I didn't try that.)

I had a few people at "Ask Prodigy" tell me 9600 baud usage was not
possible in direct reply to mail that I sent saying that I was using
it at that very moment!  I also had one person there tell me to STOP
using it.  When I pursued the question of what I would do if I only
had a 9600 baud modem, someone else said I could continue to use it,
but it wasn't supported.  I left it at that.

The bottom line is that if you are a Prodigy user, depending on your
platform, 9600 may help (it was definitely worthwhile on a 386SX).  As
for the usefulness of the service: I can certainly see that it could
be a good deal (with "flat" rate service) for people that are
interested in the services that are offered.  Me?  I canceled.

As an interesting sidenote -- earlier this week I was attending a a
PREPnet (Pennsylvania's regional branch of the Internet) meeting in
Philly and saw a Prodigy machine set up in the lobby of the Holiday
Inn at 18th & Market.  One could just walk up and use it -- I actually
checked weather for the drive home.  I was amused to note that the PC
was by AT&T and not IBM!


Craig R. Watkins    Internet:    [e-mail]
HRB Systems, Inc.        Bitnet:        [e-mail]
[phone]        UUCP:        ...!psuvax1!hrbicf!crw

------------------------------

From: Nigel Allen <[e-mail]>
Subject: Message Relay Service: Nova Scotia, P.E.I.
Reply-To: [e-mail] (Nigel Allen)
Organization: Contact Public Unix BBS. Toronto, Canada.
Date: Wed, 14 Nov 90 22:51:52 GMT


   MT&T and Island Tel to Offer Message Relay Service for the Hearing
and Speech Impaired

   [Press release dated November 8, 1990 from the Canadian Radio-
television and Telecommunications Commission, slightly edited]

   Hearing and speech-impaired persons in Nova Scotia and Prince
Edward Island will find it easier to communicate by telephone when
Maritime Telegraph and Telephone Company, Limited (MT&T) and Island
Telephone Company Limited (Island Tel) introduce Message Relay Service
(MRS) next spring. The companies were ordered to offer the service by
the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
(CRTC). (Reference: CRTC Telecom Letter Decisions 90-16 and 90-17,
November 8, 1990) [MT&T is the only telephone company in Nova Scotia;
Island Tel, which is partly owned by MT&T, is the only phone company
in P.E.I.]

   "It's a question of fairness," said CRTC Chairman David Colville.
"The hearing and speech impaired pay full price for basic telephone
service, as well as the extra cost of buying a telecommunications
device for the deaf (TDD), and they should be able to make full use of
the service. We're pleased that both telephone companies offered to
introduce MRS."

   With MRS in place, a specially-trained operator will relay messages
between a hearing or speech-impaired person who communicates with the
use of a TDD and a person who does not use a TDD to communicate.

   MRS will be available from MT&T and Island Tel 24 hours a day,
seven days a week. MT&T and Island Tel will give access to MRS through
800 or equivalent service. The CRTC has approved Island Tel's proposal
to implement MRS jointly with MT&T because this is most cost-effective
that if the company made MRS available independently of MT&T.

   Both MT&T and Island Tel will offer a 50% discount on all long-
distance calls placed through MRS to any part of Canada. Today's
decisions direct the companies to file the necessary tariff proposals
with the CRTC at least 30 days before they launch MRS.

   The introduction of MRS was considered at public hearings held
earlier this Fall in Halifax and Charlottetown to determine the
overall revenue requirements of MT&T and Island Tel. The CRTC intends
to take into account the expense of establishing MRS when making its
final decisions on MT&T's and Island Tel's revenue requirements.

   "The Commission decided to issue decisions on MRS at this time,
prior to rendering final decisions on revenue requirements, to avoid
any undue delay in the introduction of the service," Mr. Colville
explained. "We appreciate the valuable advice the Commission received
during its deliberations from the Canadian Association of the Deaf and
the Society of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Nova Scotians."

                       ----------------

  If you would like more information, contact Maritime Tel & Tel,
Halifax, N.S. at [phone], or CRTC Information Services in Hull,
Quebec, at [phone].

  Bell Canada and the British Columbia Telephone Company have each
offered message relay service for several years.  B.C. Tel initially
contracted its MRS to the Western Institute for the Deaf in Vancouver,
but now provides the service using B.C. Tel operators.


Nigel Allen          telephone [phone]
52 Manchester Avenue  fax [phone]
Toronto, Ontario M6G 1V3, Canada

------------------------------

From: foxtail![e-mail]
Date: Wed, 14 Nov 90 23:09:39 PST
Subject: AT&T Puts it in Writing - Rate Increase


I found this ad in the Thursday, Oct 29 edition of the {LA Times}.  It
was in section one, on a page of article continuations and department
store ads.  It was two columns wide and about four inches long.
Although this ad does not contain any information about the discount
rate plans, it does "put it in writing" for the basic rate structure.
I don't understand the implications of the rate changes. Perhaps
someone else could comment on this?


             N O T I C E   T O

            A T & T   C U S T O M E R S

   On October 19, 1990, AT&T filed with the Federal Communications
Commission to change dial station night/weekend prices for interstate
calls within the U.S. and calls between Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin
Islands and the U.S. mainland.  Dial station rates apply when the
person originating the call dials the telephone number desired,
competes the call without the assit- ance of a Company operator and
the call is billed ot the calling station. These rates are scheudled
to become effective on November 2, 1990.

         DIAL STATION-NIGHT/WEEKEND U.S. INTERSTATE RATES

             Existing                    Proposed
          ----------------------      ---------------------

  Rate        Initial     Additional      Initial     Additional
 Milage       Minute        Minute        Minute        Minute
---------     ------        ------        ------        ------
   1-10      $0.1000       $0.0975       $0.1051       $0.1051
  11-22       0.1130        0.1100        0.1139        0.1139
  23-55       0.1200        0.1200        0.1208        0.1208
  56-124      0.1200        0.1200        0.1208        0.1208
 125-292      0.1215        0.1215        0.1223        0.1223
 293-430      0.1250        0.1225        0.1256        0.1256
 431-925      0.1300        0.1260        0.1306        0.1306
 926-1910     0.1325        0.1300        0.1331        0.1331
1911-3000     0.1350        0.1325        0.1357        0.1357
3001-4250     0.1650        0.1600        0.1650        0.1650
4251-5750     0.1750        0.1700        0.1750        0.1750


         DIAL STATION-PUERTO RICO/U.S. VIRTIN ISLANDS-
                U.S.MAINLAND NIGHT/WEEKEND RATES

             Existing                    Proposed
          ----------------------      ---------------------

  Rate        Initial     Additional      Initial     Additional
 Milage       Minute        Minute        Minute        Minute
---------     ------        ------        ------        ------
 926-1910     0.1325        0.1300        0.1331        0.1331
1911-3000     0.1350        0.1325        0.1357        0.1357
3001-4250     0.1650        0.1600        0.1650        0.1650


------------------------------

Date: Tue, 30 Oct 90 20:20 EST
From: Macy Hallock <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Two Residential Lines; Different Owners; Same Class of Service
Organization: F M Systems, Inc.  Medina, Ohio USA  [phone]


In article <[e-mail]>:

[Discussion of problems with Ohio Bell permitting two lines with
different types of service in the same house with different apartments]

Having gone through this with Ohio Bell on behalf of a friend, I am
aware of their policies:

In order for a premises to be considered a separate residence, a
separate street address or apartment number must be on the door,
mailbox or exterior surface for each unit.  There are exceptions
allowed for hotel, dormitory and health care facilities.

This is specified in their tariff, and administrative policy fills in
the gaps in interpretations.

If the premises is not in Ohio Bell's computer listing of street maps,
things get interesting.  The installer will adhere to these rules and
check.

Now, for the fun part:

There a several classes of service in Ohio for residences: flat rate,
measured and economy.  You cannot mix classes in single residence.  A
flat rate line for voice and measured for a fax/modem is not allowed.

In Ohio Bell territory, only measured lines are available for business
use.  If you have a business line in your home, your residence line
must also be measured.  (This is Ohio Bell way of preventing cheating
on message units on business lines, I guess.) Residence lines cannot
be installed into a business address without proof of residence (a bed
and cooking facilities must exist).  This is to prevent the
installation of a flat rate residence line into a business.

On residence service, rotary line hunting is free.  Touch tone costs
about $1.  You may split your 1+ carriers on multi-line residential
installations.  Directory listing of additional lines is optional, and
sublistings such as "fax line" or "children's line" are no charge.
OBT does charge for unlisted service, of course.  Listing to a
different name is permitted, but often questioned by the business
office representative.  (I always use the "wife's maiden name"
explanation.)

Residential centrex is only available with measured service, not flat
or economy.  TT is free, but they soak you for everything else.  Not a
great deal, unless you have a detached barn or a garage down the road,
then it is pretty useful (saves the cost of cable to link the locations).

We'll report on GTE Ohio's ideas of residential assignment later ;-(


Macy M. Hallock, Jr.     [e-mail]      uunet!aablue!fmsystm!macy

------------------------------

From: Jim Marocchi <motcid![e-mail]>
Subject: Crosspoint Switch For IBM-PC
Date: 14 Nov 90 22:19:33 GMT
Organization: Motorola Inc., Cellular Infrastructure Div., Arlington Hgts, IL


Does anyone know if a crosspoint switch on a card(s) exists for use in
an IBM-PC? This hardware should be capable of interfacing to analog
lines, and be capable of performing a simple crosspoint switch
function. No fancy functions are necessary, just switch inputs to
outputs. This equipment would be used for demo purposes, so the
numbers of lines switched is fairly small. I remember seeing something
like this awhile ago, but don't remember the source. Any pointers
would be appreciated. Posts or e-mail appreciated.


Jim Marocchi 708/632-2407 | Motorola, Inc  Cellular  1501 W. Shure Dr.
...uunet!motcid!marocchi  | Arlington Heights, IL  60004   USA

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V10 #824
******************************










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[To]:     [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V10 #825
BCC:
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Sat, 17 Nov 90 01:44:22 CST    Volume 10 : Issue 825

Inside This Issue:                         Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Austrian PTT to be Restructured [Der Standard, via Wolf Paul]
    Getting Rid of Bell Tap [Bruce E. Howells]
    Caller-ID Bulk Data Question [Doug Blair]
    900 Sleaze Infests the USENET [Michael P. Deignan]
    Transoceanic Cables [Mark Brader]
    Operation Desert Fax [Ed Hopper]
    Telemarketing Sleezoids [Steve Warner]
    Re: Telecom Art [Peter da Silva]
    Re: A New Type of 976 Fraud [Steven King]
    Re: Question About "Point of Demarcation" [Jeff Scheer]
    Telephone Pioneers Museum in Atlanta, GA [Subodh Bapat]
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: wolf paul <tuvie!iiasa.local![e-mail]>
Subject: Austrian PTT to be Restructured
Date: 15 Nov 90 09:39:15 GMT
Reply-To: wolf paul <[e-mail]>
Organization: IIASA, Laxenburg/Vienna, Austria, Europe


Summarized from an article by Ernst Brandstetter in Vienna's "DER
STANDARD", of 1990-11-14:

In the coming legislative period Austria's PTT will not only lose part
of its income, but also some of its regulatory power and
responsibility. In the telecommunications area, the PTT will retain
only the "lines monopoly", i.e. other vendors offering services will
have to lease their lines from the PTT instead of being allowed to
install their own. This was agreed upon by coalition negotiators from
Austria's two larges political parties, Social Democrats and
Conservatives.

This restructuring of the PTT into a regulatory body and a service
provider/vendor will take place by 1992. Prior to this time, a
comprehensive, EEC-compatible telecommunications act will have to be
prepared and passed by Parliament. Vienna's Economic University will
be given the task to prepare a comparative study of existing
legislation of this kind in other countries.

The purpose of the restructuring is the elimination of the
disadvantage private vendors face in competing with a state monopoly
organization which is vendor/service provider and regulator at once.

For the same reason, cross subsidizing within the PTT will be
prohibited, and the PTT will have to pass on some of its very high
telephony profits to its subscribers. Both domestic long distance
charges and the fixed monthly subscriber charge are to be reduced to
reflect the lower cost of providing these services as a result of
technological progress.


Wolf N. Paul, UNIX SysAdmin, IIASA, A - 2361 Laxenburg, Austria, Europe
PHONE: [phone]     FAX: [phone]      UUCP: uunet!iiasa!wnp
INTERNET: [e-mail]      BITNET: tuvie!iiasa![e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 14 Nov 90 19:35:10 -0500
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Getting Rid of Bell Tap


What can be done to supress "bell tap"?

Situation: University dorm room, behind a Centrex so old it creaks
until they get it it's coffee in the morning ... two phones and a
modem on the line, all FCC registered and allegedly polite.

The problem is that one of the phones (a Cobra Princess-Phone
lookalike) bell taps quite loudly every time anything hangs up,
including the modem.  Quite annoying - particuarly to my roommate who
gets immediate notification of the end of my late-night (ahem)
programming sessions.

Anything I can do to supress this?  I'm pretty technically competent,
so if it's a "throw something across/in the line" solution that'll be
very welcome - I'd just rather not go hacking into the hardware on
someone else's Centrex without more background on what I'm doing.

Thank you.

f*Bruce Howells,     [e-mail]     |     engnbsc@buacca (BITNet)
   me?     just a random Engineering undergrad...

------------------------------

Subject: Caller-ID Bulk Data Question
Date: Wed, 14 Nov 90 12:51:43 CST
From: Doug Blair <[e-mail]>


We're engaged in development of a Caller-ID device for use in
multi-line (PBX etc) installations. The Bellcore docs (in
TR-TSY-000032) mention a dedicated line for data delivery and specify
the interface details are available in TR-TSY-000034, "Dedicated
In-Band Analog Signalling Data Interface."  TR-TSY-000034 was never
published according to the nice order lady at Bellcore, so I'm looking
for the technical specs (things like FSK frequencies, word lengths,
stop bits, etc) that we'll need to decode this information if it's
supplied on a seperate line.

Does anybody know a) if the signalling for bulk lines is the same or
similar to that described for a single line (in TR-TSY-000030) or b)
where a complete description may be found?


Doug Blair    Obedient Software Corp.
1007 Naperville Rd, Wheaton IL  60187
708-653-5527  [e-mail]

------------------------------

Subject: 900 Sleaze Infests the Usenet
Date: Wed, 14 Nov 90 14:08:27 EST
From: "Michael P. Deignan" <[e-mail]>


900 Sleaze has invaded Usenet. Behold the message which recently
appeared in misc.consumers...

                  -----------------

My friend has a number of '900' numbers for sale.  If you do not know
what these are, they're phone lines with which the caller gets charged
for each minute he/she is on the line.  These lines are legitimately
leased from long-distance carriers, and all callers are billed through
AT&T.

The normal rate for leasing one of these lines is anywhere from
$4000/month.  Now, for a limited number of lines, you can lease these
lines for a substantial savings off the regular price.  The lines can
be used for any legitimate purpose with a few exceptions being
pornography and credit repair.

These lines start paying for themselves the day you start using them.
The caller gets billed by AT&T at $2 for each minute they're on the
phone.  Also one can set up a message answering service for
round-the-clock calls.  This could be an enormous boost to your
business or vocation.  The possibilities are limited only by your
imagination.  One person made $14,000 in one month by placing an ad
which said:

        Respond to the Mideast crisis!
             call 1-900-555-1212

These numbers are accessible nationwide, and you do not even have to
answer the line from where you work or live.  A remote answering
service can take care of all the calls, and you get credited monthly
for all the calls being made.

If you or a friend may be interested in leasing one of these lines,
they are being offered for the incredibly low price of $750/month. See
if you would like to work out a deal for the lease of these lines.

Do *not* email!  Call (AAA) BBB-CCC.  Ask for Ruze.

                         -------------

Now, ask yourself: would you *ever* buy phone service from someone
named "Ruze"?


MD

------------------------------

From: Mark Brader <[e-mail]>
Subject: transoceanic cables
Organization: SoftQuad Inc., Toronto, Canada
Date: Thu, 15 Nov 1990 02:16:49 -0500


Recent articles have referred to the TAT-8 transatlantic cable, and
the TAT-9 cable under construction.  Do these numbers imply that there
are exactly eight transatlantic cables, or possibly fewer if some
older ones have been retired?  Or are there other namespaces besides
TAT-n?

Roughly how many transoceanic cables are there under all the oceans of
the world?  Roughly what fraction of calls use them rather than
satellites?  (Or rather, what fraction of half-calls, since it was
said recently that a call can be satellite one way, cable one way.)

Curiously,

Mark Brader, SoftQuad Inc., Toronto, utzoo!sq!msb, [e-mail]

------------------------------

From: Ed Hopper <[e-mail]>
Subject: Operation Desert Fax
Date: Wed, 14 Nov 90 09:05:50 CST
Organization: Ed Hopper's BBS - Houston, Texas 713-997-7575


[e-mail] (Werner Uhrig) writes:

> I wonder if a very slow secretary is sitting on a PC and an impact
> printer sending letters to some APO-address now that ATT's free fax
> program is discontinued (if I remember my rumours right...)

AT&T's Operation Desert Fax is still active.  It will continue through
12/31/90.  I believe you are referring to the free USA Direct calls.
The Saudi PTT shut that down after one week instead of two due to
volume.

Desert Fax has handled 250,000 messages so far.

Ed Hopper


[Moderator's Note: And a very worthwhile and generous program it is
 ... you can stop in at any AT&T Phone Store to send a Fax message to
a friend or spouse on duty in the middle east right now. There is no
charge to send it. Write out a short note on the spot or prepare a
longer letter at home and take it in.   PAT]

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 14 Nov 90 09:17:19 PST
From: Steve Warner <stables![e-mail]>
Subject: Telemarketing Sleezoids


Tonight I received the first telemarketing call in some months.  The
call went something like this...

Me:  Hello?

TMS (Telemarket Slease):  Is Jane Frazzlebottom there?

Me:  Sorry - there is no one here by THAT name!

TMS: Is John Frazzlebottom there then..  This is AT(&)(N)T Calling...

Me:  No - No one here by that name either, sorry.

TMS: Did I call the correct number  (415) nXX-xxxx?

Me: Yes that is my number now

TMS: Oh - you must have had the number only a short while then.

Me: (catching on to this crap) What company did you say you are
    with???

TMS: AT(&)(N)T.  [sounded like AT&T but was slurred very expertly]

Me:  Did you say  AT [AND] T   or  AT [N] T.

TMS:  AT [N] T.

Me:  You guys are a joke.
Click.

This was obviously going to degrade into some sort of push to switch
to their brand of rotten LD service.  And if I hadn't seen someone HERE
mention that someone was using ATNT as a company name - I may have
fallen for it too.

The line they called me on is one of three, which I changed numbers
to, in order to get PAC*BELL message center.  Previously my lines were
on a new prefix which never got telemarketing.

As soon as I hung up, it rang again - annoyed I answered, thinking it
was ATNT again - the caller asked if my paper was arriving ok, this
is the {San Jose Mercury News} calling.  (This REALLY happened.)

Time to change that number BACK to the orginal prefix!


Steve Warner    fremont, ca, USA etc   replys to: sun!indetech!stables!sw


[Moderator's Note: A story in TELECOM Digest in 1988 told about a
fellow here in Chicago who had incorporated his business using the
name "The Phone Company". He was selling an insurance policy dealing
with phone repair/replacements as needed, just like Illinois Bell with
their 'Line Backer' service. The Illinois Consumer Protection Office
made him stop. I feel rather certain ATNT is so close in sound to AT
and T that when Mother finds out about his scheme he'll get sued and
be forced at the least to change his name to something not infringing
on theirs.   PAT]

------------------------------

From: peter da silva <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Telecom Art
Reply-To: [e-mail] (Peter da Silva)
Organization: Xenix Support, FICC
Date: Wed, 14 Nov 90 22:32:09 GMT


I have often considered combining the Usenet locations with the messages
and putting up a map of the Usenet world. For each message in the spool,
I'd pulse all the systems it went through to get to me, translating the
net into a softly glowing, pulsating, galaxy ... flaring up at high traffic
periods, perhaps watching the night (hacker time, when one expects most
messages get posted) sweep across the globe...


Peter da Silva.
[phone].
[e-mail]

------------------------------

From: Steven King <motcid![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: A New Type of 976 Fraud
Date: 14 Nov 90 19:56:49 GMT
Organization: Motorola Inc. - Cellular Infrastructure Div., Arlington Hgts, IL


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (David B.
Whiteman) writes:

>Well today a group of pagers, all of them with phone numbers in
>sequential order were each beeped with the message to call a 976
>number.  Obviously, a 976 company just autodialled the pager exchange.

So, did anyone call the 976 number to find out who the slimy little
reptilian company was?  Might have been interesting.


Steven King, Motorola Cellular  (...uunet!motcid!king)

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 14 Nov 90 21:29:44 EST
From: Jeff Scheer <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Question About "Point of Demarcation"
Reply-to: [e-mail]


Most obviously any large business, regardless of two trunks or fifty
trunks has a demarc box outside.  I for one, have a hundred pair
demarc cable block outside my back door, but then again, most people
don't run a business out of their home.

As for large PBX's, would a voice mail operation with five DID trunks
count as a "PBX"??  As for a "PBX" itself, what about a 555 cord board
for a main answering point?  I know I need an RJ21X, but how many?
Will one cover the incoming DID trunks, along with business lines and
the voice mail inbound directly to a"regular" house jack?  Please
respond as I am in a wheelchair, and can't really get out to
investigate at the library/ or the library at the USWEST office in
Omaha; although I have asked USWEST to send me a copy of the schematic
for a 555.

I know this is the ninties, but I enter messages on the computer with
a software program that I have.  I can jumper into the computer along
with the voice mail card to provide simultaneous voice/data by using
one line out for the computer and me on the other.  Anyway with the
electric situation that usually occurs in the Midwest during the
summer or winter, I feel that a 555 cord board is "handy" to have
around, since I'm not dependent on an auxilliary generator to have the
power to run both computer and phone system.


The .COMmand Center [200:5010/23@metronet] (1:285/23) (Opus 1:285/23)

 --- Through FidoNet gateway node 1:16/390
[e-mail]

------------------------------

From: Subodh Bapat <mailrus!uflorida!rm1![e-mail]>
Subject: Telephone Pioneers Museum in Atlanta, GA
Date: Mon, 12 Nov 90 15:16:10 EDT


While on a recent visit to Atlanta, GA, I happened to discover the
Telephone Pioneer's Museum located there.

This is a fascinating place, featuring all kinds of telephone
equipment from the early days of telephone history. Aside from
technical displays, it also chronicles the business history of the
telephone industry - the legal patent battles between Bell and Elisha
Gray, the empire-building expansionism of Ted Vail, antitrust
legislation through the ages, the disastrous experiment with the
nationalization of AT&T by the Federal Government during World War I,
etc. etc. It also contains a recording of a speech given by Thomas
Watson in 1927 (?) describing the moments of the first telephone
invention when he worked with Bell.

An interesting titbit I picked up was the fact that the first words -
now legend - spoken by Bell on the phone "Come here, Mr. Watson, I need
you!"  were not what he planned to say, but they came out because,
just as he was picking up the phone, Bell accidentally knocked over
the battery that was powering his apparatus, spilling acid all over
his arm. It is perhaps fitting that the first telephone coversation
was a 911 call  :-).

For those of you planning to visit Atlanta, it's located on the third
floor of the 45-story Southern Bell Building in midtown Atlanta, open
11am-1pm on weekdays. It's definitely worth a visit (and worth
skipping lunch if you have to!)

P.S. On a unrelated note, just two blocks from the Southern Bell
Building, I ran into the worst COCOTs I've ever seen. Aside from the
usual woes - horrible sound quality, multiple intercepts coming on
simultaneously, snarfing coins on unsupervised calls, no alternative
LD carrier access, refusal to accept calling cards, I ran into a new
atrocity - "0" and "00" not producing live operators, but instead
recordings saying no operators were available followed by calling
instructions. It would have taken very little tempting to get me to
violation-label those phones right there.


Subodh Bapat              [e-mail]     OR           ...uunet!rm1!bapat
MS E-204, PO Box 407044,  Racal-Milgo, Ft Lauderdale, FL 33340  [phone]

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V10 #825
******************************










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Date:     Sat, 17 Nov 90 16:08:29 CST
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
[To]:     [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V10 #826
BCC:
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Sat, 17 Nov 90 16:08:13 CST    Volume 10 : Issue 826

Inside This Issue:                         Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Re: New Area Codes and International Dialing [John R. Covert]
    1-800-WANT-POT Disconnected [Eduardo Krell]
    New Area Code for Southern California [Javier Henderson]
    Re: *Long* Phone Calls -- What Does Ma Think? [Jack Winslade]
    Re: Sprint's New Calling Card [Glenn F. Leavell]
    Looking For Info on WATSON [Kevin Maher]
    Re: Wrong Number Nightmare [Carl Moore]
    Sources For Catalogs [Adam Mottershead]
    Re: The Right Choice [John Higdon]
    Two Men Indicted in Telephone Scheme [Pittsburgh Press via Tom Neudecker]
    Re: Dialogic vs. AT&T Voice Power vs. ... [Dave Levenson]
    AT&T Public Phones - Data Jack [Bill Rubin]
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Thu, 15 Nov 90 06:05:35 PST
From: "John R. Covert  15-Nov-1990 0851" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: New Area Codes and International Dialing


>I've just tried to dial a number in the 917 area code (non existent
>yet) from France. I got a French intercept message just after dialing
>the 7 of 917 saying that this code was not in service. What means has
>a switch in France to know that.

International exchanges in foreign countries must have a table of area
codes in World Numbering Zone 1 in order to know whether to send calls
to the Canadian international exchange (in Montreal), to one of AT&T's
gateways in New York, Pittsburg, Denver, Atlanta or Sacramento (or to
a gateway for another carrier if multiple carriers are providing two-way
service), or to the gateways in Honolulu and Anchorage for calls to Hawaii
and Alaska.

In addition, for area code 809, they must do six-digit translation in
order to send traffic to the appropriate island or country.  There is
not a single point where all other countries may send 809 traffic.  A
determination must be made as to whether to send traffic to Bermuda,
Puerto Rico, St. Kitts, etc.

Also, even where traffic to multiple destinations may be permitted to
transit through a third country which does additional routing translation,
in countries where charging is done by charge pulses (almost all countries
outside North America), the appropriate rate has to be computed before the
call can be placed by determining which of the above destinations is being
dialled.  This can only be done by knowing where each area code is, and for
area code 809, knowing where each exchange is.

BTW, since I brought up multiple carriers:  The CCITT recommendations
specify what to do about multiple carriers.  Since customers in countries
having circuits to and from the U.S. provided by multiple U.S. carriers
don't have a way of selecting ATT/MCI/Sprint for calls to the U.S., the rule
is that outgoing traffic is to be statistically assigned to each carrier
based on the same percentages as the incoming traffic.


john

------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Date: Thu, 15 Nov 90 09:22:52 EST
Subject: 1-800-WANT-POT Disconnected


There was an arrest this past week in Greenwich Village in New York
City of the leader of the "Church of the Realized Fantasy" (Michael
Cesar) who ran the 1-800-WANT-POT service from his comic book shop.
People would call this number and bicycle messengers would be
dispatched with marijuana. Four messengers were arrested as well.

Mr. Cesar has a record of drug convictions and ran telephone services
in the past with names such as DIAL-A-JOINT and 777-CASH.


Eduardo Krell                   AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill, NJ

UUCP: {att,decvax,ucbvax}!ulysses!ekrell  Internet: [e-mail]

------------------------------

From: Javier Henderson <ames!elroy!esvax.hamavnet.com![e-mail]>
Subject: New Area Code for Southern California
Date: 15 Nov 90 08:26:48 PST
Organization: Hamilton Avnet Computer; Culver City, CA


According to the local newspaper, the current 714 area code will be
split up again. The last time they did it was when they created 619
for the San Diego area.

Now San Bernardino and Riverside counties, and a few cities in the Los
Angeles county, will have 909. GTE and Pacific Bell would make a
formal announcement on January 1991, and the new area code would go
into effect during 1993. They said that the demand for new phone lines
for fax, computer and cellular services has grown up quite a bit.


Javier Henderson  Engineering Services   Avnet Computer  Los Angeles, CA
[e-mail]   {simpact,asylum,elroy,dhw68k}!hamavnet!henderson

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 15 Nov 90 09:51:31 EST
From: Jack Winslade <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: *Long* Phone Calls -- What Does Ma Think?


In message <[e-mail]>, "andrew M. Boardman" writes:

{ ... in regards to >>VERY<< long calls }

>  - What would one's local phone company think of this?
>  - In the expected case that they aren't too fond of losing
>    out on the megabucks for a leased line, do they have
>    legal ground telling you to stop?

Back around 1970 or so, there was a belief held by some members of the
electronic community that if you were to order two lines (in different
locations, of course), dialed one into the other and >>NEVER<< broke
the connection, there would be no bill for the call, since the billing
was done at the time the call was terminated.  Of course I never knew
anyone who really tried this.  This supposedly would work whether the
endless call was local or across the country.

This idea was reinforced when an employee of AT&T Long Lines told me
that there was a good chance that after several months, after the
billing tapes were changed several times or something like that, there
was a good chance that the equipment would 'forget' about the
connection and never bill at all, even if/when it was terminated.

Yes, I know about 'chasing permanents', but this was in the NYC area
circa 1970, where many of the offices were aging panel and #1 crossbar
that were held together with scotch tape and typically had such things
like unused twisted-pair jumpers banjo-strung all over the frames.
The switch crews were busy just keeping the switches up, let alone
tracing permanents (if the PS lamps weren't burned out. ;-) There was
some kind of a tape-based CAMA system that billed a whole group of
offices from a central point.  I think some of the offices still
billed for local units with 'odometer' type counters which were
photographed each month.

Maybe some of the 'experts' on billing systems could confirm if this
was true at that time.  I am, of course, assuming that if it were
true, the case has been dealt with and the modern billing software is
smart enough to catch it and bill for it.

Good Day!


JSW

 [1:285/666@fidonet] DRBBS Technical BBS, Omaha (1:285/666)

 --- Through FidoNet gateway node 1:16/390
[e-mail]

------------------------------

From: "Glenn F. Leavell" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Sprint's New Calling Card
Organization: University of Georgia Economics Department
Date: Thu, 15 Nov 90 19:10:05 GMT


In RISKS-FORUM Digest 10.60, Jerry Glomph Black <[e-mail].
MIT.EDU> writes:

[concerning Sprint's FONCARD:]

>Sometimes it's annoying to dial 11 digits of access
>code(1-800-877-8000), then the 11 digits of the destination number, then the
>bloody 14-digit number.  My wife refuses to do this, so we got an AT&T card,
>where all you have to remember is FOUR DIGITS (tacked on to your 10-digit home
>number, which you presumably know).  Anybody know why Sprint didn't just adopt
>this method?

I believe that AT&T offers two different kinds of calling cards.  One
kind is "anchored" to your home phone number - the first ten digits of
the calling card number are the same ten digits which make up your home
phone number.  Then other ("unanchored") type is similar to Sprint's
card in that the numbers on the card are "random".  This means that
you can get an AT&T calling card even if you don't have a private
phone number.  For some reason, all Sprint calling cards seem to be
"unanchored".

Does anyone know why Sprint chose to use "unanchored" cards?
Corrections are welcomed.


Glenn F. Leavell  [e-mail]  404-542-3488  Systems Administrator
 University of Georgia Economics Department. 147 Brooks Hall. Athens, GA 30602

------------------------------

Organization: Penn State University
Date: Thursday, 15 Nov 1990 15:57:09 EST
From: Kevin Maher <[e-mail]>
Subject: Looking For Info on WATSON


I am looking for information on a voice mail product called WATSON.
What I would like to know are specifics on how this product works.
This is for a class project on EDI/Voice-mail.  Any info you could
send, or a phone number or address of where I can get information
would be appreciated beyond measure.


Please email responses directly, unless you know it wont arrive.

Thanks.

KDM101@PSUVM         O04@PSUVM
KXM@PSUARCH          kmaher@psusun01

Why should I want to disclaim anything???  It only makes me look guilty!

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 15 Nov 90 15:28:37 EST
From: Carl Moore (VLD/VMB) <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Wrong Number Nightmare


In other words, the car dealership has a number in the 714 area for
customers in Orange County, but when it went out on many of that
firm's business cards, it was printed with area 213 instead of area
714 -- that is, it printed your number on those cards.  If that is
indeed supposed to be a special number for Spanish-speaking customers,
you might have to explain (in Spanish on your answering machine tape?)
that the business card was printed wrong and that you should redial
your call using area 714?  (Could this confuse English-speaking
callers who do indeed want to reach you?)

There have been some cases where a local newspaper had to publish the
problem to cut down on such wrong-number calls.  Back around 1975-76,
when Gerald Ford was U.S. president, some calls for the White House
(202-456-1414) ended up going to a residence in Springfield, Va. at
703-451-1414, where Springfield was among those suburban points then
reachable via area code 202.  (You can no longer reach DC area
suburban points using area code 202; use 301 for Md. and 703 for Va.)
Back around 1964, there was some recording in Washington (at the
Smithsonian?) which was advertised, and many people called that number
from New York City and forgot to dial area code 202, and wound up
reaching a Schlosser family in Brooklyn.  (New York City had only one
area code then: 212.)

------------------------------

From: adam mottershead <[e-mail]>
Subject: Sources For Catalogs
Organization: Contact Public Unix BBS. Toronto, Canada.
Date: Thu, 15 Nov 90 05:34:55 GMT


I am looking the the address and/or phone numbers to obtain catalogs
from AT&T and Bellcore.  I am sure this information has been posted
previously, but seeing as I am a new user to the net, it probably
passed me by.

Also include prices, if applicable.


Adam Mottershead (contact.UUCP)

------------------------------

Organization: Green Hills and Cows
Reply-To: John Higdon <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: The Right Choice
Date: 15 Nov 90 13:04:38 PST (Thu)
From: John Higdon <[e-mail]>


Dan Breslau <codex![e-mail]> writes:

[a story about AT&T's silly and stupid advertising and how it
apparently conflicted with a {Wall Street Journal} article]

This past election, if serving no other purpose, should have convinced
the last hold-outs that a person cannot, repeat CANNOT, base a
purchasing, financial, or voting decision based on advertising.
Advertising is designed to sell products, not to be critically
analyzed or studied to collect information. The big-three IECs are no
different when it comes to misleading and ridiculous media hype.

I use Sprint and AT&T. Sprint has advantages in some areas, AT&T in
others. Sprint has generally lower INTERstate rates, while INTRAstate
is about on a par with AT&T. Audio quality is even-Steven. AT&T offers
its usual little-known services such as foreign language translation,
deaf forwarding, the ability to reach inward numbers at LECs (such as
repair), etc. Sprint's billing is far superior and much more detailed
(at least on my commercial account). Sprint allows 800 and 950 access
to it's network (to get around errant COCOTs), but AT&T's calling card
is easier to use in non-restrictive situations.

It is one's right to be offended by any image or face a company puts
forward and even a right to take whatever action is deemed
appropriate. But I would hate to think that someone was depriving
him/herself of the best or most appropriate product because of an
attitude generated from advertising. Especially if that attitude was
already present and the advertising merely provided a convenient
justification to perpetuate a possibly unwarranted opinion.


        John Higdon         |   P. O. Box 7648   |   [phone]
    [e-mail]     | San Jose, CA 95150 |       M o o !

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 15 Nov 90 18:35:31 -0500 (EST)
From: Thomas Neudecker <[e-mail]>
Subject: Two Men Indicted in Telephone Scheme


 From the {Pittsburgh Press},   Page B4   11/15/90

Two Men Indicted in Telephone Scheme

Two Allegheny County men have been indicted by a federal grand jury on
charges of wire fraud, inter-state transportation of stolen property
and conspiracy.

Named in the six-count indictment yesterday were Michael E. Katora
III, 38, of Regal Court, of Monroeville [Pa.] and Daniel A. Squire,
26, of Ellsworth Avenue, Shadyside.

According to the indictment, Katora and Squire operated a
telecommunications scheme that computers to generate [dial] 320,414
telephone calls to "900" phone numbers assigned to a company they
owned and controlled they then sold accounts receivable that totaled
$3,959,808 in user fees for the fraudulent calls to a commercial
factoring company.

If convicted on all counts, the men could receive 45-year prison
sentences and fines totaling $1.5 million.


TN

------------------------------

From: Dave Levenson <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Dialogic vs. AT&T Voice Power vs. ...
Date: 16 Nov 90 01:37:38 GMT
Organization: Westmark, Inc., Warren, NJ, USA


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Jim
Gottlieb) writes:

[ regarding PC voice i/o boards ]

> The other four-port boards that I know of are the AT&T Voice Power
> board, and a similar board from Rhetorex.  How do these compare?
> Unfortunately, Rhetorex does not provide Unix drivers.

AT&T Voice Power includes a UNIX driver (for AT&T UNIX SysV/386) and a
C application program interface library.  As far as I know, no driver
for MS-DOS was ever offered.  The audio quality is better than
Dialogic.  Compression is more effective (2000 bytes per second of
speech, with optional silence-compression making it even tighter).
Early versions of the board suffered from talk-off (speech being
detected as touch-tones) and from imperfect silence detection.  Later
versions improved both of these areas.  The cost per line is about 2x
the Dialogic cost for the four-line board.


Dave Levenson        Internet: [e-mail]
Westmark, Inc.        UUCP: {uunet | rutgers | att}!westmark!dave
Warren, NJ, USA        AT&T Mail: !westmark!dave
Voice: 908 647 0900     Fax: [phone]

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 16 Nov 90 10:58:34 EST
From: Bill Rubin <[e-mail]>
Subject: AT&T Public Phones - Data Jack


Can someone out there give me some advice on how to successfully use
the data jack on the AT&T Public Phones in airport lounges with my
laptop computer?  I was quite disappointed to see that you couldn't
autodial with them, and then when I tried to manually dial and sync up
it still would not work.  What is the appropriate sequence of events
and modem commands that I need to do?  There must be a way to make it
work, and it sure would be nice if the instructions on the phone told
you how (ie, what to do after the phone goes into data mode).

I tried calling AT&T customer service about this when I tried it a few
weeks ago, but I got sent from one number to another, to another,
until I finally gave up.


Bill Rubin
[e-mail]

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V10 #826
******************************










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Date:     Sun, 18 Nov 90 1:46:16 CST
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
[To]:     [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V10 #827
BCC:
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Sun, 18 Nov 90 01:45:34 CST    Volume 10 : Issue 827

Inside This Issue:                         Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Re: FAX Machine at Home: Options for Incoming Transmissions [Dave Levenson]
    Re: George Bush Pushing 900 Numbers [Lon Stowell]
    Re: Wanted: "Pole Climbers" [Macy Hallock]
    Re: Wanted: Home Phone System [Macy Hallock]
    Re: Area-Code 714 Will be Split [Bill Huttig]
    Re: Slick-96 [Dan'l DanehyOakes]
    Re: More Splitsville [Carl Moore]
    Re: Saudi Arabia's Telephone System [Jeff Carroll]
    Re: Microsoft Use of 900 Number for Tech Support [John Higdon]
    Re: Answer Supervision on PBX [Paul S. Sawyer]
    Re: Noise Reduction [Ken Abrams]
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Dave Levenson <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: FAX Machine at Home: Options for Incoming Transmissions
Date: 16 Nov 90 04:51:48 GMT
Organization: Westmark, Inc., Warren, NJ, USA


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] writes:

[ regarding voice/fax switching boxes ]

> charge.  My big question on this option is, "how many FAX machines
> present CNG tones?"  Is this something which all FAX machines built in
> the last two or three years have, or is this a feature which some FAX
> machines built even today don't have?  Anyone know any more about
> this?

All current-production fax machines are capable of producing CNG
tones.  The problem is that some operators of these machines don't use
them that way.  My fax machine is equipped with a handset, and may be
used as an expensive replacement for a standard single-line telephone.
If I lift the handset and dial your number, my machine thinks I'm
placing a voice call, and sends no CNG tones.  If your fax machine
answers, I can then drop a document into my machine and press the SEND
key.  But if your switch answered while I was on the handset, and
listened for my CNG tone, it would decide that I'm placing a voice
call, and direct it to your telephone set.

If I insert the document, and dial your number, and press the send
key, my machine will know in advance that I'm trying to send a fax,
and it will then generate the tones.

The question is, how many fax users understand these details well
enough to send a fax to your fax machine?


Dave Levenson            Internet: [e-mail]
Westmark, Inc.            UUCP: {uunet | rutgers | att}!westmark!dave
Warren, NJ, USA            AT&T Mail: !westmark!dave
Voice: 908 647 0900        Fax: [phone]

------------------------------

Subject: Re: George Bush Pushing 900 Numbers
Date: 16 Nov 90 00:24:01 GMT
Reply-To: Lon Stowell <[e-mail]>
Organization: Pyramid Technology Corp., Mountain View, CA


Just be glad he wasn't pushing 1-900-BALANCE at $10K or so per call as
a way of balancing the budget!  :-D

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 18 Nov 90 00:10 EST
From: Macy Hallock <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Wanted: "Pole Climbers"
Organization: F M Systems, Inc.  Medina, Ohio USA  [phone]


In article <[e-mail]>:

>Anyone have a pair of those spiked pole-climbers that the outside
>plant guys put on over their boots in order to climb poles? If so, are
>you interested in selling them?

Beware of used spurs.  The condition and style of these is a safety
issue not to be ignored.  Old ones can be cracked, brittle or too
short.  If you are not trained in pole climbing, I'd advise against
it.

Even trained professionals get a chestful of splinters once in a
while.  That's why most of use use fiberglass ladders: it is safer.
(Especially for those of us who just turned 40 and spend most of their
time behind a desk ;-).

I suggest you receive instruction from an experienced instructor in
the selection and use of climbers.  It is just too easy to get hurt.

(There are other safety issues in pole climbing, such as dealing with
electric power lines ... that stuff can fry you on the pole!)

Extreme care is advised here ... we need all the Digest readers we can
get, don't get yourself hurt!


Macy M. Hallock, Jr.     [e-mail]      uunet!aablue!fmsystm!macy

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 18 Nov 90 00:39 EST
From: Macy Hallock <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Wanted: Home Phone System
Organization: F M Systems, Inc.  Medina, Ohio USA  [phone]


In article <[e-mail]>:

>I'm interested in updating my home phones.

>[Moderator's Note: It sounds to me like a small residential PBX would
>be what you need. A couple manufacturers which come to mind are Rolm
>and Melco.

ROLM???  Patrick, you sure are loose with other peoples money! ;-)

I know Ken Oshman has one in his home, but don't you think one of
these is a little bit much for the average home?  Why not a System 25
or a Mitel SX-200D?

Seriously, I think the Melco is now not even actively marketed, it is
not even in my North Supply catalog anymore.  About the only Mini-PBX
that freely accepts single line phones anymore is the Panasonic, if
you can get one (they are still in short supply).  Anyone else know of
a decent small PBX or key system that freely accepts mostly single
line phones?  I'd be very interested to know?  (I think the Comdial
nee Cardinal is too large.)

BTW, I carry a Panasonic KX-T308 system for voice mail demos, modem
and fax tests and such.  Best source of portable dial tone I know.  I
even hook it up to my cellular phone's single line 2500 jack as a
trunk for use in business shows.

I have a KX-T616 in my house with a 1A2 behind it ... (it is a long
story.)

I'm just sitting here typing and missing the NATA show this year due
to a service coverage conflict (can't send _everybody_ to NATA,
someone's got to take care of the paying customers.)  So, anyone
care to post updates on happenings at NATA?


Macy M. Hallock, Jr.     [e-mail]      uunet!aablue!fmsystm!macy


[Moderator's Note: I'm almost certain Rolm has/had a tiny little unit
which handled one or two outside lines and up to six extensions. I
think Mitel had something similar also. For my money, the Melco 212
was the best deal around with two outside lines and up to twelve
extensions.  PAT]

------------------------------

From: Bill Huttig <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Area-Code 714 Will be Split
Date: 16 Nov 90 17:33:26 GMT
Reply-To: Bill Huttig <[e-mail]>
Organization: Florida Institute of Technology, ACS, Melbourne, FL


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Steve
Rhoades) writes:

>2.) Orange County retains 714 while the bordering counties, some of which
>    are in 714, get the new 909.

Most likely.

>3.) Have all new phone numbers issued after Jan. 1993 get the
>    new area-code. (I never heard of this before.)

I like it but think how DA would work. How many stupid people would
not dial an area code ... wouldn't local calls have to go to ten digit
dialing? I dont think it will work ... I wish the phone companies
would just go to eight digit local numbers and a diferent area code
setup. (They could tell the difference between new numbers and old
numbers by the length of them.)

>little and recovered quite a bit of territory.  Currently Telenet uses
>909 as the 'area code' for their administrative lines in Virginia. I
>guess they will change it to something else starting in a couple
>years.  PAT]

PAT - You mean SprintNet ;-) ... Sprint net has not changed the PAD
address in the 407 area yet (at least Melbourne, FL) so i doubt they
would change any addresses. It seems as though they will keep the old
area code boundaries.


Bill


Moderator's Note: They've done the same thing here. The places now in
708 are still addressed as 312 on SprintNet. My local dial-in is now a
708 number in Glencoe, IL, but when on line, doing a @STAT returns an
answer of 312 something.   PAT]

------------------------------

From: Dan'l DanehyOakes <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Slick-96
Date: 16 Nov 90 22:21:34 GMT
Reply-To: Dan'l DanehyOakes <[e-mail]>
Organization: Pacific * Bell, San Ramon, CA


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (KEVIN
GRIFFIN) writes:

>Can anyone tell me what a "Slick 96" switch is and what kind of
>services are available from it.

Actually, that's "SLC-96," for "Subscriber Loop Carrier."  It's a
digital carrier designed to carry [up to] 96 lines ("conversations")
or the equivalent to a distribution point farther from a Central
Office than the usual limit for local loops.  Basically you can do
anything with it that you can do with an aggregator of digital (or
digitized analog) lines.


The Roach

------------------------------

Date:  Fri, 16 Nov 90 17:52:44 EST
From:  Carl Moore (VLD/VMB) <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: More Splitsville


So, from the present 714 area (post 714/619 split), Orange County
points will probably stay in 714, and those in San Bernardino and
Riverside counties will go into 909?  That means 714 is being
restricted even more to the far eastern suburbs of Los Angeles.  714
at the time of 714/619 split had no N0X/N1X prefixes; are there still
none in the present 714 and 619 areas?

Apparently, Anaheim and Santa Ana would stay in 714?  (Yes, I know
Disneyland is in Anaheim, although Disney World in Florida went into
407 at the time of the 305/407 split there.)

------------------------------

From: Jeff Carroll <bcsaic![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Saudi Arabia's Telephone System
Date: 17 Nov 90 00:48:14 GMT
Organization: Boeing Computer Services AI Center, Seattle


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Henry Troup) writes:

>Mike Doughney writes:

>> It almost looks like American workers had a hand in its production;

>Bell Canada built and used to operate the Saudi phone system, on
>contract for the government.  I think that the latest operations
>contract went to someone else.

    As someone else pointed out, there is also the Aramco system,
and I happen to know that AT&T also built and maintained a telecom
system in KSA.

    My employer is currently under contract to deliver and deploy
yet another (independent, unconnected) telecom network to Saudi
Arabia, as part of their air defense system. This one will use the
European TDM hierarchy rather than the North American; the switches,
last I knew, were going to be ITT/Alcatel System 10s.


Jeff Carroll
[e-mail]

------------------------------

Organization: Green Hills and Cows
Reply-To: John Higdon <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Microsoft Use of 900 Number for Tech Support
Date: 16 Nov 90 17:47:55 PST (Fri)
From: John Higdon <[e-mail]>


[e-mail] (Gordon LETWIN) writes:

> What a hostile person you are.  If you reasoned as well as you hate
> you'd get somewhere.

[plus a lengthy explanation of why Microsoft isn't responsible for DOS]

My version of DOS 4.01 says nothing but Microsoft on the box, the
manuals and the disks. I purchased it at Fry's Electronics as generic
Microsoft DOS 4.01. It is NOT OEMed. So who is responsible? Who made
the big bucks?

Now, that out of the way, let me set the record straight on what
product my original question was about. It was Microsoft Windows 3.0.
Is that OEMed as well? I bought it at the same time as the DOS at
Fry's.

Your comments are certainly consistent with those I received from
others at Microsoft. The problem lies everywhere else. My hardware, my
other software, even me. Now you claim that others are getting rich
off of Microsoft products, so the company isn't even responsible for
collecting the profits!

How do you equate my observations of poor customer service with hate?
Is it hostility to expect that a manufacturer would make even a
reasonable attempt to support a product? Is demurement about a 900
number for "customer service" a symptom of latent aggression?

> So we offer "free" support for our retail products because we received
> the retail markup and support is one of the things you do to earn that
> money.  We didn't receive the retail markup for DOS, the OEM did, and
> the OEM is the person who needs to support it; that was their
> agreement.  As a convenience to customers who don't want to call the
> OEM or whose OEM's are not doing a good job, Microsoft now offers
> support for DOS, but we have to charge for it now since we didn't get
> any money for that service when we sold your OEM the DOS.

I'm sorry, but my observations indicate that this is totally bogus.
The only number listed for technical help with Windows 3.0 is a 900
number.  Could you supply me with the OEM for that product? I am
positive that whoever it is, they could supply far better assistance
than I have managed to get from Microsoft (for my $15.00 in 900
charges). Actually, even though the principle of "900" customer
assistance is offensive, my attitude would be somewhat different if I
could have received any value for my $15.00.


        John Higdon         |   P. O. Box 7648   |   [phone]
    [e-mail]     | San Jose, CA 95150 |       M o o !

------------------------------

Subject: Re: Answer Supervision on PBX
Date: 16 Nov 90 14:45:08 EST (Fri)
From: "Paul S. Sawyer" <unhd!unhtel![e-mail]>


Please forgive the late response, but our news feed has been constipated
lately.... B-(

I said:

> >Well, Pat, they keep telling us that our System 85 can't do it, but
> >that they would be glad to sell us a 5ESS....  ???

First of all, keep in mind that I only do the DATA PROCESSING for the
system, i.e., get them calls billed, and my memory of what they said
(above) is not from a telecom viewpoint ... (My view being that the
S85 is a computer, after all, and a computer should be hackable to do
what the customer wants.)  Our Telecom folk don't read the news.

[e-mail] (Vance Shipley) said:

> Paul, can you provide us with some background?  What is you're
> trunking arrangement? (PRA,T-1,Analog,etc.)  What generic is the
> switch running?

We are running System 85 Release 2, Version 3; We have T1 circuits to
the current LD carriers of choice (might be ATT, MCI, Sprint, LDN
(Long Distance North) at any particular time) But intra-LATA, 800-,
900-, etc., (LEC) is not T1.

My main problems in billing non answer-supervised calls are:

1. We set the minimums high (1.0 min for 1+NPA, 1.5 min for 011+), so
   we miss billing for some completed calls (tho no one complains  ;-)

2. This is not long enough for some people;  and, it can take more than
   1.5 minutes just to get a busy signal from some countries

3. Even if we had an accurate 900 call pricing table, we would need
   accurate call length info to bill close to what students expect

4. Since DA calls are fixed price and often short, we bill all DA calls
   of 0.2 minutes or longer, some of which of course are not connected.

For years we have explained this to faculty and staff, who squawk but
have to put up with it; we are serving students now, who would like to
believe that all phone systems work the way their home systems do.

Thanks for the interest.


Paul S. Sawyer              [e-mail]      {uunet,attmail}!unhtel!paul
UNH CIS - - Telecommunications and Network Services    [e-mail]
Durham, NH  03824-3523      VOX: [phone]         FAX: [phone]

------------------------------

From: Ken Abrams <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Noise Reduction
Date: 16 Nov 90 23:39:31 GMT
Reply-To: Ken Abrams <pallas![e-mail]>
Organization: Athenanet, Inc.,  Springfield, Illinois


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] writes:

> Due to roommate pressure over phone hogging with modem use, I am
>putting another line in. However, I will be forced to accept the
>existing four-wire, non-twisted-pair that is currently installed,
>using the second line of the pair. Based upon previous discussions in
>the Digest, I expect noise problems with the modem. What can I do to
>avoid or minimize this. Hardware solutions may include a new modem but

My advice is: Don't panic.  If it ain't broke, don't fix it.  Try it
out first.  I have been using modems in a residential environment on
standard quad (non-twisted) for a long time and have yet to experience
any significant noise problems.  If the wiring run is fairly short (<
300 ft) and it isn't close to any external noise sources like
fluorescent lights, you might get by just fine.  Some modems are more
imune to noise than others.  I have had good luck with a Supra 2400
and a USR HST.


Ken Abrams        uunet!pallas!kabra437
Illinois Bell     [e-mail]
Springfield      (voice) 217-753-7965

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V10 #827
******************************










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Date:     Sun, 18 Nov 90 2:26:43 CST
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
[To]:     [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V10 #828
BCC:
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Sun, 18 Nov 90 02:26:34 CST    Volume 10 : Issue 828

Inside This Issue:                         Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Re: Western Union Clock Service [Paul Schleck]
    Re: Are Cellular Calls Free to Landline Customers, or Not? [David Tamkin]
    Re: Unitel (Canada) Fax Service [[e-mail]]
    Re: AT&T MAIL ACCESS Program Description [Tim Evans]
    Re: Measured Local Service [John Higdon]
    Re: Unitel (Canada) Fax Service [Vance Shipley]
    Re: Dealing With Telemarketers [Jeff Carroll]
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Sat, 17 Nov 90 00:51:37 EST
From: Paul Schleck <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Western Union Clock Service
Reply-to: [e-mail]


Well, after reading the myriad posts about the Western Union Clock
service and deciding that I just >>had<< to get one of my own, I
reached for the nearest yellow pages and talked to just about every
clock repair shop and antique dealer who would pick up the phone.  My
search ended with an antique dealer in Omaha.  He said he had two of
them (standard wall model, I assume).  He was at home (got his calls
forwarded) and said he would sell them for "100-120 bucks or so."
Does this sound like a fair price?  Since he DOES have two, someone
else can snap up the other one.  Mindful of the Fidonet ban on
"advertising", I will let prospective buyers contact me at home via
the telephone.  I have no financial interest in any transaction that
will take place between you and this dealer.

There was a post on this conference about someone who made a circuit
to synchronize the clock via the telegraph line hookup.  Are these
schematics available?  Are the obligatory SASE's and green stamps for
copying costs involved?  Let me know.  My local BBS sysop deletes
often, so the relevant posts are now in the bit bucket.

I was thinking of homebrewing a tone discriminator that would monitor
WWV and listen for that standard reference tone at the top of the hour
(which is different from the tone at the other 59 minutes), detect it
for a fraction of a second (to prevent falsing) and send a
synchronization signal to the clock.  Any ideas on this one?

Can't wait to have one of these beauties in the computer room/hamshack
whirring away at the top of each hour.  My girlfriend ALREADY thinks
I'm nuts for collecting "all this wierd junk."


Paul W. Schleck, KD3FU
[phone] (6-9 p.m. Central)
Internet [e-mail]

 --- Ybbat (DRBBS) 8.9 v. 3.12 r.5
[1:285/27@fidonet] Neb. Inns of Court 402/593-1192 (1:285/27.0)

 --- Through FidoNet gateway node 1:16/390
[e-mail]


[Moderator's Note: I'd say the price he quoted is fair, assuming the
clocks actually work. If they are not working, you can still cheat by
putting an electric clock works in the case and use only the dial,
hands and cabinet. Regards the various plans for a pseudo setting
circuit, if you think it is worth the time, go ahead; but I can tell
you that if the clock is hung *perfectly level* and the pendulum
calibrated properly (a few days of testing by setting the time and
watching for inaccuracies a day or so later) you will find the clock
stays accurate within a minute or less per month as is. My two WU
clocks do their own thing and when I think of it once a month or so I
set them if they are more than a minute off.  PAT]

------------------------------

From: David Tamkin <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Are Cellular Calls Free to Landline Customers, or Not?
Date: Fri, 16 Nov 90 11:22:29 CST


Bob Sherman wrote in volume 10, issue 822:

| A recent item in one of the communications trade publications stated
| that a major New England cellular provider was about to begin
| reversing that trend by charging the landline caller for calls made TO
| cell phones.

| In other words, if the cell phone places the call, they pay the air
| charges, but if a landline places the call to the cell phone, they
| will be charged the air charges.

There's a bit of a complication here.  How much do I, using a landline
to place a call to a cellular phone, pay for airtime?  If the wireline
carrier and the non-wireline carrier charge different amounts for
airtime, do I pay different amounts for calling the customers of one
from the customers of the other?

If one acquaintance of mine uses a cell phone for business and has a
package that involves prepaying for ten hours of airtime every month
and then 33c peak, 20c off-peak after that, but another friend uses
the cell phone principally for weekend getaways and road emergencies
and has an after-hours package of no prepaid airtime, 65c peak, and
10c off-peak, do I pay the airtime rates in their packages for calling
them (or perhaps nothing for calling the first person I mentioned if
his/her total airtime for that billing cycle, including my call, is
under the prepaid minimum)?  Is it ethical or even legal for the
cellular companies to tell my telco what arrangements their customers
have with them?

Instead, does my telco charge me some standard generic rate structure
for calls to cellular phones, perhaps with various high-usage packages
available for those of us (say, if we have cell phones ourselves and
sometimes forward our landlines to them) who call cellular numbers a
lot?

There is also the matter of placing long-distance calls to cellular
numbers.  What I described above has to be answered again for every
inter-LATA carrier.

Next: suppose the caller claims that the number he or she dialed had
been misrepresented to him or her as a landline, and he or she refuses
to pay the airtime charge?  Maybe the connection was very clear, or
the caller hung up instantly upon suspecting that it was a mobile
phone but still gets billed for one minute of airtime.

There are a *lot* of complications here.


David Tamkin  Box 7002  Des Plaines IL  60018-7002  708 518 6769  312 693 0591
MCI Mail: 426-1818  GEnie: D.W.TAMKIN  CIS: 73720,1570   [e-mail]

------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: Unitel (Canada) Fax Service
Date: Fri, 16 Nov 90 21:59:52 PST


[e-mail]  writes:

>  A Canadian Company has recently begun to offer a special reduced
>rate to fax users. The user pays only a small monthly fee ($10, I
>think) and receives a little black box which attaches to their fax
>machine ... MT&T (Bell Canada) offers a similar
>service, but you have to pay for a special line which will place local
>calls of any type, but will only allow fax calls to be place long
>distance.

        First of all, as an expatriate Nova Scotian, I assure you that
Bell Canada does *not* own Maratime Tel & Tel: they tried to take it
over in 1967, and Premier Stanfield passed a law restricting
shareholdings to 10%.

>Of course, when I read this in the paper I wondered how they detected
>this. I called MT&T and asked what would happen if a voice call was
>placed on such a line. They assured me it would be very quickly
>disconnected.

        My modem has no trouble distinguishing voice from data calls:
the data calls feature constant frequency tones, and voice calls
feature changing frequencies.

>The person I spoke to also claimed that MT&T was
>'listening' to the call and was actually sensing fax protocol and thus
>deciding whether the call should be allowed to continue or not.

>  Does anyone know if such services actually detect and interpret fax
>protocol to decide whether to axe the call? The idea that first struck
>me was using this service to get cheap rates for long distance modem
>calls.  If all the hardware is listening for is something that
>resembles a data call (carrier) then perhaps a modem would fool it.
>Any thought?

        I expect it might.  It was my understanding that the black box
was intended solely to keep you from using the line for voice.
According to the Globe & Mail, the CRTC only permitted this class of
service if the fax calls could be segregated from voice.  Apparently,
this setup is not yet available in New Brunswick, because NB Tel has
yet to implement "audit features" to ensure compliance.

------------------------------

From: Tim Evans <fallst![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: AT&T MAIL ACCESS Program Description
Date: 17 Nov 90 14:13:32 GMT
Organization: Fallston, MD


In <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Nelson
Bolyard) writes:

>Executive (:-) Summary: If you have and use AT&T Mail's "ACCESS"
>program for the PC or MacIntosh, please write a description of how it
>works, how you use it, how user-friendly it is, etc, and mail it to me

>So I chose AT&T Mail.

>AT&T has a pair of programs that they want you to buy to use AT&T
>Mail.  Both are named "ACCESS", one is for the PC, one for the
>MacIntosh.  Each reportedly costs about $150 (just went up, used to be
>about $100).

Missing here is the fact that ATTMail can be used non-interactively.
AT&T does after all run UNIX on its systems, including the ATTMail
system.  If your system is a UNIX or UNIX-derived system, just
establish a UUCP link to ATTMail (they will allow this) and then use
your local mail agent to compose messages with UUCP-style addresses.
They will be delivered just like any other UUCP mail.  Morever, since
ATTMail charges more for "on line" message composition than for
messages "uploaded" via UUCP, you save even more money this way.

PC and Mac users: don't despair.  Get a PD UUCP (i.e., 'uupc' or
similar agent) and connect to ATTMail as a "UNIX" system.  Even if you
_buy_ a DOS/MacOS UUCP-style mailer, you're still ahead of where you'd
be buying ACCESS, because you can use it to talk to systems other than
ATTMail.

I don't thing anyone disagrees that AT&T's marketing of ATTMail is
p*ss poor, but if you insist that you want to connect a "UNIX" system
(even if your "UNIX" system is really a DOS system), somebody in
Customer Service should be able to find somebody who knows somebody
who can help you.  Just don't confuse them by telling them you're
using a PC or Mac.


UUCP:        {rutgers|ames|uunet}!mimsy!woodb!fallst!tkevans
INTERNET:    [e-mail]
Tim Evans    2201 Brookhaven Ct, Fallston, MD 21047

------------------------------

Organization: Green Hills and Cows
Reply-To: John Higdon <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Measured Local Service
Date: 16 Nov 90 18:11:53 PST (Fri)
From: John Higdon <[e-mail]>


"Sander J. Rabinowitz" <[e-mail]> writes:

> "As a free service to you, we have kept track of the number of local
> calls you've made this month so you can see if you save money with our
> measured service.  This month, you made -0- local calls--therefore,
> you would have saved $3.44 this month had you used our other plan."

This is very scary and you should be concerned. Most telcos have
discovered that PUCs and equivalents are most reluctant to allow the
summary discontinuance of unmeasured residence service, so they use a
more sophisticated approach these days.

Step one involves switching as many people over to measured as
possible. Reps are primed to push measured service as a way of saving
money. To this end, in areas that offer both measured and unmeasured
residence service, the pricing is set up to make measured as
attractive to as many as possible. One approach is to use a generous
allowance for measured service. Another is to price unmeasured in the
stratosphere.

Then, when a majority of customers have measured service, the telco
goes to the PUC and argues that unmeasured service is no longer in
real demand and that it would have minor reactions to its
discontinuance. At some point, the PUC gives in and unmeasured service
goes away. The first subsequent action by telco is to remove the
allowance. This is easy, since it is not technically a rate increase.
Then the monthly rate for measured becomes as high as the former
unmeasured rate and telco has what it wants: every bit of facility
usage paid for.

> Now I KNOW for each of the last five months, more than 50 local calls
> per month were made on that line.  (I made many of them myself.  =)
> Meanwhile, my own telephone bill doesn't have that message, even
> though my line also has the unlimited calling feature.

Events have led me to believe that telcos (at least Pac*Bell) do not
have a foolproof way of monitoring local traffic on individual lines.
On more than one occasion, I have had measured lines that are NEVER
used for local outgoing and have large Zone 1 usage ticketed. Calls to
the business office result in the rep freely removing the calls ("what
do you think the usage was, Mr. Higdon?"). This does not cause me to
have a great deal of confidence in local metering.

> Is this something for the local public service commission to look at?
> It seems like a harmless computer glitch, but I can't shake the
> feeling that something fishy is going on here.

You betcha. You may be headed down the slippery slope of measured-only
service. Watch out!


        John Higdon         |   P. O. Box 7648   |   [phone]
    [e-mail]     | San Jose, CA 95150 |       M o o !

------------------------------

From: Vance Shipley <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Unitel (Canada) Fax Service
Organization: SwitchView - The Linton Technology Group
Date: Fri, 16 Nov 90 18:35:07 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Paul
Gauthier) writes:

>  I called MT&T and asked what would happen if a voice call was
>placed on such a line. They assured me it would be very quickly
>disconnected. The person I spoke to also claimed that MT&T was
>'listening' to the call and was actually sensing fax protocol and thus
>deciding whether the call should be allowed to continue or not.

>  Does anyone know if such services actually detect and interpret fax
>protocol to decide whether to axe the call? The idea that first struck
>me was using this service to get cheap rates for long distance modem
>calls.  If all the hardware is listening for is something that
>resembles a data call (carrier) then perhaps a modem would fool it.
>Any thought?

I believe you'll have to go with Unitel's Facsroute service to use
modems.  It seems that Telecom Canada (the real provider of Faxcom)
does look for fax protocol.  Unitel does not, they only check for
"carrier".

If this is very confusing for our american listeners let me elaborate.
Here in Canada we have not deregulated long distance telephone
service.  The only carrier for public switched voice service is
Telecom Canada (Bell Canada, and they rest of the phone companies).
Data is a different story though and there is competition.  Unitel
(formerly CNCP) is the main alternative.

The question here regards the methods used by both carriers to ensure
that their fax services (deemed as data by Unitel) carry no voice
calls.


Vance Shipley
vances@ltg

------------------------------

From: Jeff Carroll <bcsaic![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Dealing with Telemarketers
Date: 17 Nov 90 01:00:39 GMT
Organization: Boeing Computer Services AI Center, Seattle


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Bill
Nickless) writes:

>Sleaze:   "Is Mr. Nickless available?"  (Or better yet, I live with my
>           recently widowed aunt, and the Sleaze asks for "Mr. or Mrs.
>           White....")

>(20 minutes later, Sleaze hangs up in disgust, realizing that it has
>lost that time to harass someone else.)  :-)

>[Moderator's Note: Based on only one sentence from the person calling,
>how do you know it was a telemarketer and not a police officer,
>hospital clerk or someone Mr. and Mrs. White *do* need and want to
>speak with?  PAT]

    For about three years after we got married, our phone was listed
under my wife's maiden name, though I usually answered the phone.

    It was not very difficult to figure out what was afoot on
calls like these:

    Me: Hello?

    Other person: "Mr. Burns?"

    Actually, here in Bellevue, the police department (or, rather,
the Police Officers' Guild) *does* engage in telemarketing. I was
interrupted during the second game of the World Series by a police
officer seeking a rather large donation ($25/head) to pay for "tickets
for disadvantaged youth" to a circus that was coming to town.

    Being wrapped up in the ball game, I didn't bother to
investigate further, but it did sound a little fishy -- not to mention
the uncomfortable feeling that accompanies receiving phone calls from
local cops asking for money.


Jeff Carroll
[e-mail]

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V10 #828
******************************






ISSUES 829-830 GOT REVERSED IN TRANSMISSION. 829 COMES AFTER 830 HERE.






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TELECOM Digest     Sun, 18 Nov 90 22:22:57 CST    Volume 10 : Issue 830

Inside This Issue:                         Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Telephonic Paranoia [The Irish Times, via Charles Bryant]
    Prodigy Communications Protocol [Robert S. Maier]
    Manitoba and the NXX of the Beast? [Gerard Stafleu, via David Leibold]
    NEW ZEALAND Telecom Information and News [Pat Cain]
    Request for Cellular Tech Info [David Leibold]
    N00 in 213 and 818 [Carl Moore]
    No N0X/N1X in Area 714? [Carl Moore]
    GTE Mobilnet's Response [Jerry Durand]
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Charles Bryant <[e-mail]>
Subject: Telephonic Paranoia
Organization: Datacode Communications Ltd, Dublin, Ireland
Date: Sun, 18 Nov 90 16:03:10 GMT


The following article is excerpted from "The Saturday Column" of "The
Irish Times", November 17th - a column with a humorous slant. (Mary
Robinson was recently elected President. She is not a member of any
party, but was supported by the parties of the left).


More Telephonic Paranoia

Two well known lefties were cruelly disturbed in the midst of their
separate Mary Robinson celebrations last weekend. Both received phone
calls of such a frightening nature that they took the matter up with
the telephone authorities first thing on Monday morning.

The cause of their concern was that their phones would ring and when
answered the only reply they got was their own voices coming back at
them. One of the recipients even had his baby's background cries
played back down the line. As this disturbance occurred up to a dozen
times over the weekend a certain paranoia took hold which led them to
believe that maybe the forces of the right were indeed plotting a
coup. President Allende and all that befell him, and his supporters,
sprang to mind.

The excitement died quickly when Bord Telecom was contacted. They told
the two concerned lefties, who were now on the point of organising
resistance, that they had received hundreds of such worried calls from
paranoid householders. Nothing sinister was afoot. A weird technical
fault meant that most incoming calls from overseas were creating this
response on Irish phones.  "But surely the Special Branch..." the
lefties ventured. Not at all, said Telecom.


Charles Bryant ([e-mail])

------------------------------

From: "Robert S. Maier" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Prodigy Communications Protocol
Date: 18 Nov 90 21:20:48 GMT
Organization: University of Arizona Mathematics Department


There have been a good many articles in TELECOM Digest complaining
about Prodigy.  Besides Prodigy's policies, many posters are irritated
by their inability to capture Prodigy output to a file.

Has anyone done anything about this?  I gather Prodigy uses a
proprietary communications protocol, but is it possible to
reverse-engineer it?  That would open the door to custom-designed
Prodigy clients, running on any architecture.  And it would facilitate
the addition of new features, such as capturing text and graphics
output.

Or is it simply too difficult a job?


Robert S. Maier   | Internet: [e-mail]
Dept. of Math.    | UUCP: uunet!arizona!amethyst!rsm
Univ. of Arizona  | Bitnet: maier@arizrvax
Tucson, AZ  85721 | FAX: [phone]
U.S.A.            | Voice(POTS): [phone]  /  [phone]

------------------------------

From: woody <[e-mail]>
Subject: Manitoba and the NXX of the Beast?
Date: Sat, 17 Nov 90 21:43:08 EST


[the following was copied from a Canadian-based newsgroup...]

   From: [e-mail] (Gerard Stafleu)
   Newsgroups: can.general
   Subject: Numbers Game in Manitoba
   Date: 8 Nov 90 13:50:19 GMT
   Organization: University of Western Ontario, London, Ont., Canada


In an interesting news item this morning, it was revealed that the
telephone company in Manitoba has been forced to give up its plans to
have an exchange with numbers strarting with 666.  People said they
would rather be accused of superstition than have to live with these
numbers.

Although it wasn't explicitly stated, observers believe the reason is
that the number 666 would conjure up images of stacks of 333 two
dollar bills in the minds of Manitobans.  "We are not about to be aced
by the deuces," as one Manitoban put it.


Gerard Stafleu                [phone] Ext. 6043
Internet: [e-mail]  BITNET:  gerard@uwovax


[Notes from djcl: MTS is the telephone company in Manitoba, and from
my listings, 666 has yet to be assigned. That didn't stop the federal
government from getting it in NPA 604 (Vancouver BC), and Bell Canada
had this as one of the last NNX exchanges in 416 (before converting to
NXX format back in March) - 416-666 is Whitby, just east of Toronto,
or 519-666 Ilderton ON or 306-666 Fox Valley, SK]]

------------------------------

Subject: NEW ZEALAND Telecoms Information and News
From: Pat Cain <[e-mail]>
Date: Mon, 19 Nov 90 13:33:34 NZD
Organization: Sideways BB, Lower Hutt, New Zealand, [phone]


 RECENT TELECOM NEWS FROM NEW ZEALAND

Here are a few snippets of information and recent news about the
New Zealand Telecom system for anyone who is interested.


0) Recent changes to the telecom system
1) Clear Communications - rival company to Telecom
2) Last manually operated exchange in NZ closed
3) Problems with 111 emergency service


0) Recent changes

For those who didn't already know, the telephone system in New Zealand
was run as a government department by the New Zealand Post Office.

Over the past few years it has been privatised and sold off to various
New Zealand and American companies.

Telecom still holds a virtual monopoly over the cellular, toll and
local call services.

Before Telecom were privatised/sold, they ran a large number of
Television advertisements where the following three promises were
carved into a large stone.

Telecom "voluntarily" made these three promises to the public:

   1) Free local calls for residential customers
   2) The cost of residential phone services would not rise above the
      cost of living unless Telecom's profits were unreasonably affected.
   3) Residential phone services would remain at the same rate throughout
      the country (even though it costs Telecom more to maintian these
      in rural areas).

Major changes since Telecom have been privatised and sold off:

BEFORE ...

* Local area calls free (ie. no time charge)
* Toll services subsidising local area services.

AFTER ...

* Businesses pay for calls by the minute.  Residential accounts rise in
  price dramatically, ~$NZ35/month... local calls still free.
* Cheaper toll calls; More expensive monthly charge.
* Businesses now have to pay to make directory inquiries.
* Various services rise in price.
* Telecom fire a large proportion of their staff and begin contracting
  out work such as phone installations.
* Time taken to install phones decreases from several months to two days
  or less!
* Tone-dial, SPC exchanges installed.  Services such as conference calling,
  call waiting, call diversion, do not disturb and so on made available.
* Telecom start bombarding everyone with 'cute' advertisments in
  Television, Radio and Print - Telecom become the biggest spending
  advertiser in the country.  Residential subscribers receive an
  information pamphlet each month full of useful and useless information.
* Telecom begin to convert the whole country's telephone numbering system

    FROM:
        Over 80 area codes of a varying length and varying
        length telephone numbers

    TO:
        Five single digit area codes with all telephone numbers
        being seven digits.



1) Clear Communications

Just a couple of days ago Clear Communications announced a that they
would be forming an rival company to Telecom.

Shareholders in Clear Communications are NZ Railways (who have fibre
optic links installed along their railway lines throughout most of the
country), Todd Corporation, Television New Zealand, MCI Communications
and Bell Canada International.

New Zealand has a population of only 3.5 million yet Clear Comms says
NZ will be a highly competitive market place.  They claim that their
system will utilise the most up to date technology in the world, and
that they expect the NZ telecom market will grow rapidly.

They expect to have the first business connections by early January,
1991.  And general/residential connections by 1st April 1991.

2) The Last Manual Telephone Exchange in NZ

The Claris Post Office Exchange on Great Barrier Island operated by
Sue Daly was recently decommissioned.  Great Barrier Island has a
population of 1000 people, some of whom are sad to see the exchange
go, others are pleased.  After dark, when the exchange was not
staffed, only emergency calls could be made.

3) Emergency Service Problems

During the last few years, as Telecom has been upgrading their
exchanges, there seem to have been more problems with Telecom's
emergency service (111).  Incidents such as number-unobtainable,
number-busy and being diverted to tolls operators on other parts of
the country have occured.  At least one death has occured due to calls
not being put through correctly to the emergency service.

A friend here in Wellington recently called 111 to report a fire and
was greeted with "Tolls".

Friend: "Fire please".

The operator seemed confused, and rustled some paper around
(presumably looking for the number of the fire service) and said
"Ummmm..."  and said "That's Wellington isn't it?", then a few seconds
later said "That's an emergency service isn't it?".

Friend: "YES!".

Operator says "You should be ringing on 111!".

Friend: "I just have!".

Operator says "Oh well, in that case one moment please..".  Operator
then put friend through to fire service.

The friend didn't report this to Telecom, but as can be seen from this
editorial, he's not the only one who has had problems.


IF ALL ELSE FAILS, SCREAM
[Editorial from Evening Post, November 12, 1990]

FIRE, accident, assault in the neighbourhood -- most people's reflex
reaction is to dial 111 to ask for an emergency service.  Every month
28,000 people do and are efficiently connected.

But occasionally a call goes wrong.  In July a major computer problem
blocked a Dunedin family trying desperately to call an ambulance for a
man who had collapsed, and who died before help could be summoned.

Last week emergency calls from Dunedin and Blenheim flew around the
country, causing delays before the messages got through.  Telecom's
explanation was hardly reassuring: "Unfortunately a tecnicality meant
that two calls for Dunedin and two for Blenheim emergency services
were put through to the right emergency service, but in the wrong
city."  Unfortunately, indeed.

Incidents like these send a shudder through people who wonder whether
they too will be at the mercy of a computer hiccup if ever they need
to dial 111.

Politicians, too, have expressed alarm at the lack of a backup system.
The previous government thought of asking one of its departments to
look into the matter, but with Telecom privatised could not work out
which department should be responsible.

When Telecom was sold it gave no undertaking to continue the 111
service.  It was not one of the three public guarantees carved in
stone, and there is no formal contract to provide it.  But it was part
of the package it inherited and, commercial pressures not
withstanding, Telecom feels bound to maintain it, and gives emergency
calls top priority.

The ordinary person is understandably mystified, however, when a call
for the police in Dunedin is answered in Palmerston North, relayed to
Christchurch, and returns to Dunedin by way of the police network, as
occured last week.

The first of these steps happened as it should, because the
Christchurch nerve centre was out for maintenance and calls were
automatically diverted to the nearest 111 exchange: Palmerston North.
The second should not have happened, but the tag showing the area of
origin was missing -- a glitch that needs urgent attention - and the
operator who answered put the call through to the Christchurch police
instead.  The third need not have happened: when the operator found it
was the wrong city she could have reconnected to Dunedin, but the
police in Christchurch chose to take the message and pass it on
themselves, with consequent delay.

Because life and death ride on the system the public and emergency
services have a right to be concerned whenever something goes wrong.
But there is certainly no cause to lose faith in the system.

Callers themselves can help by observing elementary essentials like
waiting for the dial tone, dialling 111 firmly, waiting up to 10
seconds for the operator to answer, saying precisely where the problem
is (particularly if using a cellphone) -- and not clogging the lines
with the 20,000 false calls they are making every month.  People
making needless calls might be less inclined to do so if they realised
their numbers are all identified.

As for a total backup, that would mean duplicating the present
telephone network.  Telecom could do it.  But in the end it's the
users who would have to pay.


Patrick Cain   )) Voice: [phone] (GMT+12)
PO Box 2060   ((  Modem: [phone] (Sideways BB, BBC/Archimedes/Text)
Wellington, NZ )) Email: [e-mail] or [e-mail]

------------------------------

From: woody <[e-mail]>
Subject: Request for Cellular Tech Info
Date: Wed, 14 Nov 90 0:35:27 EST


I am forwarding a request for cellular info made by someone on the BBS
I operate ... e-mail responses would be appreciated.

Perhaps someone out there in the know might want to whip up a
reference file on cellular tech details and that, suitable for TD
Archives.

 Msg#   : 286    Tue 6 Nov 90 11:08p
 From   : Alan Wilcocks-Gynn
 To     : All
 Subject: Cellular Control Channel Format
 Status :

Can anyone tell me how I can get access to the following information:

  -Physical data format for cellular control channels.
  -Control channel protocol.
  -Differences (if any) between Cantel and Bell Cellular control formats.

  Thanks.

 --- Maximus-CBCS v1.02
 * Origin:  (89:480/126)

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 16 Nov 90 21:21:45 -0500
From: Carl Moore <[e-mail]>
Reply-to: [e-mail]
Subject: N00 in 213 and 818


August,  1989, Los Angeles call guide:

213-600 Los Angeles     818-300 Alhambra
818-500 Glendale        818-700 Reseda

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 16 Nov 90 21:23:49 -0500
From: Carl Moore <[e-mail]>
Subject: No N0X/N1X in Area 714?
Reply-to: [e-mail]


August 1989 call guide for Los Angeles (served by PacBell) lists
714-602 Riverside.  Is this a misprint?  It did not show up in later
call guides:

June 1990 --  San Bernardino (GTE)
November 1989 --  Orange County (PacBell)

------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Subject: GTE Mobilnet's Response
Date: Sat, 17 Nov 90 09:36:32 PST
X-Possible-Reply-Path: sun!portal!cup.portal.com!JDurand


In Message-ID: <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (John
Higdon) writes:

>I had no actual conversation with anyone at GTE Mobilnet today
>concerning their blocking of international dialing. We played

>And then the surprise. There was a message informing me that
>international dialing had been reinstated on my two accounts! There
>was no other comment, but IDDD does work on my cellular phones.

I called the local GTE customer service number (*611, San Jose, CA
area) and to my surprise they answered before my batteries died! (8-)
I asked about getting IDDD turned back on since I have customers in
several countries.  The CS person told me to dial *111 (trouble
number, sometimes answered).  The person there told me to call Roxann
Metzger (sp?) at the original CS number.  I finally got through to her
and within an hour of talking to her my phone was working again.
Since she didn't argue more than a minute or two, I assume John had
just gotten done with her (thanks John).


Jerry Durand, Durand Interstellar, Inc.,
408 356-3886,    [e-mail]

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V10 #830
******************************










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Date:     Sun, 18 Nov 90 21:42:03 CST
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
[To]:     [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V10 #829
BCC:
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Sun, 18 Nov 90 21:41:52 CST    Volume 10 : Issue 829

Inside This Issue:                         Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    More Deregulation in Britain [Der Standard, via Wolf Paul]
    Video Conferencing Information Needed [Bill Crane]
    Alternatives to Traditional Multi-Drop 4-Wire Data Lines [Richard Szabo]
    Cellular Phones of the Future [Jane Wilde]
    New 410 Code for MD [Washington Post, via Michael Katzmann/Roger Fajman]
    What is PC Pursuit? [David McKellar]
    Modernizing the Hungarian Telephone System [Der Standard, via Wolf Paul]
    What is MFJ a TLA For? [Roy Smith]
    900 Numbers and Media 4 Advertising Survey [Steven M. Mailman]
    GENIE Information (was: Info Needed on Prodigy Service) [Ben Burch]
    Wireless Phonejak [Gary W. Sanders]
    High Technology on the Street [New York Post, via Winston Lawrence]
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: wolf paul <tuvie!iiasa.local![e-mail]>
Subject: More Deregulation in Britain
Date: 15 Nov 90 09:21:41 GMT
Reply-To: wolf paul <[e-mail]>
Organization: IIASA, Laxenburg/Vienna, Austria, Europe


The following is taken Vienna's "DER STANDARD", 1990-11-15:

Great Britain's government wants to open the country's
telecommunications market to additional vendors. Minister of Trade
Peter Lilley recently said in London that the market which is
currently dominated by British Telecommunications Plc. and Mercury
Communications Ltd. should be made accessible to other competitors.
His proposals are contained in a discussion paper which has been
presented to Parliament.

The government and the regulatory agency for telecommunications
(Oftel) want to encourage cable television companies to also supply
telephone and other services, said Lilley.  On the other hand, British
Telecom should be prohibited for the next ten years from entering the
entertainment sector.  These proposals underscore the efforts of the
Thatcher government to push ahead with the liberalization of the
telecommunications market which started with the privatization of
British Telecom in 1984.


Wolf N. Paul, UNIX SysAdmin, IIASA, A
2361 Laxenburg, Austria, Europe
PHONE: [phone]  FAX: [phone]
UUCP: uunet!iiasa!wnp  INTERNET: [e-mail]
BITNET: tuvie!iiasa![e-mail]

------------------------------

From: Bill Crane <daysinns![e-mail]>
Subject: Video Conferencing Information Needed
Date: 16 Nov 90 23:28:18 GMT
Reply-To: Bill Crane <daysinns![e-mail]>
Organization: Days Inns of America


We are planning to establish a video conferencing network between our
Atlanta and Knoxville (we have dedicated ISDN service between these
offices (T1.5)).  We have received some information from PictureTel
Corporation in Atlanta, but we are interested in finding other vendors
of this service so that we can be sure that we're getting a
competitive price.

Is anyone else using a Video Conferencing Network, or can anyone
recommend a vendor?


Bill Crane        ...!gatech!daysinns!bill      [e-mail]
Days Inns of America Inc., Atlanta GA

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 17 Nov 90 04:00:32 -0500
From: Richard  Szabo <[e-mail]>
Subject: Alternatives to Traditional Multi-Drop 4-Wire Data Lines
Reply-To: [e-mail]


What are the alternatives to the following: My shop runs a data
network over multi-drop four-wire leased lines to ~80 branch locations
stragetically sprinkled over half of our state, Ohio.  The lines run
SDLC or Bisync and carry IBM 3270 terminal traffic.  There are 4800-
and 9600-bps circuits.  The lines are utilized only during normal
business hours.  They cost a lot.

Is there a good way to have switched lines dial into a bridge to
create a multi-drop image?  Is X.25 a viable alternative?  Are there
new services such as ISDN or Virtual Private Data Networks or anything
else that could substitute?


Rich Szabo  Cleveland, Ohio, USA  [phone]
Internet: [e-mail]

------------------------------

From: jane wilde <[e-mail]>
Subject: Cellular Phones of the Future
Date: 18 Nov 90 01:58:27 GMT
Organization: Bowling Green State University B.G., Oh.


I think these phones are a great idea - calling the person, not the
place.  But the price will keep them off the market to the general
public.  According to an article in {USA Today}, Motorola has a phone
which will cost approx.  $1,500.  Another article I read says that an
Ohio based company will be able to put them on the market for about
$100.  There's a big difference in price.  How so?  If this is true,
maybe it won't be long before everyone has a "pocket phone".  And if
that's the case, won't this be a major distraction to others.  How
would you like to be at the movies and have someone talking on the
phone?  Also, what about frequencies?  Will everyone be able to listen
in on your conversation? Or will it be publicly broadcast?


[e-mail].

------------------------------

From: opel!arinc!vk2bea!eccles![e-mail]
Subject: New 410 Code For MD
Date: Sun, 18 Nov 90 4:35:24 UTC


 From: {The Washington Post}, Sat Nov 17 1990

2nd Area Code for Md.

  Maryland will get its second telephone area code next year.

  The entire state now uses a single area code, 301. The Chesapeake
and Potomac Telephone Co. of Maryland said Friday a second code is
needed to accommodate requests for telephone service and for
telecommunications services such as mobile phones, facsimile machines
and beepers.

The new 410 area code will serve metropolitan Baltimore, the entire
Eastern Shore, Calvert County and the majority of Carroll, Howard and
Anne Arundel counties.

  The rest of the state will use the existing 301 area code.

  "There will be no change in rates customers are charged, and there
will be no change in local calling areas," said C&P spokesman Al
Burman.

  The new area code will be phased in over the next two years.
Customers will be encouraged to begin using it next November. During
most of 1992, customers will be able to use either 301 or 410 to place
calls to the 410 area code. In November, 1992, customers will have to
use the correct area code. Using the wrong one will cause them to hear
a recorded message.


Michael Katzmann      Broadcast  Sports Technology
Amateur Radio Stations:
NV3Z / VK2BEA / G4NYV      UUCP: ..uunet!mimsy!arinc!vk2bea!michael


[Moderator's Note: Thanks also to Roger Fajman <[e-mail]>
for an almost identical article he submitted.   PAT]

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 14 Nov 90 13:04:48 EST
From: David McKellar <[e-mail]>
Subject: What Is PC Pursuit?
Reply-To: [e-mail] (Dave McKellar @ Digital Media Networks)
Organization: Digital Media Networks, Toronto, Canada


What is  PC Pursuit ?

Is is a service to make low-cost long distance data phone calls ?  If
it is I'm interested and would like to get their phone number.

Thanks.


[Moderator's Note: You are correct about the purpose of the service,
which is operated by Sprint / Telenet. $30 per month gets you 30 hours
of service via a local dialup. You dial out in distant cities through
modems on the SprintNet (what we used to call Telenet) network. I am
not sure how it operates from Canada, or if it does. You may have to
go through Canada DataPac to connect with the gateway in the USA. For
information, call 703-689-6000 from outside the USA and ask for
information on the PC Pursuit program. I've been a member for about
seven years and find it quite worthwhile.   PAT]

------------------------------

From: wolf paul <tuvie!iiasa.local![e-mail]>
Subject: Modernizing the Hungarian Telephone System
Date: 16 Nov 90 11:12:49 GMT
Reply-To: wolf paul <[e-mail]>
Organization: International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis,


Translated from an article in Vienna's "DER STANDARD" of Nov. 16, 1990:

The deadline for bids to modernize Hungary's telephone system is in
about two weeks, and the competition among the world's largest
suppliers of central office equipment is reaching a climax. The winner
will get a contract to install switching equipment for approximately
1.5 million subscriber lines, valued at about one billion dollars.

Three Austrian companies are among the bidders: Schrack and Kapsch
through their joint-venture company Austria Telecom, as well as
Siemens Austria. Other competitors include all of the world's telecom
giants, like the Swedish Ericsson, the French/German Alcatel-SEL, as
well as Japanese companies.

"We're in a good starting position", Siemens' Telecom Export Manager
Alfred Gruenzweig is certain. Siemens already has met one of the main
requirements of the Hungarian PTT by establishing a joint-venture
company with a Hungarian company, Budapest's telephone manufacturer
"Telefongyar", for the production of system components. In order to
save hard currency, one of the major criteria in the decision will be
the proportion of system components to be manufactured in Hungary.

Austria Telecom (AT), a joint venture of Austrian telecom companies
Kapsch and Schrack, is another bidder. AT is offering a European
version of Northern Telecom's DMS family, which is being adapted in
Austria under the name "OES-D". AT's partner for the eventual
production of central office switches is Hungary's BHG.

The Hungarian PTT intends to announce its decision before the end of
the year. In a manner paralleling the situation in Austria, two
suppliers will be chosen, each of which will receive 35% of the total
volume. The remaining 30% will be awarded on the basis of individual
project bids from these two suppliers.

The details of financing the modernizing project have not yet been
worked out; among the options are World Bank loans.


Wolf N. Paul, UNIX SysAdmin, IIASA, A - 2361 Laxenburg, Austria, Europe
PHONE: [phone]     FAX: [phone]      UUCP: uunet!iiasa!wnp
INTERNET: [e-mail]      BITNET: tuvie!iiasa![e-mail]


[Moderator's Note: Unfortunatly, this message was truncated at about
the point it ends, above. I printed what I was able to reconstruct.  PAT]

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 16 Nov 90 10:07:57 EST
From: Roy Smith <[e-mail]>
Subject: What is MFJ a TLA For?
Organization: Public Health Research Institute, New York City


> I personally think that the omission of GTE is one huge glaring error
> (among soooo many) of the MFJ.

OK, I give up.  What's MFJ a TLA (Three Letter Acronym) for?


Roy Smith, Public Health Research Institute
455 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016
[e-mail] -OR- {att,cmcl2,rutgers,hombre}!phri!roy


[Moderator's Note: MFJ = Modified Final Judgment, i.e. what Harold, in
his, uh, wisdom issued in the process of busting up the Bell System.
Judge Harold Greene delivered himself of his ruling (the MFJ) back in
1983.  He has modified the judgment a few times since then.  PAT]

------------------------------

From: "Steven M. Mailman" <[e-mail]>
Subject: 900 Numbers and Media 4 Advertising Survey
Date: 16 Nov 90 16:24:29 GMT
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation


Yesterday I received (actually, my answering machine received) a a
recorded announcement telling me about about free gifts and trips if I
call 1-900-741-1200 for a fee of $3.50.

I don't know anything about the free gifts and free trips but the
$3.50 fee IS A LIE!  Ma Bell told me, and the company admitted, that
the cost of that number is $9.90.  (I'd bet that the free gifts and
free trips part is a lie too!)

If you get a call from 900-741-1200, it is run by Media 4 Advertising
Survey and you can call them at 800-346-6329 and ask to be removed
from list (or added to a list of people that should not be called).


Steve Mailman   Digital Equipment Corporation   [e-mail]
    Disclaimer:  The opinions and statements expressed by me are not
          necessarily those of Digital Equipment Corporation.

------------------------------

From: Ben Burch <[e-mail]>
Subject: GENIE Information (was: Info Needed on Prodigy Service)
Organization: Analysts International Corp, Chicago Branch
Date: Mon, 12 Nov 90 20:49:59 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail]
(Ken McGlothlen) writes:

>The only semi-useful thing I got out of it was trying to navigate
>EASY SABRE to see if I could reserve an airline ticket.  Again, here,
>the menus were poorly organized, frequently *almost* redundant (to
>wit, two menus allowed you to see *exactly* the same information,
>except for one little item -- I had to abort the reservation process
>and go off to inspect the flight number again), and in general,
>barely useful.

I have been a GENIE subscriber for some years (And have no other
connection with them.)  Recently, perhaps in response to Prodigy, they
began charging a flat $4.95 per month rate for a number of the core
services like E-mail and the non-profession, non-computer related
bboards, and the non-multiplayer games.  These they group as "*STAR
Services".  Also under this flat fee is EASY SABRE and the Groliers
Electronic Encyclopedia.  Access to other services (downloads,
multiplayer games, chat-like stuff) is billed at $6 per hour at 300
through 2400 baud.

The Macintosh libraries, and product support libraries have been
really quite useful to me in the past, although I never spent any time
with the non-computer stuff until it became "free".  Having spent
some time playing with the Groliers and Easy Sabre, and etc, I feel it
is worth my $4.95 per month.  Also, there are very few online ads
(mostly in the one page login bulletins) although they do have a range
of electronic shopping services.

You might check it out.


Ben Burch   [e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 16 Nov 90 12:25:55 EST
From: Gary W Sanders <[e-mail]>
Subject: Wireless Phonejak
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories


In the latest Damark catalog I ran across an interesting telephone
gizmo:  Wireless phonejak by phonex.

"Expand the phone system through your home or office with the phonex
wireless phonejak. This easy to install phonejak system converts an AC
outlet into a phone jack allows you to place your (*) phone, on any
outlet in any room, indoors or out!"  (*) not my bad typing, just as
it appears in the ad.

You get two units that plug into the wall. It looks like a carrier
currnet phone extender. I wonder how well it works; has anyone used
one? Can you use more than one unit? How well does it work with BSR
devices?

DAMARK 1-800-827-6767

Gary Sanders (N8EMR) AT&T Bell Labs, Columbus Ohio
[e-mail]         614-860-5965

------------------------------

From: Winston Lawrence <[e-mail]>
Subject: High Technology on the Street
Date: Fri, 16 Nov 90 13:42:55 EST
Organization: The Dorsai Diplomatic Mission, NYC


I kept a quote from somewhere regarding the fact that the street finds
its own use for high technology.

The following is taken from the {New York Post} (11/15/90).

A marijuana service - available by dialing 1-800-WANT-POT and run by
the self-ordained "pope of Dope" was snuffed out yesterday by
Manhattan narcotics cops.

Michael "Mickey" Cesar, high priest of the "Church of Realized
Fantasies", was arrested at 120 Walker St., the "church" loft where he
took his takeout calls, said police.

"He had six phones and took 360 calls an hour," said Capt. Thomas Fahey
of Manhattan South Narcotics. "Every phone rang once a minute."  "If
you dialed that number, bike messengers would deliver anywhere in
Manhattan. He was the Domino's Pizza of pot dealers."

Cesar, 48, of 675 Hudson St., frequently bragged to cops and reporters
that his pot service pulled in $30,000 a day.

Cops also seized seven pounds of marijuana, which would have brought
in nearly $54,000 at the price he was charging.

<end quote>

No, I didn't try calling the number, I can just imagine what New
York's Finest are now doing with the ANI information provided by the
network.  Still, I wonder who the Long Distance Carrier who signed
this one up was.


Winston Lawrence ([e-mail])


        **** The street finds its own use for high technology ***
"Ten-four. I'm calling from my mobile phone. A litterer in the car in
front of me just threw a candy wrapper out the window. I will remain
in pursuit of the perpetrator and attempt citizen's arrest."

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V10 #829
******************************






ISSUES 829 AND 830 WERE REVERSED IN TRANSMISSION. 830 CAME IN AHEAD OF
829 IN THIS ARCHIVES. 831 FOLLOWS NEXT.






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          18 Nov 90 23:32 CST
Date:     Sun, 18 Nov 90 23:02:02 CST
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
[To]:     [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V10 #831
BCC:
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Sun, 18 Nov 90 23:01:46 CST    Volume 10 : Issue 831

Inside This Issue:                         Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Re: Slick-96 [Barton F. Bruce]
    Re: Slick-96 [Jody Kravitz]
    Re: Telemarketing Sleezoids [Dave Levenson]
    Re: Dealing with Telemarketers [John Higdon]
    Re: FAX Machine at Home: Options for Incoming Transmissions [S. Nomura]
    Re: A Phone Set Wiring Question [Tad Cook]
    Re: *Long* Phone Calls -- What Does Ma Think? [John Higdon]
    Re: Saudi Arabia's Telepone System [Hakan Winkvist]
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: "Barton F. Bruce" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Slick-96
Date: 17 Nov 90 01:30:43 EDT
Organization: Cambridge Computer Associates, Inc.


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (KEVIN
GRIFFIN) writes:

> Can anyone tell me what a "Slick 96" switch is and what kind of
> services are available from it. One of my local (SWB) techs told me

It really is SLC 96. Subscriber Line (Carrier? or Concentrator?)

Think of a T1 channel bank like device designed to be stuck out on a
concrete pad in the boonies (-40C to +65C rating), or in the cellar of
an urban high-rise. Think of it as remoting a piece of the CO out on
the end of some digital facilities. It can handle single and multi
party, coin, VF special services, and up to 56kb data. Can use copper
T1s, or fiber at T2 (4xT1).

It operates in three modes.

Mode I uses four T1s to 96 subscriber ckts (full availability) with an
optional 5th T1 hot standby. The single + multi party plug-ins are two
ckts per card, thus filling the box.

Mode II Concentrated config. Uses two T1 (48 ckts) with an optional
third T1 hot spare to serve 96 subscribers with a fixed 2:1
concentration for single and multi-party lines. In this mode it can
also support up to 16 special service circuits that are NOT
concentrated, and their ckts are one per card.

Mode III Special services ONLY using two T1s with optional third T1
spare.  The 48 possible ckts, at one per card fill the system.

Perhaps you would care to order the doc + practice set: 700-546 SLC-96
Documentation and Practices - seems to be only $3.25 (may be typo) in
a distributor's catalog. The Schematics are: # 700-548.

------------------------------

From: foxtail![e-mail]
Date: Sun, 18 Nov 90 09:14:46 PST
Subject: Re: Slick-96


In Volume 10, Issue 823, Message 4 of 12, Keven Griffith asks about
Slick 96.

SLC-96 means "Subscriber Loop Carrier-96" and it is a method of
digital multiplexing to accomplish "pair gain". The remote end of
SLC-96 is a box which is mounted in the field.  The box has an AC
operated power supply and gel-cel storage batteries.  For each 24
subscribers, it uses two pairs back to the central office.  Thus 96
subscribers are supported by 8 pairs.  Usually there are two spare CO
pairs brought in for good measure.  The pairs run at T1 rate (1.544
MB/Sec).  It is possible to run with 1/2 the number of CO pairs, but
then you can't give everyone service at once.  If the office is an
analog office, another box like the one in the field converts the
eight pairs back into 96 pairs. If the office end of the setup is a #5
ESS (any size), the digitally multiplexed lines connect directly to
the switching equipment.  Forgive the pun: it is very slick.

There was an entire Bell Labs Technical Journal dedicated to SLC-96 in
December of 1984.  It is Volume 63 Number 10, Part 2.  Any large
engineering library (university) should have it.


Jody

------------------------------

From: Dave Levenson <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Telemarketing Sleezoids
Date: 18 Nov 90 13:01:32 GMT
Organization: Westmark, Inc., Warren, NJ, USA


In article <[e-mail]>, stables![e-mail] (Steve
Warner) writes:

> to their brand of rotten LD service.  And if I hadn't seen someone HERE
> mention that someone was using ATNT as a company name - I may have

> [Moderator's Note: A story in TELECOM Digest in 1988 told about a
> fellow here in Chicago who had incorporated his business using the
> name "The Phone Company". He was selling an insurance policy
> dealing...

A friend of mine here in New Jersey owns an unincorporated business
which operates under the name New Jersey Telephone Bell Company.  As
far as I know, his business has never done much advertising, and is
not particularly visible.  Perhaps this is why the New Jersey Bell
Telephone Company, a local utility, hasn't bothered him.


Dave Levenson        Internet: [e-mail]
Westmark, Inc.        UUCP: {uunet | rutgers | att}!westmark!dave
Warren, NJ, USA        AT&T Mail: !westmark!dave
Voice: 908 647 0900      Fax: [phone]


[Moderator's Note: Well this guy in Chicago had phone solictors
calling people, telling them they were calling from "The Phone
Company", and inviting them to sign a contract giving them free repair
of their telephone and the use of a loaner set as needed. Needless to
say most folks thought he was calling from the phone company. His
fatal mistake was in telling one person he contacted that he was
associated with IBT. He accidentally called an IBT security guy at
home to peddle his repair/telephone loaner service. IBT later admitted
they could not stop him from being incorporated as "The Phone Company"
since IBT does not own that trademark. Nor could they prevent him from
sending out bills each month which looked amazingly like theirs. They
*could* stop him from saying he was associated with IBT, and they did.
In the meantime, the Illinois Consumer Fraud office convinced the man
it would be a good idea to abandon his use of the phrase "The Phone
Company".  PAT]

------------------------------

Organization: Green Hills and Cows
Reply-To: John Higdon <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Dealing with Telemarketers
Date: 18 Nov 90 11:03:51 PST (Sun)
From: John Higdon <[e-mail]>


Jeff Carroll <bcsaic![e-mail]> writes:

>     Being wrapped up in the ball game, I didn't bother to
> investigate further, but it did sound a little fishy -- not to mention
> the uncomfortable feeling that accompanies receiving phone calls from
> local cops asking for money.

While we are on the subject of telemarketing, perhaps it should be
mentioned why some upper executives are hard to reach and hide behind
secretaries. In addition to many others, the Police Athletic League in
San Jose (now called the Police Activities League) was a most
aggressive telemarketer, along with the Peace Officers Association.

When I was president of a telecommunications firm (and part owner),
there could be ten to twenty telemarketing calls a day. Some were
unsophisticated and simply asked for the "owner of the business".
Others did some homework and found out names. (Corporate officers are
a matter of public record.) We had a very sharp receptionist, but even
she would succomb to, "This is Sergeant McFlatfoot with the San Jose
Police Department. May I speak to Mr. John Higdon please?" in
authoritative tones. Sgt. McFlatfoot would of course attempt to cause
guilt if I didn't buy a block of tickets to help the disadvantaged
youth in his program.

All in all, anyone in business is deluged with junk calls all day
long.  Investments, office products, insurance, invoice factoring,
collection services, and charities of every manner and description are
just some of the garbage that attempts to enter via the telephone.
This is not to mention the foot traffic--picture sellers, car waxers,
nicnac peddlers, even custom tailored suits are offered door to door.

Anyone who feels that solicitation is annoying at home should have the
experience of owning a business. It makes one a seasoned expert at
saying "no".


        John Higdon         |   P. O. Box 7648   |   [phone]
    [e-mail]     | San Jose, CA 95150 |       M o o !

------------------------------

From: "S. Nomura" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: FAX Machine at Home: Options for Incoming Transmissions
Date: 16 Nov 90 00:41:30 GMT
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Organization: The University of Texas at Arlington


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] writes:

>Telecom readers:

>I am facing a problem which I believe that several of you have already
>faced, and many of you will soon: the proliferation of things-that-use-
>the-phone.

My configuration:

At office: a 386 PC with Complete Communicator (PC fax, answering
machine, modem all in one board).

At home: a 386 SX PC with a 2400 baud modem.

Software: pcANYWHERE, GWS (Grahpics Workshop, shareware)

Scenario:

1) People can send faxes and leave messages to the 386 at my office
day and night.

2) In the evening at my home, I use pcANYWHERE to connect to the 386
at my office and check to see if there are any faxes received. If
there are, I use the software that came with the board to convert the
fax file to PCX format. I then transfer the PCX file to my machine at
home and can do whatever I want.

3) If I need to send a fax, I call the 386 at my office by PC
*ANYWHERE* and configure the fax software so that it sends fax
automatically in three minutes. I then hang up.

I don't have a fax machine at home yet I can retrieve and send faxes
from home.


S. Nomura   Department of Mechanical Engineering
University of Texas at Arlington  Arlington, Texas 76019-023
internet: [e-mail]  bitnet:b460nom@utarlg
[phone] (press 2 for fax)

------------------------------

From: hpubvwa!ssc![e-mail]
Subject: Re: A Phone Set Wiring Question
Date: Sun, 18 Nov 90 0:59:12 PST


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Rich
Zellich) writes:

> I recently moved to a newly-built home, into which I had had two
> three-pair cables installed.  One cable is for possible future use;
> currently I have two lines used on the other cable.

> On hooking up various phones I, too, found that one single-line phone
> would take *both* lines off-hook.  This is a "novelty" phone - a

The problem is, you have a phone that uses the outer pair
(black/yellow wires) for the A and A1 leads, which short together when
you go off hook.  You have this plugged into an RJ14 jack, which has
the second line wired to the outer pair.  When the phone goes off
hook, it uses the line hooked to the center pair, and shorts the outer
pair.

Rewire the jack so that only the red/green pair is active.  This will
make it a standard RJ11 jack.  Then take the separate black/yellow
pair, and wire it to the center pair (red green) of another jack.  The
RJ14 type wiring should only be used with a 2 line phone that is wired
for RJ14.


Tad Cook  Seattle, WA  Packet: KT7H @ N7HFZ.WA.USA.NA  Phone: [phone]
MCI Mail: 3288544      Telex: 6503288544 MCI UW
USENET:...uw-beaver!sumax!amc-gw!ssc!tad  or, [e-mail]

------------------------------

Organization: Green Hills and Cows
Reply-To: John Higdon <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: *Long* Phone Calls -- What Does Ma Think?
Date: 17 Nov 90 19:42:57 PST (Sat)
From: John Higdon <[e-mail]>


Jack Winslade <[e-mail]> writes:

> Yes, I know about 'chasing permanents', but this was in the NYC area
> circa 1970, where many of the offices were aging panel and #1 crossbar
> that were held together with scotch tape and typically had such things
> like unused twisted-pair jumpers banjo-strung all over the frames.
> The switch crews were busy just keeping the switches up, let alone
> tracing permanents (if the PS lamps weren't burned out. ;-) There was
> some kind of a tape-based CAMA system that billed a whole group of
> offices from a central point.  I think some of the offices still
> billed for local units with 'odometer' type counters which were
> photographed each month.

A little clarification on the term "permanent signal" is in order. A
telephone that has been off the hook for a long time is not
necessarily a "permanent signal" and it most certainly is not if
connected to another telephone through the network. PS refers to lines
that have come off-hook and are pulling dial tone without dialing, or
have been involved with conversation and have failed to go on-hook at
call termination.

There is no need to "trace permanents". When a line comes off hook and
the dial tone times out, it generally goes to a howler trunk for a few
minutes to attempt to alert the customer of the off-hook condition and
then it is connected to a PS trunk. This is what the PS lamps are
connected to. A glance at the board will show how may lines are PS at
any given moment. It is a simple matter to identify a particular line
associated with a given PS trunk.

A major alarm condition exists if many lines go PS at once. This is
usually indicative of cable failure and can bring down an office if
corrective action isn't taken immediately. The offending cable is
usually identified so that it can be cut loose from the switch until
it is repaired.

Anyway, a permanent signal is quite different from a "long call". As
to whether a charge can be avoided by making the call long enough so
that it spans mulitple call recording media, this has long been
rumored but not confirmed by anyone I know. My suspicion is that it
won't work, since a call record is laid down at the conclusion of the
call, being held in memory until written to tape. The data recorders
that I have seen at Pac*Bell don't even write each call, but wait
until many calls are ready to be written and then the tape barely
moves, writing many call records.

> Maybe some of the 'experts' on billing systems could confirm if this
> was true at that time.  I am, of course, assuming that if it were
> true, the case has been dealt with and the modern billing software is
> smart enough to catch it and bill for it.

Possibly this would have worked back in the days of the punched tape,
since I believe the start time and end time for a call were written to
the tape at the moment of occurrance. When the tapes were read by the
billing office, the start time was linked to the matching end time to
provide the call "ticket". How far apart these would have to be to
cause a ticket to disappear is unknown.


        John Higdon         |   P. O. Box 7648   |   [phone]
    [e-mail]     | San Jose, CA 95150 |       M o o !

------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Hakan Winkvist)
Subject: Re: Saudi Arabia's Telepone System
Reply-To: [e-mail] (Hakan Winkvist)
Organization: Communication Systems, Lund Institute of Technology, Sweden
Date: Sun, 18 Nov 90 10:30:25 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (VLD/VMB) writes:
X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 822, Message 6 of 14

>Mark Hahn <[e-mail]> writes:

>>To call my old home phone, dial 011-966-387-42688.  011-966 is, of
>>course, the international access for Saudi.  3 is, I think the escape
>>for Aramco.  87 is, I think, the city code for Dhahran.

>I don't have a map of Saudi Arabia in front of me as I write this.
>Could it be the other way around?  (I.e., could you have 3 as city
>code for Dhahran and 87 as an "exchange" reserved for Aramco there?)
>Here is what I have for Saudi Arabia city codes:

>966 Saudi Arabia
>    1  Riyadh
>    2 or 21 Jeddah
>    2 or 22 Mecca
>    41 Medina

Saudi Arabia is divided into six regions. Each region is given a
unique area code:

  01 Riyadh region
  02 Jeddah region
  03 Dammam region
  04 Medina region
  06 Qassim region
  07 Southern region

Within the area only the subscriber number have to be dialled. The
subscriber number consists of seven digits. The area code and the
subscriber number is always nine digits.

   0A - NXX XXXX

0 is used as national prefix.

00 is used as international prefix.

All numbers starting with 9 are reserved for different emergencies and
special services. All these numbers are three digits long. (example:
Police 999, English clock 963)

The local exchange is identified by the NXX-code (A local exchange is
allocated 1 to 4 NXX-codes). According to my list of NXX-codes 871 is
given to the PABX for the railroad company, Aramco (Dharan) is given
874, 875 and 876, and 879 is the Dharan airport PABX. (The railroad
and the airport switches are of the type SXS).

According to the list Aramco has several more NXX-codes in the Dammam
area.


Hakan Winkvist

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V10 #831
******************************










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Date:     Mon, 19 Nov 90 2:04:13 CST
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
[To]:     [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V10 #832
BCC:
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Mon, 19 Nov 90 02:03:45 CST    Volume 10 : Issue 832

Inside This Issue:                         Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Massive Layoffs at MCI: Thousands Being Terminated [TELECOM Moderator]
    Updated 800/900 Files in Archives; Other New Items [TELECOM Moderator]
    Computer Underground Digest Story in Chicago Tribune [TELECOM Moderator]
    William G. H. Finch - Inventor of Facsimile [TELECOM Moderator]
    Description of ATT Mail ACCESS  [Ed Hopper]
    Re: Wanted: Home Phone System [Daniel M. Rosenberg]
    Re: Wanted: "Pole Climbers" [David Lesher]
    Why Does AT&T Supply ISDN Instead of Local Telco [Peter G. Capek]
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Mon, 19 Nov 90 0:44:18 CST
From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Subject: Massive Layoffs at MCI: Thousands Being Terminated


MCI has announced a major cutback in their staffing. This cutback,
which is underway now and will continue through the first of the year,
will see several thousand employees dismissed as the company
reorganizes itself in the competitive long distance market.

Until now, MCI has had seven divisions. These divisions roughly
covered the same geographical territory as the seven Bells. At one
time, MCI thought it in their best interest to set up their offices in
such a way that they could monitor and quickly respond to actions by
the Bells and their former parent, AT&T.

The re-organization now underway will result in four divisions of MCI.
A division will remain here in Chicago, as well as one on the east and
west coasts, and (most likely) in Texas, covering the southern USA.

Employees were notified beginning last week that they ought to expect
many of their colleagues to be terminated by the first of the year --
including possibly themselves. There are some new jobs available in
the remaining divisions of the company, but it is not likely there
will be a job for everyone or even most of the excess employees.

MCI has had financial problems over the past year. For two quarters in
a row they had to take charges on their books. The purchase of
Telecom*USA also set them back considerably. They had to borrow that
money, and the lenders are now getting a little nervous.

Look for a whole new organization at MCI after the first of the year.
The terminated employees total about six percent of their entire
payroll.


Patrick Townson

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 19 Nov 90 0:54:06 CST
From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Subject: Updated 800/900 Files in Archives; Other New Items


Two new files in Telecom Archives later this week will be updated
versions of the 800/900 'who owns what' tables. These were sent to us
about a week ago by a reader, but I've been busy and unable to edit
them as of yet. I hope to have them on display in the archives later
this week. If you have the old (1989) version, then you will want to
get these more recent references.

Also in the Telecom Archives later this week is an update on the long
distance call blocking situation. Bruce Wilson, an attorney in Iowa
who has been active in the Teleconnect /Telecom USA problem since the
beginning has brought us up to date. The file is far too lengthy to
use here, even as a special issue. Look for it in the sub-directory of
the archives entitled 'telecom.security.issues'.

Finally, Toby Nixon has supplied us with a press release on the topic
of JT Fax Products. This will also be in the archives. I think what I
will do is have a special issue later this week which provides an up
to date index to the Telecom Archives, so that you can update your
files.

My thanks to everyone who has sent large archives files in recent
weeks. I wish I had the time and space to run the material here.


Patrick Townson

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 19 Nov 90 1:06:21 CST
From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Subject: Computer Underground Digest Story in Chicago Tribune


Our companion publication 'Computer Underground Digest' was mentioned
in a special section of the {Chicago Tribune} on Sunday, November 18.
Entitled "Technology and the Workplace", this pullout section in the
Tribune featured an article entitled "Crackdown on Computer Crime",
written by Jim Sulski.

Mr. Sulski's lengthy article discussed the events of this past year in
great detail, and included an interview with Jim Thomas, one of the
CuD Moderators.

You may want to order a copy of this special section; I thought it was
rather good. Jim may possibly run some excerpts from it in CuD ... I
have not inquired.

If you want a copy, I suggest the easiest way to obtain one would be
to send $2 to the Tribune Public Service office and ask them to send
you just that section of the paper from Sunday.

You want Section 19, "Technology and the Workplace" from the Chicago
Sunday Tribune, November 18, 1990. They may send you the whole Sunday
paper, since it costs $1.50, I dunno ...

Chicago Tribune Public Service Office
Tribune Tower
445 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611


Patrick Townson

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 19 Nov 90 1:18:07 CST
From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Subject: William G. H. Finch - Inventor of Facsimile


William G. H. Finch, a radio engineer who in the late 1930's pioneered
the development of facsimile transmission of printed matter and
photographs died November 12 in a hospital in Stuart, FL. He was 93.

Mr. Finch was the founder of Finch Telecommunications Laboratories in
New York. He held hundreds of patents for inventions in radio
communications, including the design of a machine to send printed
matter and photgraphs by radio, through a process known as radio
facsimile.

He also developed a process for a 'talking newspaper' that would
produce a printed soundtrack on newsprint, and a device to allow the
reader to reproduce the sound at home.

In 1938, Mr. Finch received a patent for a method by which color
photographs could be sent over telephone lines to a device that would
reproduce them.

The advent of World War II and the development of television dampened
interest in his process.

He was born in England in 1897, and came to the USA in 1906. He went
to school at the University of Cincinnati, and also at Columbia
University.

He was responsible for setting up the first radio-typewriter press
circuit between New York and Chicago, and later between New York and
Havana, Cuba.

He served as assistant chief engineer for the Federal Communications
Commission from the time it was founded (in the 1920's, out of the old
Federal Radio Commission) until 1935.  He was a communications officer
in the Navy during the second war.

A brilliant man, and one who made many contributions to technologies
we take for granted these days ... dead from complications due to
diabetes at age 93.


Patrick Townson

------------------------------

From: Ed Hopper <[e-mail]>
Subject: Description of ATT Mail ACCESS
Date: Sat, 17 Nov 90 11:26:22 CST
Organization: Ed Hopper's BBS - Houston, Texas 713-997-7575


[e-mail] (Nelson Bolyard) writes:

> Executive (:-) Summary: If you have and use AT&T Mail's "ACCESS"
> program for the PC or MacIntosh, please write a description of how it
> works, how you use it, how user-friendly it is, etc, and mail it to me
> or post it to the TELECOM Digest (comp.dcom.telecom).

1. Use of ACCESS is absolutely OPTIONAL.  I use Procomm and QModem on
AT&T Mail all the time (plus various VT100 clone dumb terminals).

2. ACCESS presents the standard AT&T Mail offline user interface.
It looks like this:
                                              --IN--
+-----+-----+    +---------------------------------------------------------+
|     |     |    |                                                         |
|     |     |    |                                                         |
+-----+-----+    |                                                         |
|     |     |    |                                                         |
|     |     |    |                                                         |
+-----+-----+    |---------------------------------------------------------|                                                         |
|     |     |
|     |     |                                 --OUT--
+-----+-----+    |---------------------------------------------------------|                                                         |
|     |     |    |                                                         |
|     |     |    |                                                         |
+-----+-----+    |                                                         |
|     |     |    |                                                         |
|     |     |    |                                                         |
+-----+-----+    |---------------------------------------------------------|

Across the left side of the screen are ten boxes arranged in five rows
of two.  Each corresponds with a function key.  They cover functions
like READ, CREATE, DELETE, MOVE, COPY, FORWARD, SEND, RECEIVE, etc.
Press a function key to perform the desired function.

On the right 2/3's of the screen are the in/out boxes. Incoming mail
messages are shown in the upper box, outgoing in the lower.  These
boxes can be switched to show other "folders" (subdirectories) as
desired.

When you press send or receive (there is also a SEND&RECEIVE option),
a script is executed to dial up AT&T Mail, download mail in batch mode
and upload pending outbound mail.  It's all automatic and pretty goof
proof.

The nice thing about ACCESS is that it handles adressing for some of
the options like RECEIPT, COD and paper delivery easily.  It also
allows binary file attachment and detachment to messages.

Messages created with ACCESS or sent via UUCP from a UNIX box do not
have message creation charges associated with them.  Messages entered
online do have such charges.  Unfortunately, messages edited offline
and sent up via XModem from Procomm, etc. also have "creation"
charges.

All in all, ACCESS is OK, not fabulous. It is certainly not necessary.

There are versions of ACCESS for AT&T UNIX systems (PMX/TERM) and for
NetBIOS and Novell LANs (PMX/StarMAIL). All present the same visual
interface.


Ed Hopper

------------------------------

From: "Daniel M. Rosenberg" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Wanted: Home Phone System
Date: 19 Nov 90 04:44:32 GMT
Organization: World Otherness Ministries


In <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Macy Hallock) writes:

>In article <[e-mail]>:

>>I'm interested in updating my home phones.
>>A couple manufacturers which come to mind are Rolm...

Oh, yech, Patrick.

>Seriously, I think the Melco is now not even actively marketed, it is
>not even in my North Supply catalog anymore.  About the only Mini-PBX
>that freely accepts single line phones anymore is the Panasonic, if
>you can get one (they are still in short supply).

Hello Direct is selling used 4 line AT&T Merlins for way too much
money (1 800 HI HELLO). We got our Panasonic KX-T1232H a 12 line
version of Macy Hallock's KX-T308 from Anixter Bros. (They have a
national number, but we got friendly service from Leonard at 415 352
3100 -- tell him Dan from Stanford said hi.) While the switches
themselves are easy to get, the phones are a bit harder. The 1232 and
the six line 616 need a feature phone for programming (although the
default configuration is usable) but you can plug in as many other
POTS sets as you'd like, and configure them to do anything except make
your coffee in the morning.

The Panasonics are cheap, reliable (ours is in use at the student-run
crisis counseling center -- and I've seen a 616 working at the
Warfield in San Francisco, which is a rock concert hall) and
relatively feature-rich.

I've also heard Comdials are sorta crappy but usable.


Daniel M. Rosenberg  //  Stanford CSLI  // Chew my opinions, not Stanford's.
[e-mail] // decwrl!csli!dmr // [e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 18 Nov 90 23:53:02 -0500
From: David Lesher <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Wanted: "Pole Climbers"
Organization: NRK Clinic for habitual NetNews Abusers
Reply-To: David Lesher <[e-mail]>


Macy said:

>Beware of used spurs.  The condition and style of these is a safety
>issue not to be ignored.

>If you are not trained in pole climbing, I'd advise against

I second my friend Macy. Not only are the spurs suspect, so are the
poles! If you insist on such a stunt, first get a copy of the BSP
Station Service Manual vol. II and read section 081-730-101 about how
to test the pole BEFORE climbing it.  And although I cannot be sure of
this, I seem to recall that tree spurs are a different breed of cat.
So know what you are buying.

And from what I have heard, you are lucky if the wood splinters all
end up in your chest.

[e-mail]   (305) 255-RTFM   33257-0335

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 19 Nov 90 00:19:54 EST
From: "Peter G. Capek" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Why Does AT&T Supply ISDN Instead of Local Telco?


I saw somewhere recently a news article that reported a substantial
increase in the rate at which AT&T was filling orders for ISDN service.
This got me to thinking...

1) Why is AT&T, rather than my LEC, supplying ISDN service?  I suppose it
   might make sense for AT&T to supply "long distance" ISDN service, either
   to my LEC, or indirectly to me.  Apparently, I inferred too close a
   similarity between POTS and ISDN.  What's the truth?   Is there something
   about ISDN which makes it fundamentally different from POTS in a
   REGULATORY sense?

2) How does AT&T supply ISDN service?  Do they get the LEC to provide a
   leased line from my premises to one of their 114 #4 ESS'?  Or to some
   other switch which interfaces to their network in some other way?

3) (Unrelated to ISDN...) Why are LEC's called LOCAL exchange carriers?
   Wouldn't it make more sense to call them, for example, LATA exchange
   carriers, since a LATA is the limit of their (possibly multiple) transport
   area?  Similarly, why are IXC's called that?  They don't carry traffic
   between exchanges any more than LEC's do: but they DO generally carry
   traffic between exchanges which are further away from one another than
   the LEC's.


Peter Capek

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V10 #832
******************************










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Date:     Tue, 20 Nov 90 0:47:33 CST
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
[To]:     [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V10 #833
BCC:
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Tue, 20 Nov 90 00:47:27 CST    Volume 10 : Issue 833

Inside This Issue:                         Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Administrivia: Troubles in Telecom-land [TELECOM Moderator]
    IDG Hackers [Bob Falcon]
    America On-Line Beta Test: Your Help Wanted! [Scott D. Green]
    Directory of Telcos Needed [Tim Wild]
    Neat Trick (was: *Long* Phone Calls) [J. Eric Townsend]
    NET Changes Its Mind on Mailing Lists [Joel B. Levin]
    Computer Clock Synchronization Solution [Ben Dubin]
    Where to Find Used Panasonic Equipment [John Alsop]
    Voice Mail (Call Routers/Answering Services) [Jim Ingram]
    Area Code History Request [Dan Bloch]
    SONET Standards Status Sought [Pushpendra Mohta]
    MCI's Personal 800 Service [Bill Huttig]
    Help in Locating Telecom Archives [Ted Aseltine]
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Mon, 19 Nov 90 1:32:37 CST
From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Subject: Administrivia: Troubles in Telecom-land


This past week brought numerous problems my way in the
moderating/editing and distribution of the Digest. For starters, two
days in a row we were literally flooded with messages, receiving about
a hundred new submissions each day. Under a best case scenario, postings
would run about two days behind.

But what actually happened was that (1) the editor here (EMACS) got
into some hassle and would not work right until delta.eecs.nwu.edu got
rebooted. Two or three issues this past week were very sloppy, in my
estimation, and in fact for a couple days issues were taking *two or
three hours* -- per issue -- to process and get in the system because
the system kept crashing, knocking me off line, etc.

So a big backlog of stuff, combined with very slow processing meant
some messages this past week have been three or four days later than
usual in getting out.  Sorry.

To compound things, (2) the Usenet gateway here is a machine called
'accuvax' and over the weekend it shut down ... or at least it would
not accept postings. At one point I had about fifty messages waiting
to go to comp.dcom.telecom which finally had to be rerouted through my
backup account at cs.bu.edu.  To make matters still worse, (3) after I
got all the messages rerouted over to cs.bu.edu I lost a major portion
of my directory there, including the poster.daemon program, and had to
spend a few hours reconstructing that.

Finally, and although it is of no direct concern to you, I've been
obliged to spend about 60 hours per week at my office for the past two
weeks catching up on a huge backlog of stuff *there* -- so the Digest
has been getting out when/if I have had time to work on it.

Maybe this week will be better. I again urge you to please:

   ***  READ THE RESPONSES OF OTHERS BEFORE YOU WRITE ***

You do not have to be the first person to answer everything posted
here. If you see others have written virtually identical messages,
then please forgo your posting. At present I can only post about a
quarter to a third of what comes in; please don't force the ratio even
lower than this. I like printing your stuff, but not in the quantity
it came in this past week.

Another True Confession!  The next issue of the Digest will contain an
article of interest to all:  'Confessions of a Telemarketer' ... yes,
one of our regular readers has been thus employed, and will make his
public confession in these columns later today.  Watch for it.

Last, I wish a happy Thanksgiving Day this Thursday to our USA
readers!  It'll be a nice four day weekend for some folks, I'm sure!


Patrick Townson
TELECOM Moderator

------------------------------

Subject: IDG Hackers
Date: 18 Nov 90 05:23:17 EST (Sun)
From: Bob Falcon <[e-mail]>


Hi all,

I just ran across this in {Digital News}  [ 11/12/90 ] : <page 3 >


                H A C K E R S    C O S T    I D G

A missing poster from a Gamepro subscription, a video-game monthly
magazine, prompted two Staten Island, N.Y., teen-age brothers to break
into the telephone mail system at International Data Group's
Peterborough, N.H., office - where Gamepro is published - and cause
$2.4 million worth of damage.

The computer hackers, 14- and 17-year-olds, apparently made more than
500 calls to the IBM Rolm telephone system, recorded bomb threats and
obscenities, changed passwords and erased advertising orders.  Agents
of the U.S. Secret Service and the New York State Police arrested the
youths and charged them with a host of misdemeanors, including
computer tampering, aggravated harassment and unauthorized use of a
computer.

There is also a full page article about Cliffort Stoll's book "The
Cuckoo's Egg", on page 66.

Acording to the article , he's a Computer Security GURU [now], and the
last American hero of the now defunct Cold War. <grin>

This was DIGITAL's NEWSmaker Interview in the last issue.

Anyhoo, Have a good one!

Catchya later,

Bob Falcon [ Co-Sysop : Turbo 386 Remote Access ]
[ (1:273/906) @Fidonet ] [ [phone] HST/DS ]
internet: [e-mail]   or   [e-mail]
uucp: [backbonesite]!bpa!alba2l!rescon!bfalcon


[Moderator's Note: Talk about naughty, spoiled children! I hope their
parents are forced to pay restitution for the damages done.  With a
little luck, maybe the judge will send the older one to jail for
awhile and the younger one to a juvenile reform school and order them
both to stay away from computers for at least ten years.  PAT]

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 19 Nov 90 09:37 EDT
From: "Scott D. Green" <[e-mail]>
Subject: America On-Line Beta Test: Your Help Wanted!


Apropos to our recent discussion of Prodigy, I just received an offer
from Quantum Computer Services in Vienna, VA to beta test their new
on-line service, America Online, which "will allow pc owners to
participate in interactive computer forums, download thousands of
public domain and shareware programs, check stock prices and the
latest news, play interactive, multi-player games, and more."

They want folks to test their current beta software which is a graphic
windowing interface for DOS machines.  They will provide the software
and *unlimited free online access time* to test the service.

It's signed "Cynthia Hibbs, Asst. Marketing Manager," with a
post-script to "feel free to share this invitation with your friends!"

So, friends, give them a call at 703-448-8700.  They'll send you an
equipment survey to make sure your hardware meets their minimum
requirements.


scott

------------------------------

From: Tim Wild <[e-mail]>
Subject: Directory of Telcos Needed
Date: 19 Nov 90 18:37:06 GMT
Organization: Bowling Green State University B.G., Oh.


I need to get the addresses for telephone companies and was wondering
what the best telco directories are.  I'm especially interested in
having the names of personnel directors with the telcos.

Thanks for your help.


Tim Wild    Bowling Green State University   [e-mail]

------------------------------

From: "J. Eric Townsend" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Neat Trick (was: *Long* Phone Calls)
Organization: University of Houston -- Department of Mathematics
Date: Mon, 19 Nov 90 18:40:10 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> Jack.Winslade@f666.n285.
z1.fidonet.org (Jack Winslade) writes:

>This idea was reinforced when an employee of AT&T Long Lines told me
>that there was a good chance that after several months, after the
>billing tapes were changed several times or something like that, there
>was a good chance that the equipment would 'forget' about the
>connection and never bill at all, even if/when it was terminated.

We weren't doing LD, but...

A local eight-line chat system (RoundTable), possibly the first such
system in the states, was finally going down.  Several of us decided
to stay on until the bitter end -- when Ma Bell disconnected service.

Disconnection day came and went.  We were still on line.  If we tried
to dial in, we got a "not in service" message.  Ten days after SWBT
said the service was cancelled, I was the last person on line.  (I got
disconnected by Houston Looting and Plunder; they can't keep steady
power for more than a week or two w/o something going wrong.)

So here's the scam: start a number, make a solid connection, then
cancel the service.  At $100 per installation, you'd have to go four
months before you broke even, however... :-)


J. Eric Townsend     Internet: [e-mail]    Bitnet: jet@UHOU
Systems Manager - University of Houston Dept. of Mathematics - [phone]
EastEnders list: [e-mail]
Skate UNIX(r)

------------------------------

From: "Joel B. Levin" <[e-mail]>
Subject: NET Changes Its Mind on Mailing Lists
Date: Mon, 19 Nov 90 17:20:27 EST


In my most recent telco bill, the supplement called "Calling All
Customers" (Vol. IV No. 3) contains this on the last page:

    Bothered by Unwanted Telephone and Mail Solicitation?

    Last year, New England Telephone announced the introduction of what
    we thought would be a helpful new service.

    But you told us otherwise.

    We said the names, addresses and telephone numbers of our customers
    would be made available to companies whose products and services
    might be of interest to you.

    Along with the announcement, we sent you a postcard which you could
    return to us if you wished to have your name removed from these
    lists.

    Many of you returned these cards and made it clear that you didn't
    like the proposed idea.  Because of this, we discontinued the
    service.

    However, that does not mean that you will never receive calls from
    businesses wishing to sell you their products.  These businesses can
    create their own lists from many sources, including telephone
    directories.

    We, of course, cannot prevent anyone from doing this.  But please
    be assured that such lists are not made available directly from New
    England Telephone.

                         ----------------

(Of course this says nothing about what any other NYNEX subsidiaries
may be doing...)

JBL

nets: [e-mail]    |    BBN Communications
  or: ...!bbn!levin    |    M/S  20/7A
POTS: [phone]  |    150 Cambridge Park Drive
  or: [phone]  |    Cambridge, MA  02140

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 19 Nov 90 17:28:40 PST
From: ben dubin <[e-mail]>
Subject: Computer Clock Synchronization Solution


Recently someone was asking about programs to set your computer clock
to the US Naval Observatory clock in Washington DC. I purchased a
program that did such. The vendor provided complete source code so I
was able to use the program on both my IBM PC and SUN workstation. The
vendor (Full Source Software) can be reached at [phone] and I
think their E-mail address is [e-mail] They also have a couple
other Telecom-related software programs that I did not purchase.  And,
their prices are unbeatable: they offer over 35 programs for just $99.
It really was a great deal and would highly recommend them.

If you have questions or comments, please send to me directly and if
there is interest I will post a summary to the net.


Ben Dubin                 [e-mail]
Sun Microsystems, Inc.    ...!sun!bend
Mountain View, CA

------------------------------

From: John Alsop <seachg![e-mail]>
Subject: Where to Find Used Panasonic Equipment
Reply-To: John Alsop <seachg![e-mail]>
Organization: Sea Change Corporation, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Date: Mon, 19 Nov 1990 20:15:45 -0500


Hello telecoms experts!

We have a Panasonic Model 412 Key Telephone System in our office, to
which we would like to add some additional extensions.  We've been
told by the local company which supplied the system three years ago
that it is obsolete, that we can't buy any add-ons for it, and that we
should throw it out and buy the latest, greatest Panasonic system.
(Fat chance!)

I assume that there must exist companies in the business of supplying
used equipment for Panasonic and other systems.  Any pointers or
suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,


John Alsop

Sea Change Corporation  6695 Millcreek Drive, Unit 8
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L5N 5R8  Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]
UUCP: ...!uunet!attcan!seachg!jalsop

------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (jimi)
Subject: Voice Mail (Call Routers/Answering Services)
Date: 15 Nov 90 16:56:30 GMT
Organization: h-three Systems, Research Triangle Park,  NC


I'm requesting information about voice mail systems (in particular,
those that are PC- or Macintosh-based) that have call routing, e.g.,
to sales, tech support, or a specific extension, and answering
services, e.g., "You have reached the office of ... leave a message at
the tone."

Our need is immediate. I'd like to hear from vendors, users, anybody
with an opinion. Will summarize. Please e-mail responses to an address
below. Phone calls answered, but not preferred. Literature via USPS
welcome.

Thanks much.


Jim Ingram              uunet!h-three!jimi | [e-mail]
h-three Systems Corporation   P.O. Box 12557 RTP NC 27709   919 549 8334

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 18 Nov 1990 20:29:53 -0500 (EST)
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Area Code History Request


There've been a lot of items recently about area code 714 splitting to
909, and comments about how rapidly Southern California is going
through area codes.

I've started wondering just what the pattern has been over the last
thirty years.  Do any of you historians out there have, or know where
I could find, a chronological list of area code assignments?  (i.e.
what the original area codes were, and what year each new one was
added?)  Or if this doesn't exist, just a list or map of the original
NANP would be interesting.

Thanks,


Dan Bloch   [e-mail]


[Moderator's Note: This is a job for Carl Moore <[e-mail]>. He
has loads of information on this, and perhaps will write an article
for the Digest or at the very least send you some information.   PAT]

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 19 Nov 90 10:01:27 PST
From: Pushpendra Mohta <[e-mail]>
Subject: SONET Standards Status Sought


Hi,

For a introductory article on SONET I am preparing for CERFnet News, I
would like to know the current status of SONET standards and expected
deployment dates.

Email replies will be appreciated.

Thank you,


pushpendra
CERFnet

------------------------------

From: Bill Huttig <[e-mail]>
Subject: MCI's Personal 800 Service
Date: 19 Nov 90 11:58:16 GMT
Reply-To: Bill Huttig <[e-mail]>
Organization: Florida Institute of Technology, ACS, Melbourne, FL


Has anyone received any information after signing up for MCI's new 800
service?  I signed up the first day they were taking orders. No one at
seems to be able to find an account for me yet. (I had to set up a new
account to get the cheap PrimeTime rates.)  Everytime I call they give
me the run around.. I dont think they have the ability to create
accounts and route calls yet for the service.  (They claim it takes
30-45 days to set up).


Bill

------------------------------

From: grimace![e-mail]
Date: Mon, 19 Nov 90 09:15:13 EST
Subject: Help in Locating Telecom Archives

It's been a long time since I read the comp.dcom.telecom group (or
most other groups, for that matter!), and I seem to be "behind" in the
current state of the group.

Several people have discussed looking in the Telecom Archives, but I
haven't seen any mention in the last 200 messages or so about where
the archive is, or how one gets access to it. Can I get some
information please?


Ted Aseltine   AT&T Bell Laboratories
6200 E Broad St   Columbus, OH  43213
614 860 4837        [e-mail]


[Moderator's Note: Good point! It has been awhile. The Telecom
Archives are located at MIT. From the Internet, visit and pull files
via ftp lcs.mit.edu. Use anonymous login, giving your name@site as the
password. Then once online, 'cd telecom-archives'.   Enjoy it!   PAT]

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V10 #833
******************************










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Date:     Tue, 20 Nov 90 2:05:21 CST
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
[To]:     [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V10 #834
BCC:
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Tue, 20 Nov 90 02:05:11 CST    Volume 10 : Issue 834

Inside This Issue:                         Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Confessions of a Telemarketer [Roy M. Silvernail]
    Re: Dealing with Telemarketers [Carol Springs]
    Re: Cellular Phones of the Future [Jon Allen]
    Re: Cellular Phones of the Future [Dave Levenson]
    Re: Description of ATT Mail ACCESS (Answer to the Question) [Avi E. Gross]
    Re: Unitel (Canada) Fax Service [Mike Spann]
    Re: Slick-96 [Toby Nixon]
    Re: Calling USA From Mexico [David E. Martin]
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: Confessions of a Telemarketer
From: "Roy M. Silvernail" <cybrspc![e-mail]>
Date: Sun, 18 Nov 90 22:49:34 CST
Organization: Villa CyberSpace, Minneapolis, MN


[Moderator's Note: As promised, in this issue, I saved the best for
first.  Following his confession, I'll entertain messages in response
 from the High Priests among you who wish to cast the stones.  PAT]

                        -----------------

Right off the bat, I'll state that I only took the job I'm about to
describe because of _severe_ poverty and a need to make rent. Thus
disclaimed....

bcsaic![e-mail] (Jeff Carroll) writes:

>     Actually, here in Bellevue, the police department (or, rather,
> the Police Officers' Guild) *does* engage in telemarketing. I was
> interrupted during the second game of the World Series by a police
> officer seeking a rather large donation ($25/head) to pay for "tickets
> for disadvantaged youth" to a circus that was coming to town.

>     Being wrapped up in the ball game, I didn't bother to
> investigate further, but it did sound a little fishy -- not to mention
> the uncomfortable feeling that accompanies receiving phone calls from
> local cops asking for money.

About four years ago, I took a temporary telemarketing job which
involved (in a way) the police department. (nN, I'm not going to say
which one :-) The job was concerned with a fund-raising concert.
During the day, we sold ads in the 'souvenir program' to be
distributed at the concert.  (Ads were priced from $60 to $1500.)
These calls were to businesses, many of which had donated the previous
year.  During the evening, we canvassed homes to sell tickets to the
affair.  (tickets were $15/each) The home calls were out of the phone
book. We did not sequentially dial for this project.

As do all telemarketing creatures, I had a script that I was to
follow.  I would identify myself as calling for the (name of state)
Peace Officer's Association. (Note that we said "for", not "with".)
At no time was I to say that I was actually a police officer.

Telemarketers frequently have a manager breathing down their necks,
and this job was no exception. The manager exhorted us to "sound like
police officers."  His explanation was that the mark on the phone
would be guilted into purchasing ads/tickets if he/she were to believe
us to be actual officers. If the mark actually asked "are you a police
officer?", I was to give a friendly chuckle and say "Aww, Joe, they'd
never let _me_ carry a gun!", but not to deny it any further.

I stuck the job out to completion, for the experience as well as the
rent money. (a job like this is much like swimming in the Bering Sea
 ... you only need to do it once to claim the experience ... it's also
just about as comfortable.) After it was finished, I came away with
tickets to the show (which was less than wonderful) and a sense of
relief. I was also glad that I could maintain a character voice, so
that friends in the small town didn't know that I had sold them their
tickets.

I also made the firm resolution never to take another telemarketing
job!


Roy M. Silvernail |+|  [e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 19 Nov 90 10:26:13 EST
From: Carol Springs <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Dealing with Telemarketers
Organization: DRI/McGraw-Hill, Lexington, MA


Jeff Carroll reports in Volume 10, Issue 828:

>    Actually, here in Bellevue, the police department (or, rather,
>the Police Officers' Guild) *does* engage in telemarketing.

Back when I was living in Philadelphia and had less experience with
telemarketers, I received a call one afternoon that went like this:

    VOICE:  Hello, Mrs. Jones?  [Jones was a current single male
            resident in the house]

    ME:     There is no Mrs. Jones here.

    VOICE:  Mrs. Smith?  [Smith was a former single male resident]

    ME:     No.

    VOICE:  Who am I speaking to?

    ME:     What do you want?

    VOICE:  [Long monotonic speech about being from the Fraternal
            Order of Police and "selling" circus tickets for
            disadvantaged youth, as Jeff Carroll describes above.
            The last sentence is something about how much should
            they put me down for, but I don't hear it very well]

    ME:     Excuse me?

    VOICE:  [Starts to repeat *entire spiel*, not just the last
            sentence]

I recall that I somehow extracted myself from the conversation without
simply hanging up on the guy, which in my misguided youth I was loath
to do to anyone.  But when I thought about it afterward, a tactical
question sprang to mind and I wished I could replay things:

                  [didn't happen but should have]

    ME:     As a member of the Fraternal Order of Police, do you
            often encourage women to give out their names to
            unidentified callers on the phone?

    VOICE:  <click>


Carol Springs                      [e-mail]

------------------------------

From: Jon Allen <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Cellular Phones of the Future
Date: 19 Nov 90 17:06:48 GMT
Reply-To: Jon Allen <[e-mail]>
Organization: AT&T IMS - Piscataway, NJ


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (jane wilde)
writes:

>I think these phones are a great idea - calling the person, not the
>place.  But the price will keep them off the market to the general
>that's the case, won't this be a major distraction to others.  How
>would you like to be at the movies and have someone talking on the

Actually, I recently experienced this.  In Hong Kong it seems like
almost everyone carries small cellular telephones (seems to be some
sort of status symbol these days).  While returning to Hong Kong from
Macau on a Jetfoil, I as sitting near a young lady.  Three times on
the 55 minute journey her purse beeped and she proceeded to have
conversations, which were interesting to listen to, since there is not
much else to do on such a journey.  While standing in the customs
line, two other people right behind me got phone calls and were
talking.  This is indeed very distracting.  I guess this is what the
future holds.

As a side note, I would think that in cities of the future,
small/cheap phones would be the death of the pager business (although
I see people in Hong Kong carrying both a phone AND a pager on the
street).  Once your reachable anywhere anytime by phone whats the
point of the pager?  (Now if we could just get caller-id on these
small/cheap phones... :-))


Jon
[e-mail]

------------------------------

From: Dave Levenson <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Cellular Phones of the Future
Date: 20 Nov 90 03:47:08 GMT
Organization: Westmark, Inc., Warren, NJ, USA


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (jane
wilde) writes:

> maybe it won't be long before everyone has a "pocket phone".  And if
> that's the case, won't this be a major distraction to others.  How

If everyone has one, who are the 'others'?  Why do you think people
will talk on the phone in a theatre if they don't talk to each other
in the theatre?

What you'll need is either a pocket answering machine, or a voicemail
system integrated with the service provided to the pocket-phone users.

When the current generation of cellular telephones arrived on the
market, they were priced at $2,500 - $3,500.  Now they're down to
about $100 if you shop around a bit.  Even at the higher prices of
five or six years ago, there was no lack of buyers for them.  It was
the sales volume those buyers generated that brought the cost down for
the rest of us.  Why don't you think the same thing will happen with
the next generation?


Dave Levenson        Internet: [e-mail]
Westmark, Inc.        UUCP: {uunet | rutgers | att}!westmark!dave
Warren, NJ, USA        AT&T Mail: !westmark!dave
Voice: 908 647 0900      Fax: [phone]

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 19 Nov 90 13:23:54 EST
From: Avi E Gross <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Description of ATT Mail ACCESS (Answers to the Question)
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Ed Hopper)
wrote about the subject matter.

I want to add a few facts/opinions to Ed's excellent answer.  ATTMAIL
consists of a "core" network and MANY premises products. I work on
designing the core network, but can talk informally ( #include
<standard-disclaimer.h> ) about the premises products that can be used
to "access" the network.  As Ed says, there has been a "standard"
appearance to the premises mailers, so that the UNIX variant
(PMX/TERM), DOS variants (latest is ACCESS PLUS, with some ACCESS I
and ACCESS II still in the field) and various LAN based versions look
like they belong in the same family. The Mac version, ACCESS III, has
a look of its own, and the look will continue to evolve as more modern
versions are produced using graphical interfaces.  Other versions are
also being developed to support foreign languages, etc.

These are not designed to act as terminal emulators. They are
full-fledged mailers using local resources as much as possible. This
saves not only message-creation charges, but also on storage charges
(you can store messages in folders on the core network) and automates
receiving shared-folder messages (sort of like netnews). For ACCESS
PLUS, a number of options are available such as running the mailer in
the background, calling up a foreground mailer as a TSR, having a
directory pop-up as a TSR, being notified when messages arrive (when
your software checks on a regular basis in the foreground) and even
have the service phone your PC to have it pick up new mail within 15
minutes of arrival.

Other advantages of using an ACCESS (or PMX) product are the ability
to deal with messages that contain non-standard-text within them. For
example, you can attach (and detach) arbitrary objects to the message.
I often send executables, spreadsheets, etc to someone that can detach
and use them.  I also prefer a full-screen interface (along with
better editing functionality) than the On-Line User Agent.

I can't say much more without releasing proprietary information, but
many improvements are already being added. We are also working on
changing our orientation to include "smaller" customers. I suspect one
reason why some people have complained about problems with getting
various aspects of ATTMAIL shown/sold to them is because the sales
force was focused on larger customers that buy 1000 accounts or
software packages at a time. We are changing since we are interested
in becoming a major player in the electronic communication market.
Email is just one part of the market that we are dealing with. We also
are deeply involved with EDI (machine to machine) and FAX (both FAX to
FAX and text to FAX, with more to come) and we connect to many other
domains such as X.400, and synchronous gateways.

I feel we have a great product and are improving it all the time. We
are continuing to work at getting the facts out about our product. I
will be happy to answer additional email, within the bounds of
information that I can release at this time.


Avi E. Gross @ AT&T LZ 3B-211  [phone]
attmail!avigross     or       att!pegasus!avi

------------------------------

From: mike spann <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Unitel (Canada) Fax Service
Date: 19 Nov 90 22:19:41 GMT
Reply-To: mike spann <gammafax![e-mail]>
Organization: gammafax


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Paul
Gauthier) writes:

>  A Canadian Company has recently begun to offer a special reduced
>rate to fax users. The user pays only a small monthly fee ($10, I
>think) and receives a little black box which attaches to their fax
>machine.  .... <much stuff deleted>

>  Does anyone know if such services actually detect and interpret fax
>protocol to decide whether to axe the call?

I can not say for sure how the system you saw advertised works.  I do
know of several service providers who provide an identical service.
It works as follows:

You dial a phone number from your fax machine.  The box intercepts the
number and decides whether to dial it directly or whether to use the
'store and forward.'  If the number is not a local call, or a number
you have indicated you want to dial directly, it calls the providers
number.  On connection, it exchanges your account number and the
number you wish to call with the receiver.  Some providers do this
with an encrypted, 300 bps signal.  Others use less secure methods.
Once this is accepted, you are connected to a fax board (ours we hope)
to receive the fax.  The fax is then shipped to the most convenient
place to send the fax (using T.1 or X.25 or something like that).
Another fax board then sends the fax to the destination machine.

So, unless you particularly want to talk to a GammaFax CP card, there
is little purpose in trying to fool their box into accepting a funky
number.

Note: This may or may not be how the provider you have seen works.


Michael Spann                           [e-mail]
Voice:  [phone]            Fax:    [phone]
UUCP:   ...!uunet!gammafax!mikes       CIS:    73747,441

------------------------------

From: Toby Nixon <hayes![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Slick-96
Date: 19 Nov 90 18:39:06 GMT
Organization: Hayes Microcomputer Products, Norcross, GA


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (KEVIN
GRIFFIN) writes:

> Can anyone tell me what a "Slick 96" switch is and what kind of
> services are available from it. One of my local (SWB) techs told me
> that one is about to be installed in my local exchange, but he didn't
> want to tell me anything about it.

As was noted in a previous reply, a Subscriber Loop Carrier system is
not a switch.  It provides a digital connection (often fiber optic)
from the switch out to a neighborhood, for example, and then standard
analog two-wire connections from the SLC to your residence.

Unfortunately, some SLCs (slicks) are decidedly NOT "slick".  Modem
manufacturers get complaints about modems not working, and often find
that the problem is a SLC having been installed.  The cause usually is
that the SLC is using ADPCM (compression), which doesn't work well
with high-speed modems (particularly V.29 [Group 3 fax]).  SLCs also
are known to introduce analog impairments in the loop that can cause
problems for modems, even though they're not audible to voice callers.

Most SLCs don't cause problems, however, so there should be no cause
for immediate concern.  But in response to your question -- there's no
"services" from a SLC; as far as you're concerned, it's a passive
device.


Toby Nixon, Principal Engineer    | Voice   [phone]  Telex 151243420
Hayes Microcomputer Products Inc. | Fax     [phone]  CIS   70271,404
P.O. Box 105203                   | UUCP uunet!hayes!tnixon  AT&T    !tnixon
Atlanta, Georgia  30348  USA      | Internet       hayes![e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 19 Nov 90 20:43:57 EST
From: David E Martin <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Calling USA From Mexico
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories - Naperville, IL


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (George S
Thurman) writes:

> A friend of mine will be going to Mexico on vacation in a few weeks,
> and he would like to know if there is a way to reach a US operator
> (AT&T or any other carrier) from the following cities:
> Cuernavaca, Taxeco(sp) and Acapulco(sp).

AT&T does not have general USA Direct service from all phones in
Mexico.  There are specially marked phones that connect to an AT&T
operator (mainly in Cancun and Acapulco.)  Also, some hotels have USA
Direct service.  Call AT&T International Information at 1-800-874-4000
for location of the phones and more information.


David Martin    AT&T Bell Laboratories, Naperville, IL   [phone]

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V10 #834
******************************










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Date:     Tue, 20 Nov 90 2:45:52 CST
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
[To]:     [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V10 #835
BCC:
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Tue, 20 Nov 90 02:45:04 CST    Volume 10 : Issue 835

Inside This Issue:                         Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Re: Prodigy Communications Protocol [Evan Leibovitch]
    Re: Why Does AT&T Supply ISDN Instead of Local Telco? [Chip Rosenthal]
    Re: New 410 Code For MD [John R. Covert]
    Re: New 410 Code For MD [Bob Goudreau]
    Re: Videoconferencing Info Needed [David L. Phillips]
    Re: Videoconferencing Info Needed [Sandy Kyrish]
    Re: Telephonic Paranoia [Pat Stephenson]
    Re: *Long* Phone Calls -- What Does Ma Think? [Floyd Davidson]
    Re: Genie Star*Services [[e-mail]]
    Re: Why Are They Called 'Generics'? [Henry Troup]
    Re: Microsoft Use of 900 Number for Tech Support [Ed Belisle]
    Re: Spring Ahead, Fall Behind [Toby Nixon]
    Re: Are Cellular Calls Free to Landline Customers or Not? [Peter da Silva]
    Tymnet Help Needed [David Dodell]
    Last Laugh! What is the Area Code For Outer Space?  [John Parsons]
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Evan Leibovitch <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Prodigy Communications Protocol
Reply-To: Evan Leibovitch <[e-mail]>
Organization: Somewhere just far enough out of Toronto
Date: Mon, 19 Nov 1990 18:21:59 -0500


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Robert S.
Maier) writes:

>There have been a good many articles in TELECOM Digest complaining
>about Prodigy.  Besides Prodigy's policies, many posters are irritated
>by their inability to capture Prodigy output to a file.

>Has anyone done anything about this?  I gather Prodigy uses a
>proprietary communications protocol, but is it possible to
>reverse-engineer it?  That would open the door to custom-designed
>Prodigy clients, running on any architecture.  And it would facilitate
>the addition of new features, such as capturing text and graphics
>output.

I have never used Prodigy, nor do I know much about its present form
(except for the glowing comments it gets here in TELECOM :-). But I
seem to recall that Prodigy is an outgrowth of what was once called
"Trintex", which included IBM, Sears and CBS. When CBS pulled out, the
"Tri-" prefix was no longer appropriate.

If Prodigy is indeed what was once Trintex, then the protocol being
used is NAPLPS (North American Presentation Level Protocol Syntax),
which evolved from the Canadian "Telidon" protocol. If so, there are a
couple of companies out there selling PC-based NAPLPS display software
which may be better than what Prodigy offers. A company called Formic,
based in Montreal, comes to mind.

NAPLPS is a very efficient way to transmit shape-based graphics images
over serial lines, in a manner that's supposed to be device- and
resolution independent. It has been accepted as a standard by ANSI,
though it never cought on in the market as well as proponents had
hoped for.

If Prodigy is not based on NAPLPS... never mind :-)


Evan Leibovitch, Sound Software, located in beautiful Brampton, Ontario
     [e-mail] / uunet!attcan!telly!evan / [phone]

------------------------------

From: Chip Rosenthal <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Why Does AT&T Supply ISDN Instead of Local Telco?
Date: 20 Nov 90 02:39:36 GMT
Organization: Unicom Systems Development, Austin, TX


> Why is AT&T, rather than my LEC, supplying ISDN service?

I think you might be confused about the different flavors of ISDN.

What AT&T is offering is PRI (primary rate interface) ISDN.  If your
company uses T1 PBX's then you'd buy ACCUNET T1.5 from them.  If it
uses ISDN PBX's, then you buy these ISDN lines.  This is all
point-to-point leased line stuff.

You are probably interested in BRI (basic rate interface) ISDN, a very
different animal.


Chip Rosenthal  512-482-8260
Unicom Systems Development
<[e-mail]>

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 19 Nov 90 07:00:35 PST
From: "John R. Covert" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: New 410 Code for MD


Additional info on 410: It will go into service on 1 November 1991 and
remain permissive until 1 November 1992.

Bell Atlantic claims that it will be the first N10 area code (although
both 310 and 510 have been announced, they may not go into service as
soon as 410).

They are also referring to it as "four-ten" -- a practice I hope they
will stop soon.


john


[Moderator's Note: I'm curious about your attitude toward four-ten.
Why do you feel that is bad syntax?  What about three-twelve or
eight-oh-nine?  Is your preference for four-one-zero, three-one-two
and eight-zero-nine?  'Zero' frequently is pronounced 'oh'. Do you
feel this could/does cause some confusion?  PAT]

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 19 Nov 90 17:21:41 est
From: Bob Goudreau <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: New 410 Code For MD


In article <[e-mail]>, opel!arinc!vk2bea!eccles!
[e-mail] writes:

> The new 410 area code will serve metropolitan Baltimore, the entire
> Eastern Shore, Calvert County and the majority of Carroll, Howard and
> Anne Arundel counties.

> The rest of the state will use the existing 301 area code.

This raises an interesting point.  As far as I can tell, this appears
to be the first time that an area code split has resulted in the
original area code's major metro area getting left out in the cold
(i.e., assigned to the new code, with all the concomitant bother,
rather than getting to keep the old one).  Perhaps the explanation is
that even though Baltimore is the largest city *in* Maryland,
Washington D.C. and environs is the biggest conurbation *near*
Maryland, so the Washington suburbs "win" and get to stay in 301.

Examples of the normal rule include Manhattan (got to keep 212 --
twice now!), Boston (617), San Francisco (415), Houston (713), Denver
(303), Miami (305), "core" Los Angeles (213 -- twice), and probably
several others as well.  But does anyone know of any previous
violations of the rule?


Bob Goudreau            [phone]
Data General Corporation        62 Alexander Drive
[e-mail]          Research Triangle Park, NC  27709
...!mcnc!rti!xyzzy!goudreau     USA

------------------------------

Organization: Penn State University
Date: Monday, 19 Nov 1990 09:05:40 EST
From: "David L. Phillips" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Videoconferencing Info Needed


We are using Compression Labs equipment for a four-site network that
is planned to grow in the next couple of years.  CLI is in San Jose.
2860 Junction Ave.  San Jose, CA 95134.  408-435-3000.

We think their equipment is better than PictureTel (IMHO).

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 19 Nov 90 12:28 GMT
From: Sandy Kyrish <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Videoconferencing Info Needed


Regarding the request for videoconferencing vendors:

These people should be able to give you a competitive bid (note - the
industry is relatively price-competitive these days, so look for extra
features, especially service and support):

Compression Labs, Inc. 800-538-7542 (ask for number of
Southeast Region office). PictureTel's main competitor.

GPT Video Systems 203-348-6600

VSI (in your backyard) 404-242-7566

Peirce-Phelps 800-862-6800

All are good outfits for the most part.

------------------------------

Subject: Re: Telephonic Paranoia
Date: Mon, 19 Nov 90 10:30:12 -0500
From: Pat Stephenson <[e-mail]>


Charles Bryant writes:

(Story of paranoid politicians deleted)

>The excitement died quickly when Bord Telecom was contacted. They told
>the two concerned lefties, who were now on the point of organising
>resistance, that they had received hundreds of such worried calls from
>paranoid householders. Nothing sinister was afoot. A weird technical
>fault meant that most incoming calls from overseas were creating this
>response on Irish phones.  "But surely the Special Branch..." the
>lefties ventured. Not at all, said Telecom.

I can vouch for this.  I made several attempts to dial directly to
Dublin on Sunday 12th and Monday 13th November.  I got complete
silence at the other end - no intercept, no busy.  Eventually I placed
a call through the operator, which did go through (with LOUSY quality,
but at this point I wasn't being picky...).  The people at the other
end reported exactly the behaviour mentioned above.


Pat Stephenson

------------------------------

From: Floyd Davidson <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: *Long* Phone Calls -- What Does Ma Think?
Organization: University of Alaska Fairbanks
Date: Mon, 19 Nov 90 12:56:12 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> Jack.Winslade@f666.n285.z1.f
idonet.org (Jack Winslade) writes:

>In message <[e-mail]>, "andrew M. Boardman" writes:

>{ ... in regards to >>VERY<< long calls }

>>  - What would one's local phone company think of this?
>>  - In the expected case that they aren't too fond of losing
>>    out on the megabucks for a leased line, do they have
>>    legal ground telling you to stop?

>Back around 1970 or so, there was a belief held by some members of the
>  [ much interesting text deleted ]

>Maybe some of the 'experts' on billing systems could confirm if this
>was true at that time.  I am, of course, assuming that if it were
>true, the case has been dealt with and the modern billing software is
>smart enough to catch it and bill for it.

I can't speak to 1970 or local phone companies, either.  But you might
be interested to know that at 8:00 AM every morning the Tech-In-Charge
at the Fairbanks Toll Center gets a print out of any (usually there
are none) AMA records that are excessively long.  I personally wrote
the little program that scans the logs and looks for any such log
reports.

But of course we are an LD carrier, so our *hope* is that it is a real
call!  But we check out every one of them just to prevent someone
getting a huge bill when it is our fault.  In fact most of them end up
being a telco dialed into a milliwatt test or something to that
effect.


Floyd L. Davidson   [e-mail]    [e-mail]
Salcha, AK 99714    connected by paycheck to Alascom, Inc.
When *I* speak for them, one of us will be *out* of business in a hurry.

------------------------------

Organization: University of Maine System
Date: Monday, 19 Nov 1990 10:10:13 EST
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: Genie Star*Services


    I was wondering if anyone could tell me how to get in contact with
Genie to get some information about the system.

Thanks,

Dave

------------------------------

Date: 19 Nov 90 10:06:00 EST
From: Henry Troup <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Why Are They Called 'Generics'?


My friendly competitior [e-mail] (William F Thompson) writes:

> I always wondered that too (and I even develop software for them).
> But wonder no more - they're now called Software Releases.

Northern Telecom releases generics for SL-1 systems and BCS (Batch
Change Supplement) for DMS and SL-100 systems.

DMS software is sold by the 'feature package' so that each piece is
separately charged.  This means that NT builds and delivers individual
loads for each customer switch.  There are a lot of packages, and a
lot of switches, too.

George Smyth, one of the original DMS team, and now President of BNR,
once remarked that the DMS loader corrected all the deficiencies of
the SL-1 loader, and if the software were the same size as SL-1, there
would never be a need to globally compile DMS software, or globally
reload it.

SL-1 has about 50 software modules in the switching core, DMS has
several hundred.

The loader supported relocation and individual reloading of object
modules, which are separately compilable.

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 19 Nov 90 15:00 GMT
From: Ed Belisle <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Microsoft Use of 900 Number for Tech Support


[e-mail] (John Higdon) write:

> The only number listed for technical help with Windows 3.0 is a 900
> number.  Could you supply me with the OEM for that product? I am

I always thought the 900 number was for DOS support only.  The number
for Microsoft Technical support is (and has been for quite some time)
206-454-2030.  They opened a new number that skips the first menu and
goes directly to Windows Support.  It is 206-637-7098.

> than I have managed to get from Microsoft (for my $15.00 in 900
> charges). Actually, even though the principle of "900" customer

You *paid* for Windows support?  Next time try directory assistance.


Ed Belisle

------------------------------

From: Toby Nixon <hayes![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Spring Ahead, Fall Behind
Date: 19 Nov 90 18:50:08 GMT
Organization: Hayes Microcomputer Products, Norcross, GA


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Tom Neff)
writes:

> When I see all these automated clock setting tools being posted far
> and wide on CompuServe, Usenet etc., I can't help wondering: is the
> NBS up to the job of answering all the new calls generated from
> thousands of American basements and desktops?

All I can say is that in all the calls I've made to these numbers,
often several in a row, including on what one would consider to be
"busy" nights (e.g., Daylight/Standard time transitions), I've never
received a busy signal.


Toby Nixon, Principal Engineer    | Voice   [phone]  Telex 151243420
Hayes Microcomputer Products Inc. | Fax     [phone]  CIS   70271,404
P.O. Box 105203                   | UUCP uunet!hayes!tnixon  AT&T    !tnixon
Atlanta, Georgia  30348  USA      | Internet       hayes![e-mail]

------------------------------

From: peter da silva <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Are Cellular Calls Free to Landline Customers, or Not?
Reply-To: [e-mail] (Peter da Silva)
Organization: Xenix Support, FICC
Date: Mon, 19 Nov 90 16:39:04 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Bob
Sherman) writes:

> In other words, if the cell phone places the call, they pay the air
> charges, but if a landline places the call to the cell phone, they
> will be charged the air charges.

The folks who want 1+ to mean "toll" are really really going to be
upset over this one, since there's no way to tell by inspection if a
given call is going to be to a cellular phone.


Peter da Silva.
[phone].
[e-mail]


------------------------------

Date: Mon, 19 Nov 90 07:18:53 mst
From: David Dodell <[e-mail]>
Subject: Tymnet Help Needed


I am trying to locate the Tymnet 9600 number for Phoenix (if it
exists).  I have the local 1200/2400 number, but can't find a number
for Tymnet customer service.  I tried 800 info, but they have no
information.  Anyone point me in the right direction?


David

          St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona
        uucp: {gatech, ames, rutgers}!ncar!asuvax!stjhmc!ddodell
    Bitnet: ATW1H @ ASUACAD                    FidoNet=> 1:114/15
    Internet: [e-mail]       FAX: [phone]

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 19 Nov 90 13:04:32 mst
From: John Parsons <[e-mail]>
Subject: Last Laugh! What is the Area Code For Outer Space?
[e-mail] (David G. Cantor) writes:


> Perhaps it would be much simpler for all concerned if the telcos were
> simply to switch to 8-digit numbers for all of Southern California.
> Of course, it could then be given a two-digit "country code" :-).
                                                 ^^^^^^^^^^^^

Given that this is the home of Disneyland, Hollywood, etc., perhaps
"planet code" would be more appropriate! ;-)


John Parsons

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V10 #835
******************************










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Date:     Wed, 21 Nov 90 0:27:28 CST
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
[To]:     [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V10 #836
BCC:
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Wed, 21 Nov 90 00:26:55 CST    Volume 10 : Issue 836

Inside This Issue:                         Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Re: Telecom Art [Jeff Carroll]
    Re: 900 Numbers and Media 4 Advertising Survey [Jim Gottlieb]
    Re: America On-Line Beta Test: Your Help Wanted! [Brendan Kehoe]
    Re: New 410 Code for MD [Carl Moore]
    Re: GTE Mobilnet and International Calling [Douglas Scott Reuben]
    Re: Wireless Phonejak [Irving Wolfe]
    Re: Cellular Phones of the Future [John Higdon]
    Re: Request for Cellular Tech Info [Toby Nixon]
    Re: T3 Equipment Info Needed [Barton F. Bruce]
    Re: Tymnet Help Needed [Roger Fajman]
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Jeff Carroll <bcsaic![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Telecom Art
Date: 20 Nov 90 06:46:58 GMT
Organization: Boeing Computer Services AI Center, Seattle


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail]
(Mitchell L. Silverman) writes:

>This is strange, I know.  But could all the people who post messages
>to the TELECOM Digest take a second to make sure that they have a
>geographical address in their signatures?  I ask this for two related
>reasons.

    This seems to run counter to Our Fabled Moderator's desire to
minimize the size of .sigs. Would PAT care to enunciate official
TELECOM Digest policy regarding this request?

>First: I (and, I assume, other TELECOM Digest readers) are curious to
>know the geographic span of messages posted here.  Long-time computer
>users (myself included) sometimes get jaded about what their toys can
>do, but surely the thought that this Digest enmeshes such a large part
>of the globe and connects such a geographically diverse group, must
>occasionally instill a sense of wonder in its readers?

    I generally refrain from posting more than my name and my
email address because (a) email is generally the simplest and most
reliable way for people out of town to reach me; (b) I change offices,
and hence mailing addresses, frequently; (c) I generally assume that
most people know that almost all of Boeing is in Seattle; (d) I think
long ostentatious .sigs are tacky.

    On the other hand, I do get a kick out of receiving email and
downloading anonymous FTP from places I've never been, such as Oz.

>conceptual art installation using HyperCard.  And THAT is what I'd
>like to do with the Digest -- conceptual art.  Readers, PAT, what do you
>think?

    I don't understand this at all, but then I was too busy
between majoring in engineering and minoring in beer to take any art  :^>


Jeff Carroll
[e-mail]


[Moderator's Note: I'm not sure I understand it entirely either, but
assuming the original author knows what he is talking about, here is
my .sig policy:   Name, email address and US Mail address are allowed,
as is a disclaimer message when required. Cute sayings, borders,
stars, dashed line, graphics and similar are all removed.  I used to
allow full .sigs, but found that as the Digest traffic got quite heavy
I was able to free up ten to fifteen percent of the space in each
issue by eliminating the aforementioned.

There are technical considerations: The Digest gets along best with
the mailers enroute if the maximum size is around 16-17 K. It <can> be
larger, but I get more complaints of duplicate deliveries and missed
deliveries when they are. If I can recover a thousand bytes by
deleting the dashes around your .sig, that's enough room for another
message. Then too, dash marks (-----) have a particular significance
to the digesting/undigesting software, particularly when they are
flush with the left side of the file. Likewise, the word 'From', or
any word at the left margin followed by a colon is significant. I was
leaving a few small .sigs in for awhile, then there were complaints of
favoritism from the folks whose (much larger, garish) .sigs got
removed. So now I just remove them all. After all, the more .sigs I
remove, the more Moderator's Notes I can add with ease!  :)  PAT]

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 20 Nov 90 02:39:25 PST
From: Jim Gottlieb <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: 900 Numbers and Media 4 Advertising Survey
Organization: Info Connections, West Los Angeles


In article <[e-mail]> is written:

>$3.50 fee IS A LIE!  Ma Bell told me, and the company admitted, that
>the cost of that number is $9.90.

>If you get a call from 900-741-1200, it is run by Media 4 Advertising
>Survey and you can call them at 800-346-6329 and ask to be removed
>from list

But don't try complaining to the carrier.  Media 4 is owned by
Telesphere, the company that owns the 900-741 prefix.  The company,
from their 900 practices to their AOS outfit, is pure sleaze.


Jim Gottlieb
E-Mail: <[e-mail]> or <attmail!denwa!jimmy>
V-Mail: [phone]   Fax: [phone]   Voice: 824-5454

------------------------------

From: Brendan Kehoe <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: America On-Line Beta Test: Your Help Wanted!
Organization: Widener CS Dept
Date: Tue, 20 Nov 90 13:48:40 GMT


In <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] writes:

>So, friends, give them a call at 703-448-8700.  They'll send you an
>equipment survey to make sure your hardware meets their minimum
>requirements.

I've put the three pages of survey up on my site for people to FTP it
if they wish. The name is ftp.cs.widener.edu, but that presently won't
resolve (our nameserver has to be updated), so for now use the number
192.55.239.132. They're in the directory ~ftp/pub/online as
'survey.shar', as well as page1, page2, and page3, for those not
Unix-oriented. (Credit goes to Online Bear on the Portal[tm] system
for putting these together. I just snarfed them.)


    Brendan Kehoe - Widener Sun Network Manager - [e-mail]
                      Widener University in Chester PA


[Moderator's Note: I tried to ftp the stuff from you, and was advised
that ftp is only open at your site in the evenings. I mention this so
folks will know the best time to call.   PAT]

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 20 Nov 90 10:23:22 EST
From: Carl Moore (VLD/VMB) <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: New 410 Code for MD


I don't know what the meaning is of John Covert's objection to
"four-ten", although I always read area codes as, say, "three one two"
and not "three twelve".

Comment on the Moderator's Note: Exchange names were dropped in favor
of all-digit telephone numbers, partly to eliminate confusion between
"1" and "I", and also between "0" (zero) and "O" (letter), and thus it
is not that likely that "oh" used nowadays will be read as the letter "O".

Bob Goudreau <[e-mail]> writes about Baltimore being
removed from area 301.  When Virginia was split in 1973, Richmond and
Norfolk went into 804, and the DC area along with western Virginia
stayed in 703.

It will be interesting to see what's done in the Laurel and Annapolis
areas.  Along with the "default" exchanges (which you would find on
pay phones in those areas), they have pseudo-foreign exchanges
providing metro service for both DC and Baltimore areas.  It reminds
me of the Los Angeles foreign exchanges (which stayed in area 213 at
the 213/818 split) used in places like Burbank and Pasadena, whose
other exchanges were put in 818.

Baltimore and DC metro areas practically touch or overlap nowadays,
and the 301/410 line will have to pass somewhere between those cities.
Laurel, except for the Baltimore-metro exchange 792 (and possible
newer ones), is local to Washington, and I'm wondering about local
service across 301/410 line.  Columbia (to go into 410?) has local
service (seven digit, as it's all within the present area 301) north
to Baltimore and south to Silver Spring, right next door to DC.

------------------------------

Date: 17-NOV-1990 15:19:24.40
From: Douglas Scott Reuben <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: GTE Mobilnet and International Calling


Re: John Higdon's posting and GTE/SF's blocking of International
Calls:

I called GTE on Friday (since a manager never called me back, which
s/he was supposed to do on Monday).

I spoke with a front-end customer service rep., which was at about
9 AM, PST.  (AND, unbelievably, I got through WITHOUT the interminable
GTE "ads on hold"!)  The rep who I spoke with told me a supervisor
will call back shortly, and that they would discuss the matter with
me.

About five minutes later, I got a call back from 'Roxanne', who told
me that they had reinstated all international calling to my GTE
account. She apologized for the problems I was experiencing, and said
that I would not have ot use my calling card (which she realized was
more expensive) for international calls.

So it seems that if you want to make direct-dial international calls
with GTE, just call them, tell them that at times you need to make
such calls, (you can say you want to call Canada, as was the case with
me), and it would seem that GTE is quite reasonable about this and
will "un-block" 011 and Canadian ( and Mexican?)-area code calls.

Again, this whole thing seems like a pointless exercise to me!


Doug

[e-mail]
[e-mail]

------------------------------

From: Irving Wolfe <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Wireless Phonejak
Date: 20 Nov 90 04:08:36 GMT
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Organization: Happy Man Corp., Seattle


In <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Gary W Sanders) writes:

>In the latest Damark catalog I ran across an interesting telephone
>gizmo:  Wireless phonejak by phonex.

I have ordered a few things from Damark and based on that experience
would caution you to stay away.  Everything -- CDs to skates to phone
to floor lamps -- that I got from them was of low quality.  Not bad
enough to make a busy guy like me send them back, but bad enough to
make me feel taken advantage of, and decide never to buy from them
again.  What looks like a bargain sometimes isn't.  In their case,
perhaps it always isn't.  Damark feels like sleazebag scum to me!


Irving Wolfe    Happy Man Corp.   [e-mail]    206/463-9399 ext.101
4410 SW Point Robinson Road,  Vashon Island, WA  98070-7399     fax ext.116

------------------------------

Organization: Green Hills and Cows
Reply-To: John Higdon <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Cellular Phones of the Future
Date: 20 Nov 90 11:49:17 PST (Tue)
From: John Higdon <[e-mail]>


Jon Allen <[e-mail]> writes:

> As a side note, I would think that in cities of the future,
> small/cheap phones would be the death of the pager business (although
> I see people in Hong Kong carrying both a phone AND a pager on the
> street).

The key word in your comment is "cheap". Until personal phones have
truly inexpensive service (as opposed to the current rip-off cellular
pricing schemes), it probably would not be uncommon to see people with
both a pager and pocket phone. I sometimes feel like the consumate
dweeb with my MicroTac on one side and my Cue pager on the other. I am
on twenty-four hour call, but at the price of cellular service, I'll
decide who I talk to and when. A very small handful of people know the
cell phone number; all others use the pager and then I make the
judgement concerning the importance of the call.

And once again, as I am about to leave for SoCal, I contemplate the
$0.70/min charged (whether there is an answer or not) by PacTel for
the privelege of staying in touch.

> Once your reachable anywhere anytime by phone whats the
> point of the pager?  (Now if we could just get caller-id on these
> small/cheap phones... :-))

Well, you said it. The pager provides a poor man's convoluted form of
Caller-ID. Many people, regardless of cost, may not enjoy or be able
to tolerate being 100% accessable 100% of the time. A pager provides a
buffer to that availability. I know many people who carry both. I
would, even if my cellular service was free.


        John Higdon         |   P. O. Box 7648   |   [phone]
    [e-mail]     | San Jose, CA 95150 |       M o o !

------------------------------

From: Toby Nixon <hayes![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Request for Cellular Tech Info
Date: 20 Nov 90 16:29:40 GMT
Organization: Hayes Microcomputer Products, Norcross, GA


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (woody) writes:

>  From   : Alan Wilcocks-Gynn
>  Subject: Cellular Control Channel Format

> Can anyone tell me how I can get access to the following information:

>   -Physical data format for cellular control channels.
>   -Control channel protocol.
>   -Differences (if any) between Cantel and Bell Cellular control formats.

In the USA, standards for cellular system operation are developed by
TIA (Telecommunications Industry Association) technical committee
TR-41 and its subcommittees.  Some of these standards (with TIA
prices) are:

EIA/TIA-553 "Mobile Station-Land Station Compatibility Standard" $27

EIA/TIA-IS-19-B "Recommended Minimum Standards for 800-MHz Cellular
Subscriber Units" $24

EIA/TIA-IS-20-A "Recommended Minimum Standards for 800-MHz Cellular
Land Stations" $20

EIA/TIA-IS-41 "Cellular Radiotelecommunications Intersystem
Operations" (five parts: IS-41.1 "Functional Overview", $11;

IS-41.2 "Intersystem Handoff", $14; IS-41.3 "Automatic Roaming", $11;

IS-41.4 "Operations, Administration, and Maintenance", $14; IS-41.5
"Data Communication", $39)

EIA/TIA-IS-52 "Uniform Dialing Procedures and Call Processing
Treatment for Use in Cellular Radio Telecommunications" $18

EIA/TIA-IS-54 "Dual Mode Mobile Station-Base Station Compatibility
Standard" (not sure of price)

TIA-TSB-16 "Assignment of Access Overload Classes in the Cellular
Telecommunications Services" $11

TIA-TSB-17  "Uniform Dialing Procedures in the Cellular
Telecommunications Services"  $11

TIA-TSB-21 "Uniform Cellular Feature Code and Service Code Dialing
Plan" $11

One or more of these documents would contain the answers to your
questions.  These documents can be ordered from: EIA Engineering
Department, Standards Sales, 2001 Eye Street NW, Washington DC 20006;
[phone].  They accept checks, Visa, or MasterCard.


Toby Nixon, Principal Engineer    Voice   [phone]  Telex 151243420
Hayes Microcomputer Products Inc. Fax     [phone]  CIS   70271,404
P.O. Box 105203                   UUCP uunet!hayes!tnixon  AT&T    !tnixon
Atlanta, Georgia  30348  USA      Internet       hayes![e-mail]

------------------------------

From: "Barton F. Bruce" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: T3 Equipment Info Needed
Date: 20 Nov 90 19:43:29 EDT
Organization: Cambridge Computer Associates, Inc.


In article <[e-mail]>, Ron Watkins <[e-mail]>
writes:

> I am in need of vender names, phone#numbers and description of their
> T3 products.

> I need a box to sit on either end of a fiberoptic cable and make ~24
> T1 channels.

T3 is 28 x T1 (or 7 x T2, if you prefer).

Try Telco Systems (the Norwood MA site, not the CA site - same
company, different product ranges). Their 828 family of products will
do it.  Also their FOX-2 will take T2 (4 x T1) via fiber from the 828s
to some other site (another floor, or another building in an office
park, etc.)

NTI's FMT-135 does up to 3 x T3 with various inputs, and the smaller
DTM-300F does one T3 from seven DS2 streams.

AT&T DDM-1000 does 2 x T3, and can mux both onto one fiber at 90mb/s
if you prefer.

The Rockwell/Collins DML-3x50 does one to three T3s onto fiber.

Rockwell/Wescom has a Digital Crossconnect System that can serve up to
128 T1s and crossconnects at the DS0 (64kb) level.

You need a large distributor that has a department that specialises in
this stuff, and that carries a lot of competing products, so you know
that they are not biased towards just the one product a smaller outfit
be pushing.

Try ALLTEL at 1.800.533.3161, or Anixter, or North Supply, or even
Graybar.

There are more brands and models and suppliers, this should get you
started.

------------------------------

From: Roger Fajman <[e-mail]>
Date: Tue, 20 Nov 90  12:34:16 EST
Subject: Re: Tymnet Help Needed


The 9600 bps Tymnet number for Phoenix is 602-258-4528.  When you dial
into Tymnet you can enter INFORMATION as the user name.  Among other
things, it will display Tymnet phone numbers.

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V10 #836
******************************










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From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
[To]:     [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V10 #837
BCC:
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Wed, 21 Nov 90 02:47:20 CST    Volume 10 : Issue 837

Inside This Issue:                         Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Re: Area Code History Request [Carl Moore]
    Re: Why Does AT&T Supply ISDN Instead of Local Telco? [Jeffri H. Frontz]
    Re: Dealing with Telemarketers [John G. Thompson]
    Re: Wanted: Home Phone System [Adam J. Ashby]
    Re: Alternatives to Traditional Multi-Drop 4-Wire Data Lines [B. Bruce]
    Re: Prodigy Communications Protocol [Nelson Bolyard]
    Re: ISO's Meaning (was: NSFNet etc.) [Mark Brader]
    Re: Slick-96 [Juliet Sutherland]
    Re: A Zero Length Phone Number [Jeff Carroll]
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Tue, 20 Nov 90 17:03:05 EST
From: Carl Moore (VLD/VMB) <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Area Code History Request


OK, here is what I now have regarding:

1) Use of N0X/N1X prefixes
2) Splits from 1965 to the present (and known future ones)

If you've been reading the Digest, the 714/909 and 301/410 splits have
been posted here in rapid succession.  My own office is in
northeastern Maryland near I-95, and I believe it will go into 410.

These areas have N0X/N1X prefixes:

213, California, July 1973 (now 213/818; to become 213/310/818)
 (7D on toll calls within it)

212, New York, November 1980 (now 212/718, to become 212/917/718)
 (no toll calls within it)

312, Illinois, October 1982 (now 312/708)--but got 1st N0X/N1X spring 1983?
 (7D on toll calls within it)

201, New Jersey (to become 201/908) (7D on toll calls within it)

214, Texas (now 214/903) (1+NPA+7D on toll calls within it)

301/202/703, Maryland/DC/Virginia (1987, originally due to DC area growth)
 (1+NPA+7D on toll calls within 301 and 703 -- 301 to become 301/410)

415, California, February 1989? (to become 415/510) (7D on toll calls
within it)

404, Georgia, October 1989? (1+NPA+7D on toll calls within it)

919, North Carolina, 1989? (1+NPA+7D on toll calls within it)

416, Ontario, 1990? (1+NPA+7D on toll calls within it as of 3-1-1990)

602, Arizona, 1990? (1+NPA+7D on toll calls within it)

313, Michigan, 1990? (1+NPA+7D on toll calls within it)

512, Texas, 9 September 1990 (1+NPA+7D on toll calls within it)

215, Pennsylvania, 20 May 1991 (7D on toll calls within it)

Area code splits known to me:

305/904 Florida, July 1965

703/804 Virginia, June 1973

714/619 California, November 1982

713/409 Texas, March 1983 (full cutover 90 days later)

213/818 California, January 1984

212/718 New York, September 1984

303/719 Colorado, 5 March 1988

305/407 Florida, 16 April 1988

617/508 Massachusetts, 16 July 1988

312/708 Illinois, November 1989 (full cutover 9 February 1990)

202 District of Columbia and vicinity, 1 October 1990

    202 area code had been useable for DC proper AND all but the
    outermost points in Maryland and Virginia suburbs, in areas 301
    and 703 respectively.  202 was then withdrawn from the suburbs
    and restricted to DC proper.  This change does not affect the
    area code for Maryland zipcodes starting with 206,207,208,209
    or for Virginia zipcodes starting with 220,221,222,223; but does
    affect government offices (now including the Pentagon) using
    zipcodes starting with 200,202,203,204,205 and located in Md.
    or Va.  Prefixes in the Pentagon, which is in Virginia, had been
    in area 202 (not 703), but in 1990 were moved to area 703.

214/903 Texas, 4 November 1990 (full cutover 4 May 1991)

201/908 New Jersey, 1991

415/510 California, 7 October 1991 (full cutover 27 January 1992)

213/310 California, 1 February 1992 (full cutover 1 May 1992)

212/917 New York, 1992 or 1993? (details not yet available)

714/909 California, 1992

301/410 Maryland, 1992

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 20 Nov 90 18:21:26 EST
From: Jeffri H Frontz <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Why Does AT&T Supply ISDN Instead of Local Telco?
Organization: Jeff's Telephone & Telegraph, Columbus, Ohio


In article <[e-mail]>, CAPEK%YKTVMT.BITNET (Peter G.
Capek) writes:

> 1) Why is AT&T, rather than my LEC, supplying ISDN service?

My understanding is that you can save a lot on access charges by bypassing
the LEC.


> 2) How does AT&T supply ISDN service?  Do they get the LEC to provide a
>    leased line from my premises to one of their 114 #4 ESS'?  Or to some
>    other switch which interfaces to their network in some other way?

Now, I'm not in marketing, so I don't know what AT&T actually offers
to our customers.  I do know that it's technically possible to connect
a suitably equipped PBX (or anything else that speaks Q.931, I think)
right up to a 4E.

I've heard that the customer can either provide the connection to the 4E
or can contract with a LEC or whatever they want.


Jeff Frontz                        Work:  [phone]
AT&T-Bell Labs (CB 1C-356)         Cornet:       353-2797
att!jeff.frontz                    [e-mail]

------------------------------

From: "John G. Thompson" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Dealing with Telemarketers
Date: 19 Nov 90 23:40:50 GMT
Reply-To: "John G. Thompson" <[e-mail]>
Organization: Amdahl Corporation, Sunnyvale CA


In article <[e-mail]> Tom Neff <[e-mail]>
writes:

>ME: What number are you calling from?

>TM: Um... urgh... errr... um....  Well have you heard about our blah
>    blah blah....?

In a smiliar vein I had a Pac*Bell TM call me.

ME: Hello.

TM: May I speak to Mr or Mrs Thompson?

ME: Speaking.

TM: You recently received some mail from us and I would like to
    talk to you about the offer. (Something like that.)

ME: I'm sorry, but we haven't received anything from Pac*Bell recently
    You'll have to call us back when we get it.

TM: Oh. Thank you.

On talking with my wife we did get some add from them weeks ago, which
we had promptly thrown out.



John G. Thompson        Amdahl Corporation      [e-mail]
                        P.O. Box 3470 MS 340    {sun,uunet}!amdahl!jgt10
#include <disclamer.h>  Sunnyvale, CA 94088     1-408-737-5708

------------------------------

From: "Adam J. Ashby" <motcid![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Wanted: Home Phone System
Date: 20 Nov 90 14:56:28 GMT
Organization: Motorola Inc., Cellular Infrastructure Div., Arlington Hgts, IL


->[Moderator's Note: I'm almost certain Rolm has/had a tiny little unit
->which handled one or two outside lines and up to six extensions. I
->think Mitel had something similar also. For my money, the Melco 212
->was the best deal around with two outside lines and up to twelve
->extensions.  PAT]

I don't think that Mitel has anything small enough, but they did have
a subsidiary (?) company that made small PBXs/Key systems, called
Trillium, based in Kanata, Ont.  I can't remember what the particular
systems were called (I left Mitel in '81 and a lot of brain cells have
died since then!), and as far as I can remember, I only ever saw a
couple of the systems and never worked with them.


    Adam Ashby  ...!uunet!motcid!ashbya  [phone]

------------------------------

From: "Barton F. Bruce" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Alternatives to Traditional Multi-Drop 4-Wire Data Lines
Date: 20 Nov 90 03:33:10 EDT
Organization: Cambridge Computer Associates, Inc.


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail]
(Richard Szabo) writes:

> What are the alternatives to the following: My shop runs a data
> network over multi-drop four-wire leased lines to ~80 branch locations

If you have DDS II filed there you should find that you can do the
whole thing with digital ckts. Digital multidrop nets are what the
bank cash machines and lottery agents all use.

x.25 may be viable. There are IBM related issues there that I don't
know about, but the LECs are installing x.25 switches (getting ready
for x.25 on ISDN) and here in MA, a 9.6kb port into their x.25 switch
is about $40/mo. You then need to rent some sort of channel from that
CO (may be a few COs away) to you.  The typical choices are: DDS II
(which may include some DOV class hardware at lower speeds), DOV over
an existing dialup phone line, or (yuk) even a four wire analog ckt
with a v.29 modem on it. You will pay SOOO much to rent a telco v.29
for the CO end (95/mo here) that this latter one is a silly choice.

If you go with DDS, look for NRS (network reconfig service) or any
sorts of CO multiplexing that may be offered. The T1 that starts at
one end of the state goes to some far point and then gets broken down
to 24 DS0s. In NRS, you get to control and reconfigure the CO DACSs
remotely. Great for testing and emergency backup site switching. With
the CO muxing, they just break it up for you and it sits quite static
until you pay to change something.

It is possible that NEITHER is available, but ask.

Is there a single or a few cable companies that cover all this area?
Are many of your sites covered by the same cable headend? Are there
any fiber bypass carriers making any headway? If so, the phone company
should be getting more creative in providing what you have long
needed.

------------------------------

From: Nelson Bolyard <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Prodigy Communications Protocol
Organization: Silicon Graphics, Inc., Mountain View, CA
Date: Tue, 20 Nov 90 20:01:31 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Robert S.
Maier) enquired about the protocol used by Prodigy.  I'm not a Prodigy
subscriber, but used to work as an engineer in the videotext market.
I had an AT&T videotext terminal that was similar to Prodigy in
drawing speed, and the way it drew pictures.

Videotext in the USA was based on NAPLPS (pronounced nap-lips) the
North American Presentation Language Protocol Syntax.  'Twouldn't
surprise me a bit to see that AT&T revived that technology for
Prodigy.  Prodigy strikes me as the ultimate resurrection of videotext
in the USA.

Maybe TELECOM Digest's readers include someone who still has a copy of
the NAPLPS standard and who could take a peek at a Prodigy data stream
to see if it looks familiar.


Nelson Bolyard      [e-mail]      {decwrl,sun}!sgi!whizzer!nelson
Disclaimer: Views expressed herein do not represent the views of my employer.

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 21 Nov 1990 00:29:00 -0500
From: Mark Brader <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: ISO's Meaning (was: NSFNet etc.)
Organization: SoftQuad Inc., Toronto, Canada


> The name "ISO" was selected because it "looks right" in a lot of
> languages without being an actual acronym for the name of the body in
> any language ...

And, in addition, the Greek-derived prefix "iso-", as in "isothermal",
means "same", which befits a standards body.  (Thanks to Anders
Berglund for pointing this out to me.)


Mark Brader, SoftQuad Inc., Toronto, utzoo!sq!msb, [e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 20 Nov 90 16:54:13 EST
From: Juliet Sutherland <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Slick-96
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories


Other responders have accurately described the SLC*-96 carrier system.
Here's some additional information that may be of interest to some.

The SLC-96 carrier system was the first commercially successful
example of a general type of product known as Digital Loop Carrier
(DLC) systems.  It was introduced in 1978.  I have little to add to
previous poster's descriptions of it except to say that Mode I can
carry non-switched services as well as switched services and that it
does not support the bit compression that causes trouble for modems.

AT&T Network Systems introduced the SLC Series 5 carrier system in
1985.  It is a 96 line, 5 DS1 (including the protection line) system
that performs basically the same functions as the SLC-96 system but
serves twice as many lines in the same physical space.  It introduced
a dual channel unit for support of two-wire designed services and
provides much better testing and provisioning of non-switched special
services than the SLC-96 system.  The SLC Series 5 system also
supports fiber distribution (that is, fiber from the remote
electronics to at or near the customer's house or business).

Although SLC Series 5 systems provide DS1 feeder interfaces (that is,
DS1 from the CO to the remote electronics), an appropriately hardened
fiber multiplexer, such as the DDM-1000 or DDM-2000, is often
installed in the same cabinet or structure to provide fiber feeder.
The direct (T2?) fiber interface mentioned by a previous poster is no
longer sold.  The Low Bit Rate Voice (LBRV) configuration mentioned by
another poster as a problem for modems, while available on SLC Series
5 carrier systems, has not been widely deployed and should not be a
problem for the original poster.

AT&T Network Systems has recently announced its newest DLC product,
the SLC-2000 access system.  The SLC-2000 access system again doubles
the density, serving twice as many lines by volume as the SLC Series 5
system.  It provides an integrated SONET OC-3 feeder interface, serves
up to 768 customers per system on metallic distribution (more on
fiber), provides an integral test head to obviate the need for a DC
bypass pair for drop testing, will allow up to 8:1 concentration in
the remote electronics (but note that it does NOT do local switching)
and incorporates many other new features that are probably of less
interest to this group.

As a previous poster mentioned, the remote electronics (usually called
the Remote Terminal (RT)) can terminate on either a Central Office
Terminal (COT) or directly on a digital switch.  The SLC-96 interface
was documented by Bellcore in TR-TSY-000008 and TR-8 interfaces are
now available on a number of switches besides the 5ESS* switch.  For
those who are interested in such things, Bellcore has published a new
RT-switch interface specification, TR-TSY-000303, which provides
additional capabilities not supported by TR-8.  The most notable
differences are support for ISDN BRI (think about how one multiplexes
2B+D, it's not obvious), support for larger RTs (TR-8 allows only 96
line RTs), and the potential for improved operations and maintenance.
The SLC Series 5 system, the SLC-2000 access system, and the 5ESS
switch will all be providing TR-303 interfaces.  Finally, for the
diehards that have read this far, Bellcore also specifies functional
requirements for universal systems (that is, DLC systems that use a
COT rather than terminating directly on a switch, called universal
since that arrangement will work with any switch) in TR-TSY-000057.
TR-57 does not specify the interface between the RT and COT, which may
be proprietary, but does specify such things as transmission,
signaling, and environmental requirements.

I am a systems engineer for these products and will be glad to answer
additional questions.

*SLC and ESS are registered trademarks of AT&T Network Systems.


Juliet Sutherland   AT&T Bell Laboratories
Whippany, NJ        [e-mail]

------------------------------

From: Jeff Carroll <bcsaic![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: A Zero Length Phone Number!
Date: 21 Nov 90 06:21:15 GMT
Organization: Boeing Computer Services AI Center, Seattle


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] writes:

>A pedant could claim that the Vatican City State has even shorter
>telephone numbers - viz. zero digits long.  The country code is +39
>66982, and the "country" has only one telephone number, which is: .

    I've been to St. Peter's (just last summer, in fact), and
although I don't explicitly remember, I refuse to believe that there's
only one phone in the whole place. What am I failing to understand?


Jeff Carroll
[e-mail]


[Moderator's Note: It is not as though there 'is only one phone in the
whole place'. What we have here is a situation where an institution,
i.e. the Vatican, has a main listed telephone number on the Rome,
Italy phone exchange. Due to the politics involved, the Vatican is
considered a separate country, or nation; a place independent of Rome.
They are not independent of the local telco, except on paper! So their
phone number (the main listed one) becomes simultaneously their
country and city code, in order to standardize the Vatican with every
other 'country' in the world. They have a PBX-style system with
operators on duty to handle the traffic arriving at their combination
phone number/country-city code. They have many, many actual phone
instruments connected to their internal PBX.  PAT]

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V10 #837
******************************










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Date:     Tue, 20 Nov 90 11:34:03 CST
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
[To]:     telecom@eecs
Subject:  Telecom Archives - Winter, 1990 Index
BCC:
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


Dear Readers of TELECOM Digest / comp.dcom.telecom:

Here is an up to date index of the Telecom Archives files, including
the various sub-directories within the main directory. This file is up
to date as of November 20, 1990.  Bear in mind that the 'telecom-recent'
file increases daily as each issue of the Digest is forwarded there.
After fifty issues of the Digest have been collected, then
'telecom-recent' is flushed and the contents go to the appropriatly
labeled file in the archives.

The two main methods of accessing Telecom Archives are by ftp and
mail.  Consult previous documentation for the use of each. In summary,
the addresses are:

                ftp lcs.mit.edu   login anonymous, etc
                   then cd telecom-archives


                [e-mail]  / or / [e-mail]


This file is not intended as a tutorial on how to use/access the
Archives, but merely to as an updated index to the contents, since
there have been many changes in recent weeks.

And in the process of updating things, here is an up-to-date list of
addresses used to reach Telecom Digest:

           [e-mail]   (for submissions)
           [e-mail]   (for submissions from Bitnet)
           [e-mail]  (for other requests, info)
           [e-mail] (an alternate if needed)
           [e-mail]  (personal to moderator)
           [e-mail]  (archive administration only!)
           [e-mail]   (also) [e-mail]

For printed items sent by US Mail:

           Telecom Digest, PO Box 1570, Chicago, IL 60690

Voicemail:

           708-518-6335  enter '1' when requested.


           ---------Index to Main Archives Files----------

total 29692
drwxrwxr-x  6 telecom  telecom      4608 Nov 20 11:28 ./
drwxrwxr-x 22 root     wheel         512 Oct 20 12:45 ../
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom       500 Sep  8 23:46 1981.intro.to.archives
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     94430 Sep  8 23:41 1981.vol1.iss004-020
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     33063 Jan 20  1990 1982.vol2.iss001-003
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom    382277 Jan 14  1990 1982.vol2.iss089-141
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom    191518 Jan 20  1990 1983.vol3.iss001-021
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     63880 Jan 14  1990 1983.vol3.iss083-095
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     16811 Jan 15  1990 1984.vol4.iss001-002
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom    121389 Jan 15  1990 1984.vol4.iss076-093
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom    180604 Jan 20  1990 1985.vol4.iss155-184
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom       658 Jan 27  1990 1985.vol5.READ-ME-FIRST
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom    623292 Jan 27  1990 1985.vol5.iss001-076
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom    861286 Jan 27  1990 1986.vol5.iss077-161
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom    639112 Jan 26  1990 1987.vol6.most.issues
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom    274580 Jan 20  1990 1987.vol7.complete.set
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     21596 Jan 20  1990 1987.vol8.iss003-004
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom    137265 Jan 20  1990 1988.vol8.iss070-083
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom    724832 Aug  1  1989 1988.vol8.iss140-189
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom    227589 Aug  1  1989 1988.vol8.iss190-213
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom    577173 Jan 15  1990 1989.vol9.iss001-049
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom    564262 Jan 14  1990 1989.vol9.iss050-100
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom    653097 Jan 14  1990 1989.vol9.iss101-150
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom    637611 Jan 15  1990 1989.vol9.iss151-200
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom    744800 Jan 14  1990 1989.vol9.iss201-250
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom    787166 Jan 14  1990 1989.vol9.iss251-300
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom    805328 Jan 14  1990 1989.vol9.iss301-350
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom    780366 Jan 15  1990 1989.vol9.iss351-400
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom    784366 Jan 15  1990 1989.vol9.iss401-450
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom    758330 Jan 15  1990 1989.vol9.iss451-500
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom    794183 Jan 14  1990 1989.vol9.iss501-550
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom    856691 Jan 14  1990 1989.vol9.iss551-603
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom    861272 Jan 28  1990 1990.vol10.iss001-050
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom    820574 Feb 14  1990 1990.vol10.iss051-100
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom    842877 Mar  8  1990 1990.vol10.iss101-150
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom    855090 Mar 24  1990 1990.vol10.iss151-200
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom    853551 Apr 13  1990 1990.vol10.iss201-250
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom    908585 May  1  1990 1990.vol10.iss251-300
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom    873608 May 16  1990 1990.vol10.iss301-350
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom    858605 May 31 20:13 1990.vol10.iss351-400
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom    919538 Jun 23 14:09 1990.vol10.iss401-450
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom    885056 Jul 20 22:22 1990.vol10.iss451-500
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom    863414 Aug  8 23:06 1990.vol10.iss501-550
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom    886042 Aug 29 00:59 1990.vol10.iss551-600
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom    974899 Sep 17 01:25 1990.vol10.iss601-650
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom    870218 Oct  1 01:51 1990.vol10.iss651-700
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom    868902 Oct 22 02:49 1990.vol10.iss701-750
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom    902018 Nov 10 16:03 1990.vol10.iss751-800
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom       953 Jan 31  1990 READ.ME.FIRST
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     25799 Sep 12 19:47 abernathy.internet.story
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     68224 Nov 20 10:26 aos-rules.procedures
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     18238 Nov  9 03:37 area.214-903.split
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     21264 Apr 14  1990 area.code.script.new
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     32645 May 31 20:36 areacode.guide
-rw-rw-r--  1 telecom  telecom      8147 Aug  1  1989 areacode.program.in.c
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom       474 Feb 11  1990 att.service.outage.1-90
-rw-rw-r--  1 telecom  telecom     18937 Aug  1  1989 auto.coin.collection
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom      4788 Jun 10 09:18 books.about.phones
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     21702 Nov 20 10:24 braux.bill.call.blocking
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     61504 Jul 30 01:56 caller-id-legal-decision
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     17016 Aug  5 08:07 cellular.phones-iridium
-rw-rw-r--  1 telecom  telecom     15141 Aug  1  1989 cellular.sieve
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom       298 May 31 20:37 cellular.west.germany
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     16292 Mar 18  1990 class.ss7.features
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     15023 Sep 30 18:35 cocot-in-violation-label
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     38981 Oct 12 00:09 cocot.complaint.sticker
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     70477 Sep  5 22:02 computer.bbs.and.the.law
-rw-rw-r--  1 telecom  telecom     23944 Aug  1  1989 computer.state
-rw-rw-r--  1 telecom  telecom      9150 Jan 31  1990 country.code.list
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     11370 Feb  9  1990 country.codes.revised
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     11267 Feb 25  1990 cpid-ani.developments
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom       436 Feb 23  1990 deaf.communicate.on.tdd
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     15877 Sep  1 21:14 dial.tone.monopoly
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     28296 Sep 29 18:34 dialup.access.in.uk
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     39319 Aug  1  1989 docket.87-215
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     16367 Sep  1 21:20 e-series.recommendations
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom      3422 Jan 20  1990 early.digital.ESS
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     62602 Aug  1  1989 ecpa.1986
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     97987 Aug  4 18:58 ecpa.1986.federal.laws
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     39956 Jul 14 23:40 electronic.frontier
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     20660 Sep  5 22:02 email.privacy
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom      8504 Jan 27  1990 enterprise-funny-numbers
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     19836 Nov 20 10:32 fax.products.for.pc
-rw-rw-r--  1 telecom  telecom     33239 Aug  1  1989 fcc.policy
-rw-rw-r--  1 telecom  telecom     19378 Aug  1  1989 fcc.threat
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom       484 Jan 14  1990 fcc.vrs.aos-ruling
-rw-rw-r--  1 telecom  telecom      9052 Aug  1  1989 find.pair
-rw-rw-r--  1 telecom  telecom     47203 Aug  1  1989 fire.in.chgo.5-88
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom      1998 Jan 27  1990 fire.in.st-louis.1-90
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom       377 Jan 27  1990 fires.elsewhere.in.past
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom      1247 Feb 10  1990 first.issue.cover
-rw-rw-r--  1 map      telecom     52618 Nov 17 14:32 glossary.acronyms
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     42188 Jan 14  1990 glossary.phrack.acronyms
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     67113 Jan 14  1990 glossary.txt
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     68804 Feb  2  1990 hi.perf.computing.net
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom      2337 Jan 27  1990 history.of.digest
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     32625 Mar 29  1990 how.numbers.are.assigned
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     12896 Nov 20 10:30 isdn.pc.adapter-hayes
-rw-rw-r--  1 telecom  telecom      4816 Aug  1  1989 lauren.song
-rw-rw-r--  1 telecom  telecom       801 Aug  1  1989 ldisc.txt
-rw-rw-r--  1 telecom  telecom      2271 Aug  1  1989 ldnotes.txt
-rw-rw-r--  1 telecom  telecom     13675 Aug  1  1989 ldrates.txt
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     12260 Jan 20  1990 london.ac.script
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     12069 Mar  5  1990 london.codes.script
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     15604 Aug  1  1989 mass.lines
-rw-rw-r--  1 telecom  telecom       463 Aug  1  1989 measured-service
drwxr-xr-x  2 ptownson telecom       512 Sep  5 22:23 minitel.info/
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     36641 Aug  1  1989 mnp.protocol
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom      2450 Jan 20  1990 modems.and.call-waiting
-rw-rw-r--  1 telecom  telecom      7597 Feb 10  1990 named.exchanges
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     16590 Oct 21 09:47 net.mail.guide
-rw-rw-r--  1 telecom  telecom      3014 Jan 27  1990 newuser.letter
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     32815 Mar 25  1990 nine.hundred.service
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     45467 Nov 20 10:29 npa.800-carriers.assigned
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     13779 Sep 19 20:13 npa.800.prefixes
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     33440 May 12  1990 npa.809.prefixes
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     15488 Nov 20 10:28 npa.900-carriers.assigned
drwxr-xr-x  2 ptownson telecom      1024 Nov 20 11:26 npa.exchange.list-canada/
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     16534 Feb 11  1990 nsa.original.charter-1952
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom      9886 Jan 23  1990 occ.10xxx.access.codes
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom      8593 May  5  1990 occ.10xxx.notes.updates
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     14354 Aug 12 14:10 octothorpe.gets.its.name
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom      8504 Jan 27  1990 old.fashioned.coinphones
-rw-rw-r--  1 telecom  telecom      2756 Jan 27  1990 old.hello.msg
drwxrwxr-x  2 jsol     telecom       512 Sep  8 23:41 oldarc/
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     70153 Aug  1  1989 pc.pursuit
-rw-rw-r--  1 telecom  telecom      5492 Aug  1  1989 pearl.harbor.phones
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     38772 Aug  1  1989 pizza.auto.nmbr.id
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     17950 Jan 14  1990 rotenberg.privacy.speech
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom      9764 Jan 20  1990 starline.features
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     46738 Jan 18  1990 starlink.vrs.pcp
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom    103069 Apr 26  1990 sysops.libel.liability
-rw-rw-r--  1 telecom  telecom      3857 Aug  1  1989 tat-8.fiber.optic
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     27533 Feb  9  1990 telco.name.list.formatted
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     31487 Jan 28  1990 telco.name.listing
-rw-rw-r--  1 ptownson telecom    593421 Nov 20 10:20 telecom-recent
drwxr-xr-x  2 ptownson telecom      1024 Nov 20 10:52 telecom.security.issues/
-rw-rw-r--  1 telecom  telecom     11752 Aug  1  1989 telstar.txt
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     26614 May 29 00:15 unitel-canada.ld.service
-rw-r--r--  1 ptownson telecom       116 Oct 22 02:44 white.pages
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     37947 Aug  1  1989 wire-it-yourself
-rw-rw-r--  1 telecom  telecom      4101 Aug  1  1989 wiring.diagram
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     24541 Aug  1  1989 zum.debate

               --------Index to Security Files-----------

total 586
drwxr-xr-x  2 ptownson telecom      1024 Nov 20 11:39 ./
drwxrwxr-x  6 telecom  telecom      4608 Nov 20 11:28 ../
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     13343 Feb 25  1990 computer.fraud.abuse.act
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     27395 Jun 23 20:52 craig.neidorf.indictment
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom      9354 Jul 30 02:18 craig.not.guilty
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     67190 Jun 23 20:53 crime.and.puzzlement
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     62602 Aug 12 14:29 ecpa.1986
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     97987 Aug 12 14:32 ecpa.1986.federal.laws
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     28935 May 19  1990 jolnet-2600.magazine.art
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     30751 Mar  7  1990 jolnet-attctc.crackers
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     43365 Jan 28  1990 kevin.polsen
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     35612 Apr  1  1990 legion.of.doom
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     20703 Aug 12 16:16 len.rose.indictment
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     67099 Nov  4 01:11 telecom.usa.call.block-1
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     31995 Nov 20 10:34 telecom.usa.call.block-2
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     10833 Nov 20 10:23 telecom.usa.call.block-3
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     14821 Sep 12 19:19 war.on.computer.crime


                ------Index to Canadian NPA Files-------

total 228
drwxr-xr-x  2 ptownson telecom      1024 Nov 20 11:39 ./
drwxrwxr-x  6 telecom  telecom      4608 Nov 20 11:28 ../
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom      1351 Feb  4  1990 introduction-canada.lists
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     15019 Apr 22  1990 npa.204.exchanges-canada
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     14708 Apr 22  1990 npa.306.exchanges-canada
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     17978 Apr 14  1990 npa.403.exchanges-canada
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     15907 Jul 20 22:31 npa.416.exchanges-canada
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     15592 Feb  3  1990 npa.418.exchanges-canada
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     10441 May 26 08:17 npa.506.exchanges-canada
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     11647 Feb  2  1990 npa.514.exchanges-canada
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     13538 Sep 12 18:55 npa.519.exchanges-canada
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     16701 Jul 20 22:32 npa.604.exchanges-canada
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     12444 Mar 29  1990 npa.613.exchanges-canada
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     12016 Feb  2  1990 npa.705.exchanges-canada
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     12899 May  3  1990 npa.709.exchanges-canada
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom      5566 Feb  7  1990 npa.800.exchanges-canada
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     10479 May  5  1990 npa.807.exchanges-canada
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     15645 Feb  3  1990 npa.819.exchanges-canada
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     12839 Mar 29  1990 npa.902.exchanges-canada
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom      1762 Apr 11  1990 updates.to.above.files


                    --------Index to Minitel Files-------

total 241
drwxr-xr-x  2 ptownson telecom       512 Nov 20 11:41 ./
drwxrwxr-x  6 telecom  telecom      4608 Nov 20 11:42 ../
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     11736 Apr 22  1990 dial-up.numbers
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     95917 Apr 22  1990 minitel.tar.Z.uu1
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     94305 Apr 22  1990 minitel.tar.Z.uu2
-r--r--r--  1 ptownson telecom     22688 Apr 22  1990 minitel.tar.Z.uu3


I will issue these indexes from time to time when there are
significant changes in the contents.


Patrick Townson
TELECOM Digest Moderator
Usenet gateway manager: comp.dcom.telecom
November 20, 1990










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Date:     Thu, 22 Nov 90 7:58:06 CST
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
[To]:     [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V10 #838
BCC:
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Thu, 22 Nov 90 07:57:42 CST    Volume 10 : Issue 838

Inside This Issue:                         Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Multiple Private Conference Bridges [John Boteler]
    AT&T Mail Info and Questions [Nelson Bolyard]
    Anyone Know of Any Chipsets For Mu-Law Digitation [Mark David Fisher]
    NZ Phone Numbers [David Barts]
    Looking For Mid-Size KSU/PBX [Daniel M. Rosenberg]
    Help Needed - More Phone Lines / More Phones [Jim Youll]
    AA/TDMA Protocol [Juan Gabriel Ruiz Pinto]
    Lower Hotel Charges [Patricia O'connor]
    Intelsat vs. Intersputnik [Hank Nussbacher]
    Baltic States and Telecommunications [Hank Nussbacher]
    Who Owns 'The Phone Book'? [Jack Winslade]
    416 Area Code [Kirk Moir]
    Mexican Phone Company [Douglas W. Martin]
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: Multiple Private Conference Bridges
Date: Mon, 19 Nov 90 20:04:11 EST
From: John Boteler <csense![e-mail]>


Can anyone suggest a clean way to provide multiple private conference
paths (other than Renegade C's, please).

A big, fat crosspoint switch matrix sounds nice, but it aint cheap and
it would require additional components to make a useable system.

How about one of the multitude of PBXs out there? It must provide loop
interrupt signalling back to the conferencing parties to indicate that
the other party has hung up.

Replies via (in order of preference):

1 email
2 list


John Boteler   bote@csense                {uunet | ka3ovk}!media!csense!bote
SkinnyDipper's Hotline: 703 241 BARE | VOICE only, Touch-Tone(TM) signalling

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 20 Nov 90 11:45:38 PST
From: Nelson Bolyard <[e-mail]>
Subject: AT&T Mail Info and Questions


In Volume 10, issue 821, I asked about AT&T's ACCESS program.  Our
Moderator tacked the following onto my posting:

>[Moderator's Note: You do *not* need those programs to use ATT Mail! I
>use one of my terminals and the printer attached to it and get along
>just fine.  Some time ago, they tried to tell me I needed a PC to use
>the mail. Whether or not the program you describe, at the price
>offered is worthwhile or not is a judgment you need to make.   PAT]

In Volume 10, Issue 832 [e-mail] (Ed Hopper) wrote:

>Messages created with ACCESS or sent via UUCP from a UNIX box do not
>have message creation charges associated with them.  Messages entered
>online do have such charges.  Unfortunately, messages edited offline
>and sent up via XModem from Procomm, etc. also have "creation"
>charges.

So while one may not absolutely NEED their "ACCESS" program to be able
to communicate, it seems that without ACCESS (or UUCP), the costs of
sending e-mail are increased by about 50%, due to their "online
message creation" charges.  When these "creation" charges are figured
in, MCI Mail suddenly seems much more cost-effective.  By eliminating
the 40 cent creation charges, the $150 ACCESS program would pay for
itself after 375 messages.

Today, an AT&T Mail Customer Assistance Center techincal
representative dropped this bombshell on me: He is NOT PERMITTED to
tell me ANYTHING about how to use their Internet mail gateway because
it's not "official" yet.  He didn't think it was working yet.  When
confronted with the news that there are people who use it regularly to
communciate with the internet, his response was that I should reply to
a message from one of those people and ask them how they do it.
Astounding!  If you want to know how to use AT&T Mail, you're better
off asking their customers, not their Customer Assistance reps?

So with no alternative left, I ask Pat and any other AT&T Mail users in
telecom land, the following questions:

1.  How do you, as an AT&T Mail user, address mail to someone on the Internet.
    How would you address mail to me, [e-mail], for example?

2.  How do I (an Internet mail user) address mail to you, an AT&T Mail user?
    I invite you to send me some e-mail from your AT&T Mail account.
    I should be able to figure out the reply address from the mail I receive.

Nelson Bolyard            MTS Secure IRIX              Silicon Graphics, Inc.
[e-mail]     {decwrl,sun}!sgi!whizzer!nelson     415-335-1919
Disclaimer: Views expressed herein do not represent the views of my employer.


[Moderator's Note: In answer to both your questions, I won't tell you.
I was given permission to use the gateway to ATT Mail during the beta
test stage under the condition that I not discuss it in detail in the
Digest. I am permitted to add names to the list from ATT Mail however,
and the folks who have received mail know how it is done. Furthermore,
there is a help file on ATT Mail which discusses the topic. I hope the
people who gave me permission to use it will soon okay a formal
discussion of it including examples, etc.  PAT]

------------------------------

From: "FISHER,MARK DAVID" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Anyone Know of Any Chipsets For Mu-Law Digitation.
Date: 20 Nov 90 21:29:05 GMT
Organization: Georgia Institute of Technology


Hi,

I am thinking about designing/building a seven second delay for our
campus radio station.  I plan to run the phone line through an A/D
converter store the bits in RAM and read "old" bits back out through a
D/A converter.

I've been told that several manufacturers make chip sets to do mu-law
conversion.  I would be appreciative for any leads as to
manufacturer/chip numbers and any companies that would sell them in
single unit quantitys.


Thank you,

Mark D. Fisher
Assistant Engineer WREK-FM, Atlanta

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 20 Nov 90 09:22:51 pst
From: David Barts <[e-mail]>
Subject: NZ Phone Numbers


[e-mail] (Pat Cain) writes:

> * Telecom begin to convert the whole country's telephone numbering system

>         Five single digit area codes with all telephone numbers
>         being seven digits.
                ^^^^^
> Patrick Cain   )) Voice: [phone] (GMT+12)
                                 ^^^^^^
So which it it?  Six or seven?  Or is Wellington a special case?


David Barts            Pacer Corporation, Bothell, WA
[e-mail]        ...!uunet!pilchuck!pacer!davidb

------------------------------

From: "Daniel M. Rosenberg" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Looking For Mid-Size KSU/PBX
Date: 20 Nov 90 22:44:28 GMT
Organization: World Otherness Ministries


I work for a college radio station (KZSU FM 90.1 for you Bay Area
folks) which currently has it's very own SxS 1930's vintage stepper
PBX with a couple of Touch Tone adapters. It has around 25 extensions,
and seven (ground start) trunks. While it's still working okay, it is
kinda big and clunky (audibly), and we're wondering what sorts of
PBX's or KSU's are out there that can handle this -- and where I can
get the spec sheets.

Features we need:

o   lots of off premise extensions, several up to three kilometers away
(at our transmitter site).

o   a way to interface easily to our patch bay for calls taken over the
air (like call-in talk shows, sports broadcasts, and whatnot).  This
is easy enough to cobble up on our POTS 1A2 system, but are there any
devices like Panasonic 616/1232's which send normal tip and ring, only
larger?

Thanks for any hints.


# Daniel M. Rosenberg  //  Stanford CSLI // Chew my opinions, not Stanford's.
# [e-mail] // decwrl!csli!dmr // [e-mail]

------------------------------

From: Jim Youll <bgsuvax![e-mail]>
Subject: Help Needed - More Phone Lines / More Phones
Date: 21 Nov 90 03:20:43 GMT
Reply-To: Jim Youll <bgsuvax![e-mail]>
Organization: Bowling Green State University B.G., Oh.


All this talk about "small" PBXs has got my interest. I have two lines
in my business and plain ol' two line phones on them.  This is okay,
but not great.

I want my modem to be able to dial out on any available line - not
just the one it's hard wired to.

And I'd like to get some of those other nifty features I used to do on
the phones at work. Call transfer. Real Hold (tm).  Possibly some
tracking or billback for calls related to a specific client. etc.

And I'm REAL tired of the phone company telling me what my phones will
and will not do.

Also, I'll probably be adding a third line soon, and don't want to
drop the cash for "three line" stupid phones when I need more
sophistication than that.

What's involved in this? What does the local telco provide me and what
does the on-premise equipment do here? Any cost figures?  Thanks.

------------------------------

From: Juan Gabriel Ruiz Pinto <[e-mail]>
Subject: AA/TDMA Protocol
Date: 21 Nov 90 05:32:24 GMT
Organization: Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey


I'm working on a simulation about a satellite network, the project
works with some NEC equipment, I have some information about the
protocol the use, AA/TDMA (Adaptive Assigment/Time Division Multiple
Access), but it isn't so much technical. I need more details about the
protocol. Any body have an idea about how to obtain it? or somebody
has experience with that kind of protocol?

I'll appreciate your help ... thanks!


*****   Greetings from Mexico!   *****
Juan Gabriel Ruiz Pinto                   Internet:
Ing. Sistemas Electronicos                [e-mail]
I.T.E.S.M. Campus Monterrey

------------------------------

From: hoptoad!f555.n161.z1.FIDONET.ORG!Patricia.O'connor
Subject: Lower Hotel Charges
Date: 19 Nov 90 02:36:46 GMT
Organization: FidoNet node 1:161/555 - MacCircles, Pleasanton CA


I recently read a tip on saving multiple charges on outgoing AT&T
credit card calls from hotel rooms.  I haven't verified the info, but
here it is:

When you complete the first call and the other party has hung up,
press the # key on the push button telephone to place your next call.
This eliminate the hotel charge you would receive if you hung up and
began dialing a second credit card call.  Your card number is stored.
You will be prompted with, "You may dial another AT&T-handled call."
You are only charged for one access by the hotel.


Patricia O'connor - via FidoNet node 1:125/777
    UUCP: ...!uunet!hoptoad!fidogate!161!555!Patricia.O'connor
INTERNET: Patricia.O'[e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 21 Nov 90 09:40:11 O
From: Hank Nussbacher <[e-mail]>
Subject: Intelsat vs. Intersputnik


The two major satellite companies are Intelsat and Intersputnik.
Intersat is owned by 119 countries whereas Intersputnik is owned by 21
countries (Russia, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Poland, East Germany,
Cuba, Afganistan, Vietnam, Yemen, etc.)

Recently there has been discussion of combining the two companies in
order to achieve better use of the spectrum, unified global access,
and ease of access for Russia to access Western databases.  The
expectations are that even before the end of 1990 the merger will take
place.  The major stumbling block is the cost of membership and having
to pay in hard currency.

In August, Russia joined Intelsat at a cost of $750,000.  Previously
in May, Poland and Hungary joined Intelsat.


Hank Nussbacher
Israel

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 21 Nov 90 09:40:59 O
From: Hank Nussbacher <[e-mail]>
Subject: Baltic States and Telecommunications


Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have started to move their tele-
communications industry.  They are starting the reopening of two
undersea cables that were laid pre-WWII that went from the Baltic
states to Scandanavia.

In addition, they have requested from the ITU their own international
country prefixes for international dialing.


Hank Nussbacher
Israel

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 21 Nov 90 00:40:00 EST
From: Jack Winslade <[e-mail]>
Subject: Who Owns 'The Phone Book'?
Reply-to: [e-mail]
Organization: DRBBS Technical BBS, Omaha, Ne. 402-896-3537


American Business Information, Inc., formerly American Business Lists,
is an Omaha-area firm which compiles and distributes lists of
businesses -- by type of business, by area, you name it, they've got
it.  Their primary source of information: The phone book.

According to the {Omaha World-Herald}, 'A question over who owns the
list of names and phone numbers in telephone books has prompted
BellSouth Corp., a regional telephone company, to sue a Ralston (NE)
firm for copyright infringement. BellSouth, which is based in Atlanta,
filed a similar suit against Donnelly Marketing ...'

'American Business (Information) reacted to BellSouth's action by
filing an antitrust lawsuit against the phone company, alleging it is
attempting to monopolize directory data.'

'"If it's copyrighted material, (ABI CEO, Vinod) Gupta asked, why did
the telephone company wait until now to prevent its use by the list-
making industry, which has been in existence for more than 30 years?"'

'This is the second time (they) have been challenged by a regional
telephone company.  Southwestern Bell ... filed a similar lawsuit in
1984 shortly after the divestiture ... (which) was settled out of
court in 1985 with ABI entering into a licensing agreement with the
telephone company ...'

'Gupta ... said the list-making industry had a good working
relationship with AT&T and its subsidiaries prior to the divestiture.
The phone company purchased and promoted its products, he said.'

The article goes on to say that the case is not yet scheduled for
trial.

As a sidebar here (and this is me, JSW talking, not the {WH}), back in
the early 1970's, through a business dealing, a close relative of mine
became part owner of a publishing/printing concern whose 'slack-time'
activities included compiling and printing 'alternative' telephone
books for small towns in the Midwest.  (Think of three states that
begin with the letter 'I'.)  The bucks, of course, came from hiring a
bunch of flashy salescritters to cruise the two-lane highways selling
'discount' yellow-pages ads.  However, they included the white pages,
which they admittedly copied from the 'real' Phone Book <tm> <grin>.

Everyone knows that the Phone Company puts 'ringers' in their white
page listings in order to substantiate potential copyright claims.
The way they got around this was to hire a couple of local people from
each community (or give 'em a freebee display ad) to go through the
few pages of white-page listings and red-line any listings that did
not correspond to living, breathing, bodies.  This wasn't too
difficult for most places, since more than ten white pages was
considered a major metropolitan area. ;-) I remember one of their
legal 'experts' stating that if they introduced even one 'ringer' of
their own, it would help in their defense, even if one of the Phone
Company's ringers should accidentally slip through.  That business was
liquidated quickly.  (Just some related trivia for you.)

Good day!        JSW

 [1:285/666@fidonet] DRBBS Technical BBS, Omaha (1:285/666)

 --- Through FidoNet gateway node 1:16/390
[e-mail]

------------------------------

From: Kirk Moir <[e-mail]>
Subject: 416 Area Code Questions
Date: 19 Nov 90 23:33:09 GMT
Reply-To: Kirk Moir <[e-mail]>
Organization: MPR Teltech Ltd.


Could someone explain why Bell Canada in Ontario has decided to "break
the rules" with respect to area code/prefix syntax.  For example, 604
is a valid NNX in Toronto!

Thanks and apologies if this question has already been addressed.


Kirk Moir                      Voice:    [phone]
MPR Teltech Ltd.               FAX:      [phone]
8999 Nelson Way                Internet: [e-mail]
Burnaby, B.C. CANADA  V5A 4B5            (134.87.131.13)


[Moderator's Note: I suspect they are simply following the trend of
their US counterparts. We have lots of 'area code look-a-like'
prefixes here these days. Especially Chicago ... I have two cell
phones in the 312 area: the prefix on one is 415; the other is 504.  PAT]

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 20 Nov 90 16:29:52 PST
From: "Douglas W. Martin" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Last Laugh! Mexican Phone Company


(Overheard)

"No Lulu, 'Taco Bell' is not a Mexican phone company..."


Moderator's Note: So go to Taco Bell and have a nice Thanksgiving
dinner, one and all!  I'm going to the buffet at the Knickerbocker
Hotel with friends. See you all again later tonight.  PAT]

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V10 #838
******************************










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Date:     Thu, 22 Nov 90 20:41:58 CST
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
[To]:     [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V10 #839
BCC:
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Thu, 22 Nov 90 20:41:42 CST    Volume 10 : Issue 839

Inside This Issue:                         Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    10Base-T and Centrex In The Same Sheath -- Responses [Gene N. Cartier]
    Re: New 410 Code for MD [Andy Jacobson]
    Re: New 410 Code for MD [David Tamkin]
    Re: Roam Charges [Douglas Scott Reuben]
    Re: IDG Hackers [Bob Izenberg]
    Re: Request Info Sources About ISDN [ticnj![e-mail]]
    Re: Microsoft Use of 900 Number for Tech Support [Rick Jones]
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Wed, 21 Nov 90 09:02:47 MST
From: "Gene N. Cartier" <[e-mail]>
Subject: 10Base-T and Centrex In The Same Sheath -- Responses


Last week I posted an inquiry to the net and asked about experiences
in running 10Base-T in the same sheath as telco wiring.  I was
particularly worried about "punching holes" in data caused by ringing
voltages.  I didn't get as many responses as I had hoped, but attached
are some of the more interesting ones.  The general consensus seemed
to be "Don't worry, but be careful."  Listed below are some of the
responses:

 >>Some respondents stated that there are products on
 >>the market that solve the problem.  I tend to think that this
 >>is creative marketing

 >Cabletron has a 10base-T product they claim will not effect or be effected
 >by running in the same sheath as telco wiring.  I'm on the verge of trying
 >this, so if you hear otherwise, I'd appreciate an update.
 >
 >     Steven Cook <[e-mail]>
 >     UC Santa Barbara

 >I recently talked with our local BOC rep and Northern-Telecom
 >about their LANSTAR system. The selling point was the ability to run
 >2.56 Mbits on existing telco cable using the (typically unused)
 >two twisted pair of the three usually found ... my real advice:
 >test, test, test ... good luck!
 >
 >     Lindsay Reed <[e-mail]>

 >>Other respondents say that they are running without any problems
 >>in the same type of environment.

 >In our office, we have the type of setup that you are
 >considering: six-conductor cable (three pairs) with voice on one
 >(Centrex service, AT&T STARPLUS phones), and 10BASET on one
 >(we use Ungermann-Bass NET/ONE boxes).  It seems to work okay; there
 >is no noticeable crosstalk, and I've never seen any data dropouts
 >caused by phone ringing or anything else.  The phone ring is at such
 >a low frequency compared to the data rate of the 10BASET that it
 >probably looks to them like just a DC offset, and they just filter
 >that out.  In some places we run Appletalk (120 kbps) on the third
 >pair (using PhoneNet matching transformers) and that seems to work
 >okay too.
 >
 >I'll have to admit I'm a bit surprised; I'm one of those people
 >who didn't think Ethernet on UTP would ever work at all.  I thought
 >for sure that there would be all kinds of crosstalk problems.  I've
 >finally learned the lesson that my father tried to teach me: (never
 >underestimate analog EE weenies).
 >
 >One thing that you might to watch out for: it may be that voice and
 >data in the same cable is one thing, and two data pairs in the same
 >cable are quite another.  I have seen an installation where RS232
 >was run through Belden 24-conductor cable, and that was crosstalk
 >city, especially on long runs.  A similar installation using
 >individually-shielded pairs worked quite well, however.
 >
 >     David Cornutt <[e-mail]>
 >     New Technology Inc, Huntsville AL

 >I work at Northern Telecom Information Systems, and we run EVERYTHING
 >over twisted pairs. We run an eight-pair cable to each office, then
 >patch in whatever we need, including voice (Centrex), data lines (POTS),
 >Appletalk, Ethernet (802.3 from Synoptics), RS-232, and balanced 3270
 >lines. All of it works fine, with no interference. Just make sure you
 >use cable with a high twist-per-foot count to avoid EMI problems.
 >
 >     Heath Roberts <[e-mail]>
 >     NCSU Computing Center

 >Running 10BaseT and voice in the same sheath is no problem, PROVIDED THAT
 >THE PAIRS ARE TWISTED.  In our new business building at Andrews University
 >they ran six pair to every office from a couple of closets, then four
 >25-pair cables to each closet from the mechanical service room.  The
 >pairs were twisted in the 25-pair stuff, but not in the 6-pair.

 >10BaseT "must" run on "twisted pair"!!  After we had purchased the
 >10BaseT equipment we discovered that it wouldn't run from the janitor's
 >closet to the offices.  So we ended up running wire to each office any-
 >way, destroying any cost savings of 10BaseT.

 >Moral: Verify that the wiring TO THE OFFICES is TWISTED pair.  If not, you
 >will be running new wiring even for 10BaseT.  I know from sad experience
 >that not all 6-pair cable has each pair individually twisted.
 >
 >     Bill Nickless <[e-mail]>

The bottom line is that I will run some tests to ensure that the
CENTREX ringing doesn't effect the data and produce cross talk and
maybe and run a prototype to ensure that we don't spend money
needlessly.  I'm still sort of queasy, but if its working in so many
places maybe my fears are unfounded. Thanks to the people that
responded.


Gene Cartier
[e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 21 Nov 90 06:00 PST
From: Andy Jacobson <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: New 410 Code for MD


In V. 10 #833"John R. Covert" <[e-mail]> writes:

>Additional info on 410: It will go into service on 1 November 1991 and
>remain permissive until 1 November 1992.

>Bell Atlantic claims that it will be the first N10 area code (although
>both 310 and 510 have been announced, they may not go into service as
>soon as 410).

Pac*Bell says, (and to correct slightly Carl Moore's excellent area
code history in V. 10 #837):

510 goes into effect September 2, 1991, and 310 goes on line Nov.
2,1991, so Bell Atlantic's a bit off on their claim. I'm wondering
though exactly where the border between 301 and 410 will be.  Will BWI
be included?

Also, in reference to <[e-mail]> "Bob Goudreau"'s
question (V10 #833) about large metro areas switching codes, San Diego
got the burn when 619 was carved out of 714. It was certainly much
bigger than any of the suburbs in Orange County that got to keep the
old code.  Maybe Orange County has more political clout.


A. Jacobson <[e-mail]>

------------------------------

From: David Tamkin <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: New 410 Code for MD
Date: Wed, 21 Nov 90 9:51:15 CST


Carl Moore wrote in volume 10, issue 836:

| It will be interesting to see what's done in the Laurel and Annapolis
| areas.  Along with the "default" exchanges (which you would find on
| pay phones in those areas), they have pseudo-foreign exchanges
| providing metro service for both DC and Baltimore areas.  It reminds
| me of the Los Angeles foreign exchanges (which stayed in area 213 at
| the 213/818 split) used in places like Burbank and Pasadena, whose
| other exchanges were put in 818.

When 708 was split from 312, the pseudo-Chicago prefixes in the
Evanston (BRoadway 3), Cicero (BIshop 2), and Elk Grove (part of 569)
central offices remained in 312, even though they are used only in the
suburbs.  After all, their purpose is to provide Chicago service out
there, and that includes seven-digit dialing to and from Chicago.

For billing of individual incoming or outgoing calls, they are treated
as Rogers Park, Austin, and Newcastle respectively.  (For calls
charged by rate center rather than by district office, 242 is treated
as part of Lafayette.)

I imagine that Annapolis's DC-metro service will stay in 301 (unless
it has already stayed in 202!) and Laurel's Baltimore-metro service
will go into 410.

Someone else asked whether the 301/410 split is the first time that
the major city in an NPA has received the new code instead of
retaining the old one.  I think that's rather a subjective call: when
619 split from 714, no doubt more phones and more people stayed in 714
but the single largest city involved was probably San Diego, which
went into 619.  Conversely, when 708 split from 312, more people and
more lines changed area codes but the single largest city kept the
original code.  Who's to say which city is the most important in an
area code (other than single-city NPA's like 202 and 312)?

I think two changes in such rapid succession in the way to dial from
DC to its Maryland suburbs would have been too much for the minds of
our civil servants and way too much for the minds of our elected
officials.


David Tamkin  Box 7002  Des Plaines IL  60018-7002  708 518 6769  312 693 0591
MCI Mail: 426-1818  GEnie: D.W.TAMKIN  CIS: 73720,1570   [e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: 21-NOV-1990 02:40:17.98
From: Douglas Scott Reuben <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Roam Charges


Hi-

In response to one of my postings on why roam charges are unfair,
etc., Jeff Wasilko was nice enough to respond to me, and stated that
in some cases, such as Follow Me Roaming type set-ups, it was
necessary to create a number for a roamer on the system which s/he was
roaming on, and that I was paying for the costs associated with this,
etc.

I responded to this (below) and then Jeff mentioned a few more details
about roamer billing which I thought were quite interesting:

  From: [e-mail]
  Subject: Re: Roaming
  To: [e-mail]

[my summarized response to Jeff's first letter, below]

 } Hi-
 }
 } Yeah, that's true, but it is only true for "Follow-Me" type roaming systems,
 } IF you even use Follow Me roaming.
 }
 } So if you are on GTE Mobilnet, right, and then go to let's say NYC, (where
 } there is no Follow Me Roaming for some reason), you will still get socked
 } with a $3 (or more?) daily roam charge.
 }
 } And on the "A" systems that don't have "Roam America" (or whatever), you
 } also get ridiculously high charges (I think Albany/A/Cell One? is $4
 } per day for me, $.90 cents per minute!), and in both the NYNEX example and
 } this one callers dial you via the roam port, which doesn't assign you a
 } number in their system, just pages your foriegn number.

I forgot about that ... It has been awhile. BTW, I used to be a rep
for the Albany Cell One (they did the customer service in Rochester,
and had sales and switch personnel in Albany).

The other reason I can think of for the charge is the cost of getting
the roaming bill back to the home city). Each cellular company
contracts with a 'clearinghouse' to handle this. The same company
usually handles the follow-me type roaming. Most wireline companies
use GTE's GTEDS database/clearinghouse, while most non-wireline
companies use Appex-Lunyach's system. I'm assuming that the companies
charge a per day /per user charge to get the calls back to the home
system (GTE and Appex work together to exhange tapes when a wireline
customer roams to a non-wireline system, or vice versa).

The other thing to consider is that the celluar industry places a
time-limit on getting calls back to the home carrier. It used to be
three months, but I seem to remember it going to 60 days right before
I left. So if there are problems, and the tapes get delayed, the
company where the customer roamed gets stuck with the bill (and after
60 days, there is no way to collect it).


Jeff Wasilko

                            -----------------

Does anyone have an idea of what these billing systems REALLY cost? IE, is
it really $3 per day to handle roamer billing? I realize that there is a
cost associated with this, but $3 seems a bit high...!


Doug

[e-mail]
[e-mail]

------------------------------

From: The devil himself <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: IDG Hackers
Date: 21 Nov 90 19:04:05 GMT
Reply-To: balkan!dogface![e-mail]


> A missing poster from a Gamepro subscription, a video-game monthly
> magazine, prompted two Staten Island, N.Y., teen-age brothers to break
> into the telephone mail system at International Data Group's
> Peterborough, N.H., office - where Gamepro is published - and cause
> $2.4 million worth of damage.

I wonder how likely that figure is to shrink under the gaze of a
competent defense lawyer ... No, I'm not sticking up for the two
miscreants.  The spectre of BellSouth looms large whenever monetary
damage is discussed, however.


Bob Izenberg [phone] [ ] cs.utexas.edu!{kvue,balkan}!dogface!bei


[Moderator's Note: Suppose the damage was only $24,000; or $240, or
$24.  Then what?   PAT]

------------------------------

Subject: Re: Request Info Sources About ISDN
From: ticnj![e-mail]
Date: Tue, 20 Nov 90 11:38:25 GMT


[e-mail] (Arnold Robbins) writes:

> >In article <[e-mail]> holos0![e-mail] (Weaver
> >Hickerson) writes:

> >>I'm interested in finding what types, if any, of AT bus hardware is
> >>available/in the works for ISDN, as well as simply learning more about
> >>the service.

> >At SuperComm '90 this past spring, AT&T had a huge "booth".  One of
> >the things they showed was an ISDN card for the AT bus.  So, I know it
> >exists.

> I remember seeing on Hayes (the modem people) 800 BBS an announcement
> for their new ISDN Card.  It was going to have full "narrowband"
> (read: present 'standard') ISDN compatibility, and should have been
> introduced by now.  I believe the number to Hayes' BBS is (was?)
> 800-US-HAYES.  Perhaps someone from Hayes reads this and will comment
> on a confirmation, price, etc.

As far as I know there are several AT products available.  I know
about the following AT-BRI cards:

1) AT&T PC/ISDN Interface
    Q.931 (AT&T Standard) signaling on D-Channel
    X.25 on D-channel
    X.25 PAD on D-channel (15 Virtual Circuits)
    DMI Mode 2 on B-channel
    DMI Mode 3 on B-channel

    connection for handset, ISDN telephone
    s/t interface
    MC 68000 based (I think 10Mhz)
    DOS support, developer's toolkit available
    was reviewed in December (maybe November) 1989 PC Magazine

2) AT&T PCTA (Model 1000)
    Q.931 signaling on D-channel (AT&T Standard)
    X.25 with PAD on D-channel (single VC)
    connection for analog phone
    was mentioned in PC week a while back

3) Teleos (forgot the model number PC100?)
    Q.931
    X.25 on D-channel
    V.120 on B-channel

    MC 68000 based (I think 12 Mhz)
    S/T Interface
    attached analog phone
    DOS and UNIX support (UNIX driver comes from Lachman, I believe)

4) Intel PC53
    Q.931
    D and B-channel data (I can't remember specifics)
    Intel 81088 based
    S/T Interface
    attached analog phone
    DOS support

There are a few others besides these, you might want to check Sept 17,
1990 issue of Communications Week and the PC Mag from late 1989 for
more info.  I believe that Hayes and Vadis are no longer supplying
ISDN AT boards as well as Progressive Computing (please correct me if
I'm wrong).

If you have any questions, you can either send me email at
princeton!sinc!hutch (best) or call (after hours but not too late at
609-443-3028).

------------------------------

From: Rick Jones <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Microsoft Use of 900 Number for Tech Support
Date: 21 Nov 90 04:40:16 GMT
Organization: Hewlett-Packard, Cupertino CA


Stepping away from Microsoft specifics...

I think that using a 900 number is something of an interesting idea
for providing support on a time and materials basis (ie no support
contract). However, it would seem most apropriate as a supplement for
a service contract type of support plan rather than the only method of
support. Apart from that, it seems like a good way to be able to
charge for support with minimal overhead. (ignoring the debate over
free support of PC software...)

The offensive part of it would be where you call and get connected
with Joe Q. Buffoon support person. In that case however, the offense
should be taken at Buffoon rather than the 900 number.


Richard Anders Jones   | MPE/XL Networking Engineer
Hewlett-Packard  Co.   | No 900 number yet...
Being an employee of a Standards Company, all Standard Disclaimers Apply

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V10 #839
******************************










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Date:     Thu, 22 Nov 90 22:03:54 CST
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
[To]:     [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V10 #840
BCC:
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Thu, 22 Nov 90 22:03:27 CST    Volume 10 : Issue 840

Inside This Issue:                         Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Re: Wanted: Home Phone System [John Higdon]
    Re: Wireless Phonejak [Lang Zerner]
    Re: Computer Clock Synchronization Solution [Mike Bell]
    Re: Sprint's New Calling Card [Glenn F. Leavell]
    Re: Transoceanic Cables [John R. Levine]
    Re: What is MFJ a TLA For? [Dell H. Ellison]
    Re: Cellular Phones of the Future [Craig R. Watkins]
    Re: Dealing With Telemarketers [Stephen J. Friedl]
    Re: Telemarketing Sleezoids [Owen M. Hartnett]
    Re: Slick-96 [Steve Forrette]
    Headhunters and Voicemail (was: Dealing with Telemarketers) [Craig Watkins]
    Re: Turning Off Call Waiting Remotely [John Boteler]
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: Re: Wanted: Home Phone System
Date: 21 Nov 90 10:19:35 PST (Wed)
From: John Higdon <[e-mail]>


"Adam J. Ashby" <motcid![e-mail]> writes:

> I don't think that Mitel has anything small enough, but they did have
> a subsidiary (?) company that made small PBXs/Key systems, called
> Trillium, based in Kanata, Ont.  I can't remember what the particular
> systems were called (I left Mitel in '81 and a lot of brain cells have
> died since then!), and as far as I can remember, I only ever saw a
> couple of the systems and never worked with them.

If you had worked with them, I doubt that you would recommend them. An
associate replaced his with a Panasonic a couple of years ago and I
have never seen a more happy camper. The Trillium is a somewhat
featureless electronic key system that has some of the more annoying
faults commonly found in these early offerings.

There is no support of single line phones. That means no sanitary
connection of modems or answering machines. The phones themselves are
physically unwieldy, and the DTMF tones lag somewhat behind the
actuation of the keypad buttons. This can drive a "fast dialer" such
as myself absolutely bonkers. Also, the tones are those short,
"specification correct", but voicemail-useless variety that are found
on the Strada and others.

I am told by a friend who is a distributor that the Panasonic KX-T
switches and phones are now readily available. Only certain items,
such as the doorphone, remain difficult to get.


John Higdon <[e-mail]> (hiding out in the desert)

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 21 Nov 90 16:57:48 PST
From: Lang Zerner <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Wireless Phonejak
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Inc., Mt. View, CA


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] writes:

>In <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Gary W Sanders) writes:

>>In the latest Damark catalog I ran across an interesting telephone
>>gizmo:  Wireless phonejak by Phonex.

>I have ordered a few things from Damark and based on that experience
>would caution you to stay away.  Everything -- CDs to skates to phone
>to floor lamps -- that I got from them was of low quality.

In defense of Damark, the two pieces of furniture that I've ordered
from them were not of the *highest* quality, but they were
satisfactory.  After inadvertently ordering the wrong size futon
mattress, they had a straightforward return policy (I shipped it back,
they refunded; simple enough).  I later ordered a folding frame for
the futon which seems to be of decent quality.  The instructions for
assembling it were written by someone whose native language was not
English; they were unusable, but I was able to figure out the process.

In my experience, Damark is not a "sleazeball" store, but a typical
mail-order "bargain basement" store.  Their prices are reasonable, but
you don't get frills.

I know this message has only the most indirect connection to telecom,
but since an emphatically negative opinion was braodcast in the
Digest, I felt it only fair to provide some tempering evidence.  I
have no affiliation with Damark other than as a customer.

Be seeing you...

 ==Lang

[e-mail] 415/594-9268

------------------------------

From: Mike Bell <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Computer Clock Synchronization Solution
Organization: Spar Aerospace Ltd, Toronto, Canada
Date:     Thu, 22 Nov 90 10:07:59 EST


In <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (ben dubin) writes:

>Recently someone was asking about programs to set your computer clock
>to the US Naval Observatory clock in Washington DC. I purchased a

Just to note that comp.protocols.time.ntp,alt.sources recently (6 Nov
90) had a posting of a clock synchronisation program by [e-mail]
for Sun OS 4.0.3.

I have a much rehacked version for Sun OS 4.1 which I can post
(elsewhere) or mail if there is sufficient interest.

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 21 Nov 90 09:45:48 EST
From: "Glenn F. Leavell" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Sprint's New Calling Card


I recently posted an article to the TELECOM Digest in which I stated
(although I welcomed corrections) that it was my belief that Sprint
used "unanchored" calling cards, i.e. the calling card numbers did not
contain the owners own telephone number. John R. Levine (johnl@iecc.
cambridge.ma.us) was kind enough to reply:

>I have Sprint FON cards for each of my two lines.  Both of them are
>"anchored," i.e. they are the corresponding phone number with a PIN.  I
>don't recall asking one way or the other.

>Sprint doesn't seem to assign scrambled numbers based on the fraud
>potential, I live in Cambridge, Mass., one of the phone hackery capitals
>of the world.  Perhaps it's because I'm a Dial-1 customer.

It seems then that Sprint, like AT&T offers both the "anchored" and
"unanchored" cards.  I also am a Sprint Dial-1 customer, but my FON
card number is "random," i.e. it means nothing to me (except that it's
my calling card number!).  Perhaps this is because I was a FON card
customer long before I ever had Sprint as my primary long distance
carrier.  As a matter of fact, my first card was with US Telecom.
After the merger (buyout?) to US Sprint it became a FON Card.

Another question: John mentions that the fraud potential is higher
with the "unanchored" cards.  Is this really so?  I would think that
it would be much easier to figure out the last four digits that need
to be appended to a known phone number than to come up with fourteen
random digits that happen to be valid.

Again, thanks for any responses,


Glenn F. Leavell  Systems Administrator  [e-mail]  404-542-3488
 University of Georgia Economics Department. 147 Brooks Hall. Athens, GA 30602

------------------------------

Subject: Re: Transoceanic Cables
Organization: I.E.C.C., Cambridge MA 02238
Date: 20 Nov 90 19:01:17 EST (Tue)
From: "John R. Levine" <[e-mail]>


In article <[e-mail]> you write:

>Recent articles have referred to the TAT-8 transatlantic cable, and
>the TAT-9 cable under construction.  Do these numbers imply that there
>are exactly eight transatlantic cables, or possibly fewer if some
>older ones have been retired?

That is indeed the case.  TAT-1 was only laid in 1956.  Transatlantic
telephone service started in 1927, but until 1956 used SSB radio.  The
first few cables have certainly been retired.  The early cables
carried a few dozen voice circuits, while TAT-8 has 40,000 and TAT-9,
to be placed in service next year (and which I observed under
construction at its western terminus last month) 80,000.

Regards,

John Levine, [e-mail], {spdcc|ima|world}!iecc!johnl

------------------------------

From: "Dell H. Ellison" <motcid![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: What is MFJ a TLA For?
Date: 21 Nov 90 15:32:40 GMT
Organization: Motorola Inc., Cellular Infrastructure Div., Arlington Hgts, IL


> OK, I give up.  What's MFJ a TLA (Three Letter Acronym) for?

An acronym is an abbreviation that makes a word (e.g. NASA, HUD,
MADD).  MFJ and TLA are just three letter abbreviations.


[Moderator's Note: But since when were 'nasa' and 'hud' actual words?
And since when was 'mad' spelled 'madd'?  Did you mean to say that
simple abbreviations convert to acronyms once people start pronouncing
the letter combination as they sound? In that case MFJ = muffjuh and
TLA = t'lah. So there!  :) True Acronyms: 'Zip' Code, as in <Z>one
<I>mprovement <P>lan; 'Care' was a charitable organization after World
War II, as in <C>ommittee on <A>merican <R>elief in <E>urope.  PAT]

------------------------------

From: "Craig R. Watkins" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Cellular Phones of the Future
Date: 22 Nov 90 21:12:59 EST
Organization: HRB Systems


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (John Higdon)
writes:

> Many people, regardless of cost, may not enjoy or be able
> to tolerate being 100% accessable 100% of the time. A pager provides a
> buffer to that availability. I know many people who carry both. I
> would, even if my cellular service was free.

People sometimes ask me why I have a handheld AND a pager.  I just
tell them that my (display) pager is my "answering machine."  They
tend to understand that and believe me.  I think I believe me, too.


Craig R. Watkins    Internet:    [e-mail]
HRB Systems, Inc.        Bitnet:        [e-mail]
[phone]        UUCP:        ...!psuvax1!hrbicf!crw

------------------------------

From: "Stephen J. Friedl" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Dealing with Telemarketers
Date: 21 Nov 90 06:04:54 GMT
Organization: VSI*FAX Tech Ctr, Tustin, CA


There have been various discussions about how to deal with
telemarketers, and John Higdon mentions that the game is quite
different for businesses than it is for people at home.  We get these
calls from people wanting to hit us up for the police athletic league
or disabled veterans or whatever all the time, but rather than be
combative or irritated that they have taken time out of our day, we
decided to make a game out of it for *our* fun.

Since we had gotten pretty good at recognizing these charities by the
way they asked for the callee, we made up a person who was in charge
of what they wanted: he was Mr. Szudsen.  The problem is, this person
was never in the office (darn!).  We were always prepared to take a
message, but of course they would always rather just call back later
(probably because they weren't summarily blown off and because they
had a real *name*).

So, whenever we got a call for Mr. Szudsen we got progressively more
interesting in the detailed explanation about why he was not in.
First he is just out of town for a day or two, then yachting to
Mexico, and so on, until he was on safari in Africa or assisting the
Contras in Nicaragua.  If you have somebody who has been really
persistent but seems ready to give up, say that he is accepting an
award from the President for outstanding volunteerism -- that should
keep them going for a while.

If you are not very good at determining these calls from the first
voice but you still want to have some fun, try this: fill out a
reader-service card from a magazine asking for some insurance
information or make a small donation to a police charity but be sure
to use Mr. Szudsen's name.  Now you have primed the pump and it is
just a matter of time.

This is more fun in a smaller office where everybody kicks in to
answer the phone, so you can all get turns on occasion.  You gotta
make sure that everybody knows about this person, and you gotta keep
from laughing.


Stephen J. Friedl, KA8CMY  /  3B2-kind-of-guy  /  Tustin, CA / 3B2-kind-of-guy
[phone]  / [e-mail]  / {uunet,attmail}!mtndew!friedl

------------------------------

From: "Owen M. Hartnett" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Telemarketing Sleezoids
Date: 20 Nov 90 03:41:16 GMT
Reply-To: "Owen M. Hartnett" <[e-mail]>
Organization: Brown University Department of Computer Science


Here's one to watch out for.  I got a call from a guy:

Hi, Mr. Hartnett, how're you doin' today?  {standard telemarketing opener}

{ whenever someone asks that - I know they're a salesman/woman }

You didn't get the extra premium on the last batch of computer ribbons
you ordered from us - a Sony clock radio - so we're sending it out
right away.  Someone from our shipping department will get back to you
and get the details as to where to send it.

{ At this point, I know he's a liar.  we buy *all* our ribbons from
a local guy. So I bite my tongue and hang on for the ride. }

Yes, sir, and we'll also put down oral approvals for your standard
offer...

{ I interrupt now: }

Are you trying to set me up with a printer order?

{ He slowly starts to lose it, then he goes overboard. }

No, no, we're just trying to adjust the gerbils and the frimjims ...
we need to know the exact size so you can fit them correctly up your ...

{ He hangs up }

Beware these guys, they often get a secretary.  We had a period where
we went through a new secretary once a week for about eight weeks.  I
think he nabbed them for about three orders.  We refused them,
naturally, but it's still a pain.


Owen Hartnett                [e-mail]
Brown University Computer Science    [e-mail]
                    uunet!brunix!omh

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 21 Nov 90 21:50:01 -0800
From: Steve Forrette <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Slick-96


Another problem with these "concentrators": most do not pass the CPC
signal upon disconnect.  According to a friend who works for US West,
the one specifically called "Slick-96" does deal with this, but the
others don't.  Apparently, it is quite a problem when they cut
existing lines over to one of the ones that doesn't handle CPC -- they
get all sorts of calls "My answering machine just runs and runs, and
doesn't detect when the caller hangs up like it used to."  US West's
attitude seems to be that it is not a "supported feature" of their
service.  If it works, great!  But if it stops one day, you'll just
have to do without.

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 20 Nov 1990 08:11 EDT
From: "Craig R. Watkins" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Headhunters and Voicemail (was: Dealing with Telemarketers)


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (John Higdon)
writes:

> All in all, anyone in business is deluged with junk calls all day
> long.  Investments, office products, insurance, invoice factoring,
> collection services, and charities of every manner and description are
> just some of the garbage that attempts to enter via the telephone.

You forgot headhunters!  There's even a recent twist.  Here's some
background: I work in PA.  I have a T1 to an office in MD where I have
a voice mailbox.  My unanswered calls go to my mailbox in MD (I am
seldom actually in MD).

On more than one occasion, I've had headhunters leave messages for me
on my mailbox (even while I was taking calls in PA).  I don't call
them back anymore, but the first time that I did, the guy clearly
thought I might be interested in a job in MD.  I'm guessing that these
guys are coming in over automated attendants and guessing at
extensions or spellings until they get mailboxes (there's no company
phonebook, etc, that even slightly implies that I might be reachable
in MD, nor does anyone know my mailbox number there but me).

Now I can ignore them fairly well; they're usually from Someone
Associates and tend to leave me a DC-area seven digit phone number.  I
suspect I could call them back and maybe shake them down, but I
haven't bothered yet.

Anyone heard of similar stuff lately?


Craig R. Watkins    Internet:    [e-mail]
HRB Systems, Inc.        Bitnet:        [e-mail]
[phone]        UUCP:        ...!psuvax1!hrbicf!crw

------------------------------

Subject: Re: Turning Off Call Waiting Remotely
Date: Wed, 21 Nov 90 23:43:29 EST
From: John Boteler <csense![e-mail]>


I have found that a great way to disable Call Waiting remotely is to
call the business office and cancel it!

That's the *best* anybody could ever do to that most obnoxious of
features!


John Boteler   bote@csense                {uunet | ka3ovk}!media!csense!bote
SkinnyDipper's Hotline: 703 241 BARE | VOICE only, Touch-Tone(TM) signalling

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V10 #840
******************************










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Date:     Thu, 22 Nov 90 23:22:05 CST
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
[To]:     [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V10 #841
BCC:
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Thu, 22 Nov 90 23:21:49 CST    Volume 10 : Issue 841

Inside This Issue:                         Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Funky Boundaries (was: Modifying the NANP?) [John Cowan]
    SL-1's and Answer Supervision [Marcel Mongeon]
    Telex Forwarding Service [John William Palmer]
    Telemarketing and my Productivity [Gary Skaggs]
    BRI to the Home: When? [Jim McCauley]
    Video Conferencing Products/Services [Jack Powers]
    Interested in "Home Switch" For Electrical Instead of Phone [Joe Konstan]
    Notes on Laurel Area in Maryland [Carl Moore]
    Establishing a UUCP Site [Tarek M. Sobh]
    Forwarded Call Information [Jeff Sicherman]
    Hunting, Terminals, and Business Office Bozos [John Boteler]
    Answering Machine Beeps But Does Not Take Message [Carl Moore]
    Unitel FacsRoute With Modems [Paul Gauthier]
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: John Cowan <[e-mail]>
Subject: Funky Boundaries (was: Modifying the NANP?)
Organization: The Logical Language Group, Inc.
Date: Mon, 19 Nov 90 16:58:33 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (VLD/VMB) writes:

[explanation of the shape of Area Code 409: a torus]

>[Moderator's Note: Carl, I think you might agree that 312/708 has some
>odd boundary lines also, with one small section of 312 completely
>surrounded by 708 at Ohare Airport and one section of 708 completely
>surrounded by 312 on the northwest side of Chicago in an area not
>actually in the city.  PAT]

This reminds me of a really weird case on the Dutch/Belgian border.
When the United Netherlands split up, the lands near the village of
Baarle were assigned based on the feudal landholder.  In medieval
times, it was common for different landholders to own widely scattered
plots rather than contiguous stretches of land.

As a result, there are thirteen enclaves of Belgian territory within
the main body of the Netherlands.  Seven of these enclaves contain
sub-enclaves of Dutch territory, and there is an additional Dutch
enclave within Belgium.  There are a lot of buildings divided between
two countries, and the main road crosses a frontier something like
eight times within a few miles (marked only by a flag by the
roadside).

Since Dutch and Belgian regulations for commercial enterprises differ
substantially, there are stores with two different inventories,
containing items that may not be legally bought on certain days (like
Sundays) in one country or the other.  In fact, the whole area is
pretty much one big shopping center for this reason.

Unfortunately, I don't know the telecom situation there.  Does anyone?
(Minor concession to the Digest's charter.)


[e-mail]            (aka ...!hombre!marob!cowan)

------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Marcel Mongeon)
Subject: SL-1's and Answer Supervision
Date: 20 Nov 90 23:49:02 GMT
Organization: The Joymarmon Group Inc.


For some time now, I have been trying to find out if I can get answer
supervision on my SL-1.  I'm in a Hotel environment and it would be a
heck of a lot fairer to the guests if I had supervision.

Bell Canada (through whom we get both service and the SL-1) have
advised me that they could probably give me reverse battery.  However,
they also tell me that the SL-1 can't handle it to produce the call
detail record.  Is this correct? Or is it just more of what I'm used
to hearing?

By the way, is anyone interested in setting up or being on a mailing
list to exchange SL-1 related information?  Seems to me that there
might be a number of SL-1 users out there that could use such a
support group.


Marcel D. Mongeon
e-mail:    ... (uunet, maccs)!joymrmn!root  or
                              joymrmn!marcelm

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 21 Nov 90 08:14:33 EST
From: John William Palmer <[e-mail]>
Subject: Telex Forwarding Service
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories


Does anyone know if there is a service that will take a telex sent
from the States to England, and then resend it from England to the
Continent with the return address on the last leg being the English
telex number?  A symmetric capability is desired for the return trip,
i.e., send to the English telex number and have it autoforward to the
States, but keep the sending telex address of the party on the
Continent.

Please respond via email.


Max Palmer

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 21 Nov 90 08:06:59 CST
From: Gary Skaggs <[e-mail]>
Subject: Telemarketing and my Poductivity
Organization: National Severe Storms Laboratory


HELP!

Our productivity around here has reached a new low.  (Many jokes about
government employees heard in background.)  But productivity is
currently being pushed even lower by the recent rash of
"Congratulations!  You've just won a trip to Hawaii! ... (much
deleted).  To claim your prize, call 1-900-xxx-xxxx. (Much more
deleted) (then, said rapidly)"... cost of the call $10.00"

Now here is the problem: We have a small 100 line PBX.  All the phones
ring directly to employees desks.  On the fourth ring, they forward to
group secretaries.  This insistent recording will not remove your
number from its list unless it talks you through the 1-900 number
(about 45 seconds)! (@$#%^^!!!)  Also, it takes about ten seconds for
it to get started, so most people just hang up, then it will call back
later.

To compound the problem, this is "use it or lose it" leave time of
year, so many phones are forwarded to two or three people and THIS
CURRENT MESSAGE IS DRIVING THEM NUTS!  Not to single out this one,
this is just the latest one.

I called MA, and she told me to write the Direct Marketing Association
to get our numbers on their do not call list.  Is there any other way
to short circuit this pain in the BUTT?

            H E L P ! ! !

Gary Skaggs    [e-mail]


[Moderator's Note: Indeed there is! Find out the name of the senior
executive at the company placing the calls. Call that person and
advise him you are going to sue him to make them stop calling your
office and harassing your employees. Than make it stick!   PAT]

------------------------------

From: Jim McCauley <[e-mail]>
Subject: BRI to the Home: When?
Date: 21 Nov 90 02:27:41 GMT
Organization: Hewlett Packard, Cupertino


I have been reading about ISDN in periodicals like {Network World} and
in trade books for some time.  Last year, I assessed the prospects for
BRI being made available to my home any time in the imaginable future,
and I made the only logical decision: I bought a 9600 baud modem.

Little has changed in the interim to convince me that meaningful
digital services will be made available to me by the gang at the other
end of my pair of wires (Pacific Bell).  By "meaningful digital
services," I mean:

    1. Basic rate interface
    2. Data interchange across switches (Signalling System 7)
    3. An inexpensive BRI --> 9600 baud serial interface
    4. A reasonable user interface for establishing data calls

I'm not asking for the moon here -- just circuit-switched 9600 baud
service (probably over the D channel).  I'd prefer packet switching if
it (and the interface) could be provided at a lower cost.  All I
really need is to hook up a terminal at home to a computer at work.
It might be very nice to have something fancier, like X Window
services at 128kbit/sec over a "strapped" pair of B channels, but I
could do with less.

Do any of you telephone wizards out there in cyberspace have any idea
when even such rudimentary services might be tariffed?


Jim McCauley    [e-mail]
Disclaimer: I speak the truth, but only on my own behalf.

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 21 Nov 90 10:08:57 PST
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Video Conferencing Products/Services


Another supplier of codecs:

Compression Labs
2305 Bering Drive, San Jose CA
Phone: [phone]

Sprint offers a service called Meeting Channel designed for
videoconferencing, using T1 access or satellite channels.

Both MCI and AT&T have announced switched T1 services recently.


Jack Powers
insert usual disclaimer here

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 21 Nov 90 10:10:03 PST
From: Joe Konstan <[e-mail]>
Subject: Interested in "Home Switch" for Electrical Instead of Phone


With all of the regular information about home key systems and mini
PBX's a topic came up in a discussion with someone remodeling his home
about similar equipment for electrical facilities.  Since the
technology is quite similar, and home wiring has been a topic here in
the past, I thought this might be a good place to query:

Idea:

1.  This would be a system to allow dynamic (probably computer
controlled, though hard jumpers would be an alternative) changes to a
house wiring to alterwhich lights and outlets are controlled by which
switches.  It should support two-way, three-way, etc connections of
switches and should probably handle at least 32 or 64 each of switches
and lights/outlets.

2.  This is not intended to be a remote-control facility (though I'd
be interested if that were provided) so probably the best thing is
software-controlled physical connections (hence the analogy with an
old telephone switch).

3.  The person who would program the connections is quite technically
able.  The other people in the house should just be using
lightswitches as before.

4.  No need to control everything in the house (i.e., anything
unswitched (or obvious like the garbage disposal) can either bypass
this or be configured once and left.

5.  The home is being rewired anyway (next month or two) so that is
not an obstacle.  Neither is price.

So, TELECOM-readers, any ideas?


Joe Konstan
[e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 21 Nov 90 13:52:04 EST
From: Carl Moore (VLD/VMB) <[e-mail]>
Subject: Notes on Laurel Area in Maryland


Presently in area 301:

Laurel 725,776,490,etc. is local to Washington (and the Pentagon in
Va.)  and the Md. suburbs in between, but not to other Virginia
points.  Exceptions for Laurel: 792 (etc.?) available for Baltimore
metro service, and 621 & 953 (etc.?) for Washington metro service.
(621 is called "Bowie-Glenn Dale service" and 953 is called "Berwyn
service".)

The next exchange up the U.S.1/I-95 corridor from Laurel going toward
Baltimore is 799 Waterloo, which is part of the Baltimore metro
exchanges.

 From what I have read (only here in Telecom), I assume that the
301/410 line will pass between Laurel and Waterloo.

------------------------------

From: "Tarek M. Sobh" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Establishing a UUCP Site
Date: 22 Nov 90 01:00:22 GMT
Reply-To: "Tarek M. Sobh" <[e-mail]>
Organization: University of Pennsylvania


Hi netters,

I would like to ask how can one "make" a UUCP site, in particular, I
have a PC and a modem, is it possible to have my home computer as a
UUCP site ?  What are the software, OS, tools ... etc that are needed
to do that, What are the costs incurred before and after establishing
the site ?

I would appreciate it if you can reply by email, I will post a summary
to the net.

Thanks in advance.


Tarek M. Sobh                            [e-mail]
Computer and Information Science Dept.   University of Pennsylvania


[Moderator's Note: Certainly your 'home computer' can be a UUCP site.
In fact, if you'd like the counsel of the administrator of what I
think is one of the finest privately-owned UUCP sites anywhere, you
should contact [e-mail]. I consider Chinet my 'home
system' for my personal netting. Randy Suess operates Chinet out of
one room in his apartment giving a full news feed, mail and a lot
more. If he can't advise you on setting something up, no one can!  PAT]

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 21 Nov 90 13:54:30 PST
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Forwarded Call Information


   In my latest PacBell bill there were two little flyers. One
described a service called Forwarded Call Information (FCI) which was
described as a facility that provided the telephone number called and
'other calling information' to telephone messaging systems, such as
voice mail services.  It acknowledged that in some cases this could
include the caller's phone number, which could be recorded/displayed
with special equipment. Does anyone know anything more about this? How
is it related to ANI? The flyer specifically states it is *not*
related to Caller ID.


Jeff Sicherman

------------------------------

Subject: Hunting, Terminals, and Business Office Bozos
Date: Wed, 21 Nov 90 17:07:26 EST
From: John Boteler <csense![e-mail]>


Why can't the Telephone Company get anything right?

Note the following example: seven business subscriber loops with two
hunting groups (not Centrex). First five in one group, the last two in
a separate group. Call the pilot number when it's busy, it hunts. Call
any of the other numbers in the group when busy, it hunts. OK, fine.

What did we do? Ask them to move the last two lines into the main hunt
group so that we end up with seven lines in one hunt group. Simple...

 ... until they tried to do it. Now,

o  all the numbers ID as the pilot number (probably set up
    as terminals,GRRRRR!),

o  only calls to the pilot number will hunt (calling any
    number other than the pilot number will not hunt
    when busy),

o  we have Call*Forwarding Variable on ALL the lines,
    which we didn't even order or want because
    it interferes with hunting!

Yes, we called from outside the hunt group to test, thank you.

After informing them of the erroneous order, we now have:

o  hunting the way we want it (originally),

o  Call*Forwarding Variable AND 3-Way*Calling on all lines,

o  but they all still ID as the pilot number.

Maybe if we keep complaining, we'll end up with all Custom Calling
features, all CLASS features, Centrex with no setup charge, and every
long distance provider as our default carrier, at no additional cost! :)

[Author's note: This is C&P Telephone; a Bell Atlantic Company]


John Boteler   bote@csense                {uunet | ka3ovk}!media!csense!bote
SkinnyDipper's Hotline: 703 241 BARE | VOICE only, Touch-Tone(TM) signalling
Audiotext mailing list: [e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 21 Nov 90 13:56:42 EST
From: Carl Moore (VLD/VMB) <[e-mail]>
Subject: Answering Machine Beeps But Does Not Take Message


Speaking of consumer-complaint lines:

A TV station in Philadelphia has a number which I called a while back
to get a recording.  The recording told me to mail my complaint in,
and also that the phone does not take messages!  There was a beep at
the end of the recording.  I see that the item about phone not taking
messages was put in to prevent (or as a result of?) people thinking
that it did indeed take messages and getting into arguments about it.

What is the meaning of the aforementioned beep?

------------------------------

From: Paul Gauthier <[e-mail]>
Subject: Unitel FacsRoute With Modems
Organization: Math, Stats & CS, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
Date: Thu, 22 Nov 1990 17:09:46 -0400


    The company I work for just held a joint conference locally
with Unitel and I was able to corner one of their reps to ask about
the use of Unitel's FacsRoute with modems. They say it will work
perfectly and don't mind in the least if you do it.

    For $9.99 a month (no installation fee!) you get a little
black box which goes between your modem/fax and the phone jack on the
wall.  When you make an outgoing LD call it dials in to a local Unitel
office and you are patched through to their network and your LD call
is completed by them. They claim savings of 40% over regular phone
rates. If you're making more than, say, $30 a month in LD calls to
Canada from within Canada (I think he said it offered discounts to
some US calls, not sure, call and ask) you really have nothing to lose
by giving it a try. I don't believe you are obligated to continue
using it if you ever find the service unsatisfactory.

    Drop a line here and let me know if you try it and how much
you save.


[e-mail]   [e-mail]    [e-mail]


[Moderator's Note: Can you please give us the number to call for
information on this service, with contact names if possible?   PAT]

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V10 #841
******************************










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Date:     Sat, 24 Nov 90 0:32:01 CST
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
[To]:     [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V10 #842
BCC:
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Sat, 24 Nov 90 00:31:27 CST    Volume 10 : Issue 842

Inside This Issue:                         Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Centel Dials For Caller ID [TELECOM Moderator]
    Special Issue This Weekend: Test Numbers [TELECOM Moderator]
    US Sprint Offers Conference Calling [George S. Thurman]
    Unlimited Calling Expanded in Delaware [Ken Weaverling]
    Voice Cards for PC/ATs [Michael A. Shiels]
    New AT&T Promotion: Quality Connections [TELECOM Moderator]
    Need Figures on Growth of Fax Machines in USA [David A. Nchia]
    Re: FAX Machine at Home: Options for Incoming Transmissions [Joel Snyder]
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Fri, 23 Nov 90 0:08:03 CST
From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Subject: Centel Dials For Caller ID


The opening battle in the Illinois dispute over Caller ID began here
this past week when Central Telephone Company filed a tariff to begin
offering the service, as well as another service that blocks the ID.

Centel acknowledged it is offering both Caller ID and blocking to
placate critics of Caller ID. As we all know, some people believe that
Caller ID is a violation of the caller's privacy, particularly for
those who are paying extra to have unlisted phone numbers.

Bill Hart, a spokesman for Central Telephone Co. in suburban Park
Ridge and Des Plaines, IL -- a division of Centel Corp. -- said "We
think it is important to offer ID blocking and to make it free. We're
doing it to protect people's privacy."

For those readers not familiar with Central Telephone, it is a small
telephone company serving two Chicago suburbs and a small part of the
northwest side of Chicago. Illinois Bell serves the vast majority of
northeastern Illinois, and all of Chicago except for the one small
area whose phone office is known as `Chicago-Newcastle'. Central
Telephone also serves small portions of Glenview and Northbrook, IL
not served by IBT.

Illinois Bell and GTE of Illinois, the other telco serving large parts
of Illinois want to introduce Caller ID also, but without the option
of blocking the ID. A spokeswoman for Illinois Bell said the company's
position is that allowing ID blocking cripples the benefits of Caller
ID. She asked, "Why would anyone subscribe to Caller ID if the calling
party could defeat it?" A spokeswoman for GTE echoed the same
sentiments.  Both IBT and GTE intend to file their Caller ID tariffs
with the Illinois Commerce Commission by the end of December.

Neither company has decided how to deal with the problem of Centel
blocking the ID on request. This question is particularly relevant to
IBT since calls from the northwest side of Chicago to Centel territory
are handled as 'local, untimed calls' despite the different area code
and the different telco.  IBT feels Caller ID will be 'almost useless'
to *their* customers in Chicago-Newcastle if half or more of the local
traffic (i.e. the local stuff from Centel's Chicago-Newcastle) coming
in can block their ID at the customer's request.

The Centel spokesman said "In all probability the Illinois Commerce
Commission will consolidate the dockets and hear the matter regarding
all telcos in Illinois as one ... we expect the ruling will come in
three to four months, with Caller IO becoming available sometime
around April, 1991. We are prepared to 'turn it on' as soon as the
tariff is approved."

Centel's tariff calls for a charge of $4 per month for the
transmission of Caller ID. The associated customer equipment would be
offered for sale at $60 per unit. Blocking would be offered completely
free of charge, with a choice of default conditions: always block,
except pass ID when a two-digit code is prepended to the number
dialed; or never block, except block ID when a two digit code is
prepended to the number.

I'll provide a update on the situation here when more news is
available.


Patrick Townson

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 23 Nov 90 0:14:26 CST
From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Subject: Special Issue This Weekend: Test Numbers


David Leibold has sent us a lengthy file listing special prefixes and
test numbers for various locations throughout the USA and Canada. Not
all communities are listed, but quite a bit of information is
available in this file.

I'll be transmitting it sometime Saturday.

Another large file has come to the Digest from Jeff Sicherman which
provides a detailed overview of the GEnie service. Some could argue
that it is essentially an advertisement for GEnie, but it seems to be
a worthwhile reference document which explains the service in detail.
I am placing this file directly in the Telecom Archives for interested
readers. It will be available in the archives sometime over the
weekend in the main directory.

Thanks to both Jeff and David for these contributions.


Patrick Townson

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 23 Nov 90 20:31 GMT
From: George S Thurman <[e-mail]>
Subject: US Sprint Offers Conference Calling


Those super-innovative folks at US SPRINT have done it again !!  They
now offer the ability to make conference calls on thier Network.  The
service is available at no extra charge until February 16, 1991, when
there will be a 75 cent surcharge if you use this feature with your
FONCARD(sm).

The new service will be known as QUICKCONFERENCE(sm), and instructions
are as follows:

After you establish a connection with your first party, depress the
"*" followed by 12. This brings an additional Sprint dial tone.  Dial
the number of the next party. (Do NOT dial "0").  Depress "*" again
followed this time by 13.  You are now connected! To drop the
additional party, or if the additional party's number is busy, dial
"*" followed by 14.

Important note:

When entering the "*", always depress the key for at least one full
second. The system may sometimes have trouble hearing the "*" if there
is a lot of background noise at the other party's location.

Leave it to US SPRINT to start this kind of service.  Now ... if only
US SPRINT could do something about their Customer Service.


G. S. Thurman
[e-mail]

------------------------------

From: Ken Weaverling <[e-mail]>
Date: Fri, 23 Nov 1990 14:49:28 EST
Subject: Unlimited Calling Expanded in Delaware


 From reading the Digest, I get the impression that unlimited local
calling is on the wane around the nation. However, the reverse is
happening in Delaware (Diamond State Tel, Bell Altantic).

The unlimited calling area will soon be expanded to county wide
(Delaware has three counties) with discussion of someday moving
towards unlimited calling area expanding the entire state!

Of course, the phone company is not doing this out of the goodness of
their hearts. Their arms were twisted cause their profit margins were
too high apparently (we have been enjoying a temporary rate adjustment
for several months which will soon disappear).

My latest bill lists these charges:

Unlimited calling charge $3.00
Unlisted Tel #            1.50
Touch Tone service        1.40
Dial Tone                 8.10
Fed Line Cost Charge      3.50

The total for my last phone bill with everything added in was $177.87
less $32.89 for the "temporary adjustment" (The $177 figure included
two line installations of $56 each.)

Since I never call down state, I'd prefer to keep the adjustment. Oh
well...


>>>---> Ken Weaverling  >>>---->  [e-mail]

------------------------------

Subject: Voice Cards for PC/ATs
Reply-To: "Michael A. Shiels" <tmsoft![e-mail]>
Organization: MaS Network Software and Consulting
Date: 22 Nov 90 22:43:41 EST (Thu)
From: tmsoft![e-mail]


I would like to find out what types of hardware there is available for
AT bus machines which has a programmable interface.  Something like
the cards INTEL uses for it's FAXBACK service.

Thanks.

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 23 Nov 90 0:40:19 CST
From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Subject: New AT&T Promotion: Quality Connections


AT&T has started a new promotion called 'Qaulity Connections' which
offers a rebate on selected AT&T equipment in direct proportion to the
amount of long distance service one uses.

The two products currently being offered are the Answering System
Model 1125 (normally $129.96) and the Cordless Telephone Model 5325
(normally $179.88).

You buy either of these products by mail, making twelve monthly
installments of $10.83 each for the answering machine or $14.99 each
for the cordless phone. Your monthly installment payments are reduced
by an amount of money equal to ten percent of your long distance bill
for the month prior up to a maximum of fifty percent of the monthly
installment.

Example: You buy the cordless phone in twelve installments of $14.99
each. You use $70 in long distance service. Your installment payment
is credited with $7, meaning the final purchase price is fifty percent
of the original amount.

It seems to me it would be easier to administer such a premium
incentive program by merely saying that if a person spends at least
$700 per year in long distance they get a certificate allowing them to
buy an answering machine or cordless phone at half price.

They also add a 'gotcha': if you move out of your current billing area
then you 'may' have to pay the accelerated balance due in full.

For more information on this new promotion: 1-800-242-1003, ext. 6222.

Has anyone other than me been receiving *lots* of mail from AT&T
lately pushing answering machines, cordless phones and regular phones?
They have several different models, all of which seem to be on sale or
available under some special offer. It is as if they are trying to get
out of the equipment business once and for all.


Patrick Townson

------------------------------

From: David A Nchia <[e-mail]>
Subject: Need Figures on Growth of Fax Machines in USA
Organization: The Ohio State University
Date: Thu, 22 Nov 90 22:42:38 GMT


    I am in need of references to any study(ies) that contains
figures on the total number of fax machines that were available in the
US for any given year. I am particularly interested in studies that
give such figures for ten years or more. A ideal source would be one
that gives these figures from, for example, 1970 to present, without
skipping a year. What I am interested in are ACTUAL ESTIMATES, not
PROJECTIONS or PROJECTED SALES.

If you have any references that may be of help or know someone, some
organization where I can find this info, please send me a message.
Thanks for your assistance.


David Nchia, Dept of Comunication, The Ohio State Univ,  205 Derby Hall,
Columbus, OH 43210          Internet: [e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 21 Nov 1990 23:02:45 MST
From: <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: FAX Machine at Home: Options for Incoming Transmissions


Telecom readers:

A week ago, I posted a query about FAX machines at home, and options
for incoming transmissions.  Many thanks to those of you who
responded.  The following is my original message, with substantial
comments from the responses.

Thanks to:

Tad Cook    ([e-mail])
Dave Burke    ([e-mail])
Brian G. Gordon    ([e-mail])
David Cornutt    ([e-mail])
Jeff Sicherman     ([e-mail])
Brent Chapman    ([e-mail])
Rahul Dhesi     ([e-mail])
Nathan Engle     ([e-mail])
        ([e-mail])


I am facing a problem which I believe that several of you have already
faced, and many of you will soon: the proliferation of things-that-
use-the-phone.

Having invested in a FAX modem, I now need some way to receive FAX
transmissions at home.  There are five distinct options.

1. Get an extra telephone line.  This is clearly the most desirable,
but is also the most expensive.  A $50 to $100 fee, plus a monthly
fixed expense of $10 to $20 per month (note: all rates are given with
a midpoint of the cost quoted me by US West or local merchants).

A number of readers wrote in to say that this was, in fact, the only
way to go.

2. Get distinctive ringing. This has multiple names: Custom Ringing,
RingMate, Smart Ring, RingMaster, and Identa Ring all came up.  The
service is simple: you have two telephone numbers (let's call them A
and B), but only one line.  Calls to number A ring differently from
number B.  (some readers noted that this service is not yet
universally available.)

The key here is that you can get a box which will route calls to one
jack or another (that is, voice phone or FAX machine) based on the
ringing.  Downsides: the $100 box; you can't use both devices at once;
a monthly fee of $2 to $7 (plus possible installation fees of about
$10 to $20, although US West has a "special" until December 5).

Several boxes were suggested.  The Autoline Plus from ITS
Communications (800-333-0802) is available for $150, and supports
three devices.  The Ring Director is available from Hello Direct
(800-444-3556) and does the same thing for $100, but only supports two
devices.  It has been suggested that the Autoline Plus can be had for
about $80, via some astute negotiation with the manufacturer.

3. No telco change, but get FAX/voice box.  It seems that some FAX
machines send a tone called CNG when they are calling.  Note that this
is different from modems, where the originating modem is silent until
the answering modem says something.  What this FAX feature means is
that one could build a box to distinguish between the two.  Several
people already have (any suggestions as to which one?)  for $60 to
$100 which picks up the phone and listens for CNG tones, passing the
call to the FAX if it detects CNG and to the phone/answering machine
if not.  Downsides: similar to (2), although there is no recurring
charge.

This option was most often labelled as A Bad Thing.  The way these
boxes work is that they pick up the phone immediately (thus completing
the call, and starting charges to the calling party), and then
simulate a ringing noise while listening for the CNG tone.  Actually,
the cheapest of the boxes don't even simulate ringing; they just pick
up and listen.

The problem is, as always, that not all FAX machines generate CNG.
First, there are a set of machines that don't generate CNG tones.
Second, it seems that CNG tones are only generated on AUTODIAL calls.
I tested our department's FAX, and this seems to be true: if I load
the number into the auto-dialer, it makes noise after dialing.  If I
dial the number in the way which we dial 99.9% of our calls, no CNG
tones come out.

I didn't collect vendor names for these; there seem to be several
dozen out there.

4. Call Directors.  This is actually a variation on (3).  Some boxes
immediately answer the phone, and begin talking "If you are sending a
FAX, press 1 now..."  Then, the box listens for either CNG or DTMF
"1," switching to the FAX box if either comes out.

This seems to be somewhat better than (3), since for manual dial
calls, if the caller has the presence of mind to press "1," it works
fine.

These boxes seem to be substantially more expensive than the CNG
detecting boxes.  CNG boxes are available for about $80 (I found one
at our local Office Club); the talking flavor seem to be about $150 to
$200

5. Null hypothesis.  No changes.  Downsides: you have to pre-arrange
whenever you expect to receive a FAX.  But, it's CHEAP!

No one liked this idea.

My answer?  I will be getting distinctive ringing and a detector box.
A second line, if it had no installation fee, would really be price
competitive (16 month payback is a LONG time in this game).  There
were too many unhappy answers about CNG detector boxes.  I also wasn't
happy about the extra money for a talking CNG detector, plus having a
machine answer my home phone didn't thrill me.

Thanks again for all your help with this!


Joel M Snyder, The Mosaic Group, 627 E Speedway, 85705  Phone: [phone]
(University of Arizona, Dep't of MIS, Eller Graduate School of Management)
BITNET: jms@arizmis  Internet: [e-mail]  SPAN: 47541::uamis::jms

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V10 #842
******************************










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Date:     Sat, 24 Nov 90 1:50:11 CST
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
[To]:     [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V10 #843
BCC:
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Sat, 24 Nov 90 01:49:52 CST    Volume 10 : Issue 843

Inside This Issue:                         Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Re: Unitel FacsRoute With Modems [Paul Gauthier]
    Re: Unitel FacsRoute With Modems [Scott Campbell]
    Re: America On-Line Beta Test: Your Help Wanted! [Mark Steiger]
    Re: Interested in "Home Switch" for Electrical Instead of Phone [D. Cantor]
    Re: Forwarded Call Information [Laird P. Broadfield]
    Re: Answering Machine Beeps But Does Not Take Message [John Higdon]
    Re: Sources For Catalogs [Jeff Wilkinson]
    Re: A Phone Set Wiring Question [Jeff Wilkinson]
    Re: New Area Codes and Intl. Dialling [[e-mail]]
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Paul Gauthier <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Unitel FacsRoute With Modems
Organization: Math, Stats & CS, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
Date: Fri, 23 Nov 1990 12:58:05 -0400


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Paul
Gauthier) writes:

[40% reduction in LD for $9.99/month from Unitel Canada]

>[Moderator's Note: Can you please give us the number to call for
>information on this service, with contact names if possible?   PAT]

I have a business card from the gentleman I was speaking with:

 J. Michael Curry
 [Account Representitive]

 Business: [phone]
 Fax: [phone]

 He is in the Halifax office.


[e-mail]    [e-mail]   [e-mail]

------------------------------

From: Scott Campbell <skypod![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Unitel FacsRoute With Modems
Organization: Skypod Communications Inc., Toronto, Ontario
Date: Fri, 23 Nov 90 05:03:41 GMT


>In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Paul
>Gauthier) writes:

>>  A Canadian Company has recently begun to offer a special reduced
>>rate to fax users. The user pays only a small monthly fee ($10, I
>>think) and receives a little black box which attaches to their fax
>>machine.  .... <much stuff deleted>

>>  Does anyone know if such services actually detect and interpret fax
>>protocol to decide whether to axe the call?

I spoke to someone at Unitel today in their service department.  He
told me that the little box detects whether it is a voice call or a
modem call.  If the black box decides you are talking on the data
line, it just kicks you off. (I didn't think to ask him about the case
where you have one fax operator doing a voice request because of a
problem.)

Apparently, modems up to 2400 baud will be counted as a fax by the box
so you could use it as a data line.  However, high speed modems, he
said, caused problems; the box would sometimes confuse the data as
voice and just boot you.  The Courier HST was one in particular that
had problems.  He did not seem to know for sure about the Telebit PEP.

If anyone has any experience at all in this, I would really like to
hear it.


Scott J.M. Campbell           [e-mail]
Skypod Communications Inc.    [phone]
57 Charles St. West, #1310    Toronto, Ontario
  {problem|becker|torag|nyama}!skypod!scott

------------------------------

From: Mark Steiger <[e-mail]>
Date: Thu Nov 22 90 at 13:44:30 (CST)
Subject: Re: America On-Line Beta Test: Your Help Wanted!


Ummm ... America Online is NOT a new service.  I've been a member for
almost two years.  It used to be called AppleLink until about one year
ago.  Then called America Online (Or AOL for short or AO for shorter).
It was changed to that name because MAC's started coming on to the
service too.  Now we must accept the on-slaught of IBM's. You wanna
see some protesting, look in some of the essage bases on AOL.  Not
very many people want IBM invading AOL.  But it does look like PCLink
will be discontinued and combined in with AOL.

I don't know.  Just my $.02 worth. :)


[ Mark Steiger, Sysop, The Igloo 218/262-3142  300/1200/2400/9600 (HST/Dual)]

ProLine.:penguin@gnh-igloo          America Online: Goalie5
UUCP....:crash!gnh-igloo!penguin    MCI Mail......: MSteiger
Internet:[e-mail]  ARPA....:crash!gnh-igloo![e-mail]

------------------------------

Subject: Re: Interested in "Home Switch" for Electrical Instead of Phone
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Date: Fri, 23 Nov 90 10:26:57 -0800
From: "David G. Cantor" <[e-mail]>


In TELECOM Digest, Volume 10, Issue 841 Joe Konstan asks for:

> An electrical control system for a home to allow [inter alia]
> in a home being rewired ... dynamic (probably computer
> controlled, though hard jumpers would be an alternative)
> changes to a house wiring to alter which lights and outlets
> are controlled by which switches.

Such a system, which also has remote control capabilities, already
exists.  It is called X10 and is available at places like Radio Shack,
various Building supply centers, etc. A commercial, but completely
compatible version, with many more and higher quality devices is sold
by PCC (Powerline Control Components) of Advanced Control
Technologies, Inc.800-229-7878, in Indianapolis, Indiana.  PCC used to
be a subsidiary of Leviton, Inc.

Signalling is done over the power lines, using 121 kHz signals super-
imposed at the zero-crossing of the 60 Hz power.

It provides for up to 256 "devices".  An rs232 connection is
available, and a computer, so connected, can do a variety of things,
including all of the obvious controlling and also signal translating
(this can be used to efffectively change the device a switch
controls).  X10 supports dimming, relays, individual circuits and
switches for one, two, or four devices as well as controller boxes
with support for four, eight, sixteen, and 256 devices, etc. Remote
controllers (both infrared and radio) are available.  Both hard-wired
and plug-in devices are available.  Devices are available for 120
volts, 208 volts and 240 volts.  For the most part prices are quite
(in my opinion) reasonable.

It's primary weakness is security.  As it comes, any controller on the
same power secondary (e.g., one operated by the neighbors' children)
can talk to a device.  When rewiring, as in this situation, the
solution is simple: Insert a 1-1 isolation transformer between the
electrical panel feeding the circuits to be controlled and the main
power in.  This completely isolates the X10 devices.  Note that it
isn't necessary to put the really heavy loads on this transformer.
Heating, drying, electric stoves and ovens, etc. can be fed from
another panel, not so isolated, and be controlled, if necessary, by
relays powered from the isolated panel.  In any case, such isolation
for sensitive circuits is not a bad idea in any home!

For many years, I have used such a system, in a small way, to control
all of my computer components (i. e., my laser printer, my various
external disk drives, etc.) and it has worked well.  I don't have the
usual mess of power cords going to a central switching point.  Each is
plugged into a plug-in control-relay plugged into an outlet near the
device.  In this case isolation is provided by power-line lowpass
filters (also sold by PCC).  I connect two isolated lines (on
different circuit breakers) using a 1 microfarad, 600 volt capacitor.


David G. Cantor    Department of Mathematics  University of California
Los Angeles, CA 90024-1555                Internet:  [e-mail]

------------------------------

From: "Laird P. Broadfield" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Forwarded Call Information
Date: 23 Nov 90 20:07:48 GMT


In <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Jeff Sicherman)
writes:

>   In my latest PacBell bill there were two little flyers. One
>described a service called Forwarded Call Information (FCI) which was
>described as a facility that provided the telephone number called and
>'other calling information' to telephone messaging systems, such as
>voice mail services.  It acknowledged that in some cases this could
>include the caller's phone number, which could be recorded/displayed
>with special equipment.

Hrrrmmm.  Here we have a service called "SMDI" (Simplified Message
Desk Interface) to connect our voicemail system to our Centrex
service.  We receive over the SMDI (serial data through line-drivers)
"forwarded-from" data whenever a call is forwarded on a ring-no-answer
or busy-no-answer, and call-from data when an *internal* line dials
the voice-mail's pilot number.  We do not get information about the
originator of the call, though I wish we did.  (I can just imagine it;
at the end of the message, the voice-mail voice comes on and says
"This rude message was left by an outside caller, calling from fower
oh wun fyve fyve fyve wun tew wun tew.")

When I spoke with a PacBell technoid last week, I asked if I could
forward my home line (I live in the same CO as work) to the voice-mail
system, and have the forwarded-from info go to the box.  He replied
that it would not, since my home number was not "marked" as part of
the Centrex group, and that they could not perform that marking due to
tarriffs.  However, I could put another line into my residence, which
_would_ be a Centrex line, forward my #1 residential line to that,
forward that to the voice-mail, etc.

(Note: I am in So-Cal (619) and didn't get that note in my residential
bill (yesterday).  I wonder if it comes next month, or only to
business, or ... )


Laird P. Broadfiel
UUCP: {akgua, sdcsvax, nosc}!crash!lairdb
INET: [e-mail]

------------------------------

Subject: Re: Answering Machine Beeps But Does Not Take Message
Date: 23 Nov 90 11:54:21 PST (Fri)
From: John Higdon <[e-mail]>


Carl Moore (VLD/VMB) <[e-mail]> writes:

> What is the meaning of the aforementioned beep?
> [on a machine that announces that it does not record messages from
> callers]

This beep is your signal that the TV station in question is too cheap
or lazy to obtain an answering device that has an "announce-only"
function. The "standard" mechanical outgoing-only high-volume
telephone announcer used to be the Code-a-Phone 111. It had a built-in
6 minute tape that would immediately rewind when the caller hung up,
even in the middle of the announcement. But this turkey cost $1,000,
so it was never really popular. It also had about a 100,000-call MTBF.

Another favorite trick (among broadcasters) is to buy one of the
various "telephone controllers" for about 100 bucks to operate an
almost-junked cart machine. This setup transforms old garbage into a
pretty good-sounding high-volume answer-only system. One station I
knew went so far as to have a homemade controller start the cart
machine and then on cue from the cart machine start an Ampex 351 to
record the caller's message. Bought new, this would be a $10,000
answering machine.  But you couldn't beat the quality!

There are, of course, many answering machines on the market that can
do announce-only. Most of them, however, would fall apart rapidly in
high-volume service. And they may not be available as broadcast
advertising trade-out.


John Higdon <[e-mail]> (hiding out in the desert)

------------------------------

From: Jeff Wilkinson <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Sources For Catalogs
Organization: Medtronic Inc, Minneapolis MN
Date: Fri, 23 Nov 90 23:05:44 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (adam mottershead)
writes:

>I am looking the the address and/or phone numbers to obtain catalogs
>from AT&T and Bellcore.

The BellCore Catalog of Technical Information is available from the
BellCore Customer Service Hotline at 1-800-521-CORE (2673).  According
to the catalog instructions, the menu response is a 2 for non-BellCore-
ites.


Jeff Wilkinson             [e-mail]
Medtronic, Inc.
7000 Central Ave NE        Voice [phone]
My opinions are my own. Isn't that obvious by now?

------------------------------

DFrom: Jeff Wilkinson <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: A Phone Set Wiring Question
Organization: Medtronic Inc, Minneapolis MN
Date: Fri, 23 Nov 90 18:56:38 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> hpubvwa!ssc![e-mail].
washington.edu writes:

>In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Rich
>Zellich) writes:

>> On hooking up various phones I, too, found that one single-line phone
>> would take *both* lines off-hook.  This is a "novelty" phone - a

>The problem is, you have a phone that uses the outer pair
>(black/yellow wires) for the A and A1 leads, which short together when
>you go off hook.  You have this plugged into an RJ14 jack, which has
>the second line wired to the outer pair.  When the phone goes off
>hook, it uses the line hooked to the center pair, and shorts the outer
>pair.

It's also pretty common to ghost power in on the yellow/black for
lighted dials (like Princess phones).  Since the phone mentioned is a
novelty phone, it _may_ be looking for power on this pair.  The need
for power would probably be a fairly low impedance on this pair
(switched or unswitched) and would then take the second line off hook.
It seems to me that the wall transformer typically used for dial
lights was a 12VAC output.  Any IR's want to confirm or deny that?

>Rewire the jack so that only the red/green pair is active.  This will
>make it a standard RJ11 jack.  Then take the separate black/yellow
>pair, and wire it to the center pair (red green) of another jack.  The
>RJ14 type wiring should only be used with a two line phone that is wired
>for RJ14.

If that's the case, the best thing to do might be to rewire the jacks
as suggested above, but provide power on yellow/black for both jacks.
This will allow any single line phone to work on either jack, with or
without lights, etc.  Dual line phones still need two operational
pairs, of course.


Jeff Wilkinson    [e-mail]   Medtronic, Inc.
7000 Central Ave NE              Voice [phone]
 My opinions are my own. Isn't that obvious by now?

------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: New Area Codes and Intl. Dialling
Date: 23 Nov 90 21:42:51 +1100
Organization: The University of Melbourne


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Olivier Giffard)
writes:

> I've just tried to dial a number in the 917 area code (non existent
> yet) from France. I got a French intercept message just after dialing
> the 7 of 917 saying that this code was not in service. What means has
> a switch in France to know that. There must be some kind of table to
> look up in; but then how is it updated?  In particular I'm wondering
> whether area code 917 will be available from France the very second it
> is put in service. I suppose there must be some kind of cooperation
> between ?BellCore? and foreign Telecom companies?  Can anyone comment
> on this?

In Australia we used to get a nice OTC (international carrier) message
which ran "We think you have dialled an incorrect country or area
code. Please check the number before you try again."  Now Telecom
Australia intercepts with a bored recording: "The number you have
dialled is not connected.  Please check the number before calling
again."  This is exactly the same message you get if you misdial a
local or LD call.

Why is there an intercept?  So the company which catches the wrong
number does not have to foot the bill for bandwidth to find out the
number is not connected.  Invalid area codes are the simplest to
check, since they change slowly, and there is a relatively small
number of valid possibilities.

After London split from 01 into 071 and 081 OTC implemented a full
conversion table, so dialling +44 1 xxx will tell you whether to dial
71 or 81.  If you dial the wrong one, you also get the correct
intercept.  For most prefixes the intercept comes in after three
prefix digits, for some only two are needed.

Try dialling 19 44 81 603 xxxx, and see if you get a French intercept.
I bet you will.


Danny


[Moderator's Note: I just now tried it from Chicago, USA. It accepted
the entire number (that is, 011-44-81-603-four more), and the response
to me on each of several attempts was the same recorded announcement:
You call cannot be completed by the telephone company in the country
you are calling at this time. Please try your call again later."
Interestingly, my call had left Chicago, gotten out of the USA and was
sitting in limbo somewhere. Instead of playing the French recording to
me, when AT&T heard something 'go wrong' over there, it yanked the
connection back and played an English language message instead.  PAT]

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V10 #843
******************************










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Date:     Sat, 24 Nov 90 16:00:26 CST
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
[To]:     [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest Guide: Special Prefixes/Numbers
BCC:
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Sat, 24 Nov 90 16:00:00 CST    Guide to Special Prefixes

Inside This Issue:                         Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    TELECOM Digest Guide to Special Prefixes/Numbers [David Leibold]
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: woody <contact![e-mail]>
Subject: TELECOM Digest Guide to Special Prefixes/Numbers
Date: Sat, 24 Nov 90 00:28:08 EST


         TELECOM Digest Guide to Special Prefixes/Numbers
         ------------------------------------------------

1st edition 20 November 1990

This is a summary of various numbers and exchanges that are a
departure from the garden-variety residential or business phone
prefixes/numbers.

Basically, the following types of numbers/NXX prefixes are described:

* Announcement/ESP: These are special prefixes containing recorded pay
  announcements or conference lines. 976 is the most familiar of the
  prefixes. Charges may vary according to the specific number dialed,
  or there may be NPAs that charge a set rate for any 976 or special
  prefix number.

* ANI: When ANI numbers are dialed, a synthesised voice speaks out the
  telephone number calling them.

* Ringback: when dialed, a ringback number will often get a dial tone
  than cannot be "broken" by dialing. A few tests may then be
  available, although this can vary from place to place:

     - dialing test may be done by dialing in 1234567890; when the
       sequence is complete, the tone may briefly change (or two
       short, different tones may be heard) to indicate that the
       dialing was received correctly.

     - ringback may be triggered by dialing a '6' into the dial
       tone then hanging up; after a short time, the ringback will
       ring the phone and a tone is provided when answered.

     - sometimes, ringback is done by flashing switch-hook upon
       the unbreakable dial tone; a different tone is then heard;
       the phone is then placed on-hook, then the ringback should
       occur shortly.

   Note that there may be some difficulty in clearing away the ringback
   condition. When finished the testing, place the phone back on hook
   for about 15 seconds to allow things to clear. The process may have
   to be repeated, by taking the phone off-hook, then leaving it back
   on-hook for several seconds.


In General ---

844 used to be reserved for time announcement purposes. However, it
seems that 844 is more likely to be a regular service exchange these
days.  Another exchange (936?) used to be reserved for weather years
ago as well.

958 prefix will generally be reserved for tests, although it has been
known to be used as a regular prefix. In 809, it would represent a
normal Montego Bay, Jamaica number. In at least one area, pagers are
on the 958 prefix.

959 and 970 are other common test prefixes.

976 is reserved for toll announcement services (though it's possible
that there could be regular phone numbers assigned to 976 in some
NPAs).

Often, there may be special or test exchanges in the 55x, 57x, 95x,
97x or 99x series of prefixes, though this obviously varies according
to the telco and region involved.

200 is another frequently occurring code for tests, as in 1 200 xxx
xxxx or 1 200 xxxx or simply 200 xxxx. Again, this will depend on the
jurisdiction involved.

This listing is not as organised as it probably should have been; it
was left as raw data mainly due to time crunch on my end.  If anyone's
message was missed, it could be because of net mail problems; mail
jams can happen from time to time. Please re-send any info you have if
you don't see it here, or haven't heard any acknowledgement.

Contributions and corrections are welcome at [e-mail].
Thanks go to those who contributed; their names appear with their
respective contributions.


================

 Date:    Tue, 23 Oct 1990 04:18:00 EDT
 From:    Andy Jacobson <[e-mail]>
 Subject: Test lines, ANI and ringback for GTE part of 213


GTE Bay Division Access Codes.

(West L.A./ Santa Monica Ca. 213 area) Note: I dont know what ACO
stands for.

CLLI            Prefix  Switch type  ACO
BELRCAXF        471     GTD-5        790
                472
                476
WLANCAXH        820     EAX2         717
                207
                442
                826
WLANCAXH        828     GTD-5        719
                829
                453
                315
PDRYCAXF        827     1ESS         793
                301
                305
                306
                578
PDRYCAXF        821     1EAX         793
                822
                823
CLCYCAXG        313     GTD-5        748
                390
                391
                397
                398
PCPLCAXF        454     GTD-5        762
                459
SNMNCAXG        319     1ESS         778
                383
                394
                395
                451
                458
SNMNCAXJ        450     DMS100       727
                452
                392
                396
                399
                314
TPNFCAXF        455     GTD-5        786
WLANCAXJ        208     1ESS         789
                209
                824
                825
                443
                794
WLANCAXF        270     GTD-5        790
                312
                444
                473
                477
                479
                441
                478
                445
WLANCAXG        279     2EAX         792
                446
                470
                474
                475

SWITCH      ANI            RINGBACK
2EAX        114            dial your 7 dig.#, get clicking, hangup
1ESS        1223           195 + last 5 digits,flash once, hangup
GTD-5       114            dial your 7 dig.#, get tone, hangup
DMS100      114            113 + your 7 digits,flash once, hangup
5ESS        1223           117 + last 4 digits, flash once, hangup

Other test lines:

600OHM 1007Hz tone: Prefix + 0002
900OHM silent termination: Prefix + 9297
Reverse Battery: 213-478-1478

VRS Test system Access:

ACO's 717,793,727, use 800-325-1647
ACO's 719,762,786,778, use 800-423-7526
ACO's 706,789,790,748, use 800-222-6978

===============

 Date:   Mon, 22 Oct 90 22:11:50 EDT
 From:   convex!kf5iw![e-mail] (Jim Blocker)
 Subject: Re: Special Exchanges List: Request For Data


Test numbers in Carrollton, Texas (GTE) for 214-306:

   ANI:  970
   1 khz (102 test set?) test tone:  958-1020


Test numbers in Dallas, Texas (Southwestern Bell) for 214-996:

   ANI:  970-2222222

Jim Blocker  KF5IW
[e-mail]

===========

 Date:   Thu, 18 Oct 1990 23:07:00 EDT
 From:   [e-mail] (Gordon Burditt)
 Subject: Re: Special Exchanges List: Request For Data


Area code 817, Fort Worth, Texas (info from the July 1990-91 phone book):

976-    The usual bunch of slime

703-    Special Information Delivery Services that don't qualify for 976
        Blocked by default - you must request access
        Not billed through SWBT
        "adult" and "live" (non-recorded) programs

I've never seen a 703 number advertised, nor am I inclined to call
one.  This is an EXCHANGE, not an area code.

1-411 (Local) / 1-817-555-1212 (Toll) Directory Assistance

334-2015 Operation Sun Devil (Secret Service)

496-2900 Free audiotext service with 10-page list of 4-digit codes for
        news, market reports, sports, 900 number index, entertainment,
        law, health, finance listed in the local yellow pages phone book.
        Instructions available if you don't have a phone book.
        "SelectTALK", programs provided by Southern Audiotext, Inc.
        Presumably, if you call this from outside 817, you pay LD charges.
        Based on a small sample of calls, many of the recordings have
        sponsors, and end with "If you wish to call this business, press
        * now".  A law firm sponsors "What To Do If Arrested", and
        an insurance company sponsors horoscopes.


Gordon L. Burditt
sneaky.lonestar.org!gordon

============

 Date: Fri, 12 Oct 1990 10:00:22 EDT
 From: uunet!wang!elf.wang.com!office.wang.com![e-mail]
 Subject: More: ESP Exchanges
 Senders Name: David A. Bonney

woody:-

  You commented that "976 is the only NXX that is common to all
NPA's" ...  My memory (?) recalls that there was [at least] one NPA
where 976 was NOT an ESP Exchange - It was actually a valid POTS
exchange.

  But I can't find my old notes on the subject.  (Michigan/Wisconsin/?)

  To add to your info, 'other' ESP exchanges:        [unaudited]

      Idaho (208)        :  430/499/976
      Pacific Bell       :  976          Adult: 960
      New York Tel       :  540/976      GAB: 550  Adult: 970
      C&P Maryland (301) :  915
      Mass (413/508/617) :  976          GAB: 550  Adult: 940

  On a slightly different subject, there exist what I refer to as
'hidden' or LATA-Only exchanges.  Examples would be some of the Time
and Temperature services run by the LEC (i.e. The Idaho Time line
208-844-TIME) or special exchanges established by the LEC's for their
Customer Service applications (i.e. Georgia [404] 780 exchange).  Is
any further information available ??

Anyway ... That's it for now...

  Regards,

  dab

==========

now ... from [e-mail]'s viewpoint:

I guess I'll throw in what I know about ESP/ANI/special exchanges, at
least from a Canadian perspective. If an NXX is not in regular
service, it could very well be a test exchange.

ESP/announcement-type exchanges ----

976 exchange, toll message services, are generally available only
within Bell Canada's territory as far as I've heard. That is, Ontario
and Quebec area codes.

In British Columbia (NPA 604) 720 exchange is used for "Partyline", a
GAB (conference) service. 720.TALK is used for adult discussion, while
720.TEEN is self-explanatory.

Pennsylvania (at least NPAs 215 and 412):

      976 for general pay announcements; these are available to telco
          customers by default unless requested to have this blocked

      556 for restricted or adult pay announcements; these are blocked
          to telco customers unless access is specifically requested

Chicago area (312/708):

      976 is the announcement service as one may expect, but

      796 is used for Customer Name/Address service, and seems
          to be treated as a special exchange there

[Moderator's Note: Actually, there is only one 796 number: 796-9600.
Dial seven digits within 312/708 and some of 815. Elsewhere dial it as
312-796-9600. Locally, the charge is 35 cents plus unit charges. From
long distance, normal tolls apply. Some other 796 numbers may in fact
funnel into CNA, but '9600' is the official, authorized in-dial.  PAT]

ANI Numbers ----

In NPA 416, 997 is the ANI prefix. Numbers of the form 997.xxxx (like
997.1699, 997.2350 and 997.8123) yield the calling number.

In NPA 519 and 613, 320 is the ANI prefix (ie. use a 320.xxxx number).

In Edmonton, just dialing 999 from some phones will get ANI.

New York City (NPA 212/718): 958 should give ANI

Ringbacks ----

In Bell Canada (Ontario/Quebec) territory, ringbacks may exist in:

   1) 57 + last 5 digits of calling number
   2) 99 + last 5 digits of calling number
   3) 999 + 7 digits of calling number

In some places, none of the three methods will work, or the Ringback
uses a different access.

NPA 902 (Hailfax, NS): try 575 + 7 digits of calling number for Ringback

NPA 604 (Vancouver, BC): 871 is a likely candidate, as 871 + 7 digits
   is expected in some Vancouver locations. Again, this could vary by
   central office.

Other ---

NPA 306: Last year, trying 990.1111 in Regina used to get something
         really interesting ... whistling a happy tune.

         828 prefix is for toll-free services within Saskatchewan

NPA 403: The following NXXs may be used for testing, depending on locality:
         299, 490, 557, 570, 951, 970, 980, 991, 999
         880 - reserved for data services

In NPA 416, 970 has various interesting uses:

   Dialing 1 416 970 5xxx gets an identification of the toll switch.

   1 416 970 6xxx/7xxx gets 1+coin or 0+domestic announcements,
      whatever these might mean.

   1 416 970 9xxx gets an Inwats (800 service) test recording,
      listing all the prefixes used in Ontario for 800 service.

NPA 416, 996 is used for various tests (dial 996.xxxx).

NPA 416: choke exchanges (for high-volume local calling) are 870 and 872

NPA 604: 280 is apparently a choke exchange (info courtesy Dan Fandrich)

NPA 604: 200 and 201 are strange prefixes; they appear to be functioning
         but change to NXX prefixes from NNX is not official in British
         Columbia. These may be dialed within BC on a timed-out basis
         (ie. dial 1-200/201-xxxx and wait, or finish dialing number
         with a '#' tone) (some extra insight on this also courtesy
         Dan Fandrich).


[Addendum by TELECOM Moderator:  Ring back in most of the Cicacago
area (312/708/parts of 815) is accomplished as follows:

Dial 1-57x-last four of your number.

   The 'x' is 1 through 7, depending on CO. Try until you find the
   one that applies in your case. For example, mine is 1-574-xxxx.

If you got the correct 'x' and the correct last four digits, dial tone
will be returned. Otherwise, you will get a busy signal.

Against this dial tone you may then:

    Dial 1234567890 and if your tone pad is correctly calibrated
    you will hear a double spurt of tone.  Hang up to disconnect.

    Flash the hook to change the tone. Dial 6 at this point and
    hang up. Your phone will ring back repeatedly for up to five
    minutes, then disconnect itself if you have not already done so.

    To stop the ringing, lift the receiver for a few seconds and
    hang up again.

ANI in the Chicago area seems to be 1-200-xxxx, with the last four
changing on a frequent basis. They are always kept secret by IBT.

My thanks to Woody (David Leibold) for compiling this survey for our
readers.     PAT]


------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest Guide to Special Prefixes/Numbers
******************************










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Date:     Sun, 25 Nov 90 11:41:58 CST
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
[To]:     [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V10 #844
BCC:
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Sun, 25 Nov 90 11:41:47 CST    Volume 10 : Issue 844

Inside This Issue:                         Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    A Look at Moderator's Phone Bill [TELECOM Moderator]
    Keeping a Line "Busy" Without a Phone Off Hook [Dan Boehlke]
    Re: Measured Local Service [Tad Cook]
    Re: New 410 Code for MD [Roger Fajman]
    Re: Dealing With Telemarketers [Mark A. Emanuele]
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Sun, 25 Nov 90 10:32:41 CST
From: TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
Subject: A Look at Moderator's Phone Bill


After I mentioned getting the new CLASS features from Illinois Bell
installed on my two lines, someone raised the question of what all
this costs per month. I wanted to wait until I had examined my first
bill under the new system to be sure I had the rates quoted
accurately. Here is what it says:

Monthly Service, NOV 13 thru DEC 12, 1990

    Local Service ......................................  43.98
      1 Non-Pub Directory Svc             1.45   (covers both lines)
      1 Automatic Callback                3.50   (line 1)
      1 Repeat Dialing                    3.50   (line 1)
      1 Call Screening                    5.50   (line 1)
      1 Threeway Calling                  2.50   (line 1)
      1 Call Forwarding                   2.50   (line 1)
      1 Call Waiting                      2.50   (line 1)
      1 Speed Calling 8                   2.50   (line 1)
      1 Discount for 7 features           4.50 CR
      1 Touch Tone Service                 .73   (line 1)
      1 Line Connection Charge            5.56   (line 1)
      1 Repeat Dialing                    3.50   (line 2)
      1 Speed Calling 8                   2.50   (line 2)
      1 Call Forwarding                   2.50   (line 2)
      1 Discount for 3 features           1.50 CR
      1 Touch Tone Service                 .73   (line 2)
      1 Line Connection Charge            5.56   (line 2)
      1 Multi-Ring Linked to 1st Number   4.95

    Supplemental Line Charges, per FCC rulings ............. 6.86
Total Monthly Service ..................................... 50.84

Purchase of more than one custom calling feature per line provides for
a 75 cent discount per addtional feature/line. Seven features on line
1 therefore gives a discount of 6 X .75 = $4.50.  Three features on
line 2 which is primarily used by the modems, terminals, etc. allows
for a discount of 2 X .75 = 1.50. Speed Calling allows a separate
directory for each line, or a common directory for both. You advise
telco how to set it up; however you program it as desired. I have two
directories; one for each line.

In addition to the regular monthly service, shown above, we are
charged *per call* we make, with various discounts built in depending
on the time of day, day of the week, and volume of usage. This part of
the bill varies from one month to the next, of course.

Local Usage Services - OCT 13 thru NOV 12, 1990

Volume Summary:       No Discount       10% Discount     40% Discount
                      9 am - 11 am      8 am - 9 am      9 pm - 8 am &
                      2 pm - 8 pm       11 am - 2 pm     Sat / Sunday
                        -------         8 pm - 9 pm      Holidays

No. of Calls   Band
Untimed Calls   A          71                55              306
Over 8 miles    B          18                11               64
Over 15 miles   C           6                 0                5
Over 40 miles   D           0                 0                0

Billed Minutes
Untimed Calls   A      ---            ---                 ---    15.81
Over 8 Miles    B      146               162                 947    23.45
Over 15 Miles   C        6                 0                6      .94
Over 40 Miles   D           0                  0                0      .00

Volume Discount   5.07  (memo only - included in above totals)
Total Local Useage Services for this period ......................  35.13

Local untimed calls (those calls within your own CO or to nearby CO's
within eight miles of you) are billed at about five cents per call or
less, for the first fifty calls, depending on the time of day/day of
week per above schedule.  Local untimed calls reduce in cost to about
three cents each on a sliding scale depending on the volume used and
time of day. Inter-telco (IBT <--> Centel) calls are included, and
area code boundaries do not matter.

Calls to Bands B, C and D are billed by the minute at rates ranging
from three to ten cents per minute depending on Band, time of day and
volume discounts.

Other Charges and Credits include applicable federal, state and
municipal taxes, as follows:

City of Chicago Surcharge - Emergency 911 Access   2 @  .95  =  1.90
State of Illinois Additional Charge                2 @  .04  =   .08
City of Chicago Additional Charge                  2 @ 2.42  =  4.84
Federal Tax                                                  =  2.84
State Tax                                                    =  4.59

Other Charges and Credits also include the use of Directory
Assistance locally, Name and Address Service and surcharges for the
use of the IBT Calling Card on local calls.

     2 Calls to Name and Address Service  @ .35              =   .70
     1 Intrastate Information Calls       @ .30              =   .30

There were a few additional minor charges this month I am not
including in this summary which pertained to the removal of Starline
service and the start of the new CLASS features. These were pro-rated
charges for CLASS and pro-rated credits for Starline, since the
service was changed in the middle of a billing cycle. IBT sees fit to
not charge me for installation / work order charges, which is nice of
them. The total bill this month was $107.45. This is typical, or maybe
a few dollars higher than usual.

Since line 2 is almost exclusively used by the modems, etc, there is
no Call Waiting or Threeway Calling on that line (undesirable with
modem!), nor do I need or want Call Screening or Auto Call Back on
that line.

Local Usage Services are computed in total on both lines, so the
volume discounts kick in a little sooner.

Now, Part 2 of the bill for NOV 13 thru DEC 12 -- the part that is
'provided as a service to AT&T' ... and which notes I'm free to get my
long distance service wherever I please while still receiving my local
service from IBT.

Monthly Service - NOV 13 thru DEC 12     ............      $11.70

This is 'Reach Out America', the 24 hour plan which is offered in
Illinois. The usual overnight rates apply. In addition there is an
evening discount and a five percent discount on daytime interstate
calls and international calls at any hour.  Included is one hour of
interstate calling during overnight and weekend hours.

This also includes 'Reach Out World' at $3.00 per month. This plan
provides good discounts on international calls at certain hours as
well as a five percent discount at all non-ROA hours on interstate
calls. I formerly had 'Reach Out Canada' and 'Reach Out UK' on my
account. I dropped these in lieu of the world plan which is much less
expensive although it includes no calling time.

Other Charges and Credits on the AT&T portion of the bill this time
includes a charge for:

    1 Interstate, Canada, and/or 809 Directory Assistance
       0 Allowed   1 Billed ................................        .60

And again, we have Uncle Sugar, Governor Thompson and the greedy
alderpersons of our city council feeding at the trough ......... $5.20

As with local calling, the Reach Out America / World Plans use both
lines in their calculations so that charges from either line count
toward the benefits of the plans.

Total AT&T portion, including calls, other charges, etc ........ $70.00

Total due telco this month ...   $177.45

This is about typical. I've had bills as high as $200.00, and as
little as $140.00 when long distance usage was light.

Enclosed with this month's bill:

The monthly copy of {Telebriefs} newsletter, which this month promotes
Illinois Bell Calling Cards, vanity phone numbers for $38 each
provided the number is available in your CO, gift certificates for the
holiday season (the same little generic scrips AT&T sends out marked
"Pay to the order of the Telephone Company"), a reminder to call ahead
before going wherever you are going, and a cartoon of a man on a
remote island in the ocean getting a message in a bottle asking him
"what is your fax number?".  A promotional message for the Chicago
Symphony Orchestra and public television fill out the issue.

I own all my telephones with the exception of one 2-line single turn
button set (lift the left plunger for hold) which belongs to AT&T. So
I get a bill every three months from AT&T Consumer Products, Inc. for
the lease of that phone -- about $20.00. I should go buy a new two
line phone from Radio Shack and give theirs back.

I also get two bills each month direct from AT&T, Orlando, FL for the
long distance usage on my two cell phones. The long distance traffic
on both is not enough to justify ROA or similar. A nice feature of
AT&T direct billing (as opposed to through telco) is that if the bill
is less than $5, it can be held over automatically for up to 90 days
before payment for the convenience of not having to write small
checks.

My cell phones typically cost about $50 per month in total. I use the
Ameritech phone more often; it costs about $35. Cell One costs about
$15. Calls to cell phones from telco payphones in 312/708 are at the
regular price of 25 cents for a local call. Calls to cell phones from
private lines are considered local, untimed calls.

So, there you have a look at the Moderator's monthly phone bill. I
also spend $30 per month on Telenet/PC Pursuit and about $40 per month
on the 800 numbers I have from Telecom*USA which are set to ring in on
the new multi-ring (coded ring) number I got from IBT. This enables me
to know ahead of time that the incoming call is on the 800 number.


Patrick Townson

------------------------------

From: Dan Boehlke <[e-mail]>
Subject: Keeping a Line "Busy" Without a Phone Off Hook
Date: 24 Nov 90 02:07:18 -0600
Organization: Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minnesota


Greetings,

What is the best way to busy a phone line?  I have a bank of modems
and from time to time I need to pull one from the pool.  Some modems
have a "busy out" swtich.  My modems do not have a switch.  Pulling a
modem causes the hunt to stop at modem I pulled, giving the caller a
"no one is home" type ring.  I have heard that putting a resistor
accross the wire is enough to hold it off hook.  If memory serves it
was a 1000ohm resistor.  I have hesitated to do this without trying to
learn more.  What effect does this have on the switch?  Does the
effect varry from phone switch to phone switch?

Thanks.


Dan Boehlke                    Internet:  [e-mail]
Campus Network Manager         BITNET:    [e-mail]
Gustavus Adolphus College
St. Peter, MN 56082 USA        Phone:     [phone]

------------------------------

From: hpubvwa!ssc![e-mail]
Subject: Re: Measured Local Service
Date: 23 Nov 90 05:53:46 GMT


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (John Higdon)
writes:

> "Sander J. Rabinowitz" <[e-mail]> writes:

> > "As a free service to you, we have kept track of the number of local
> > calls you've made this month so you can see if you save money with our
> > measured service.  This month, you made -0- local calls--therefore,
> > you would have saved $3.44 this month had you used our other plan."

> This is very scary and you should be concerned. Most telcos have
> discovered that PUCs and equivalents are most reluctant to allow the
> summary discontinuance of unmeasured residence service, so they use a
> more sophisticated approach these days.

> > Is this something for the local public service commission to look at?
> > It seems like a harmless computer glitch, but I can't shake the
> > feeling that something fishy is going on here.

> You betcha. You may be headed down the slippery slope of measured-only
> service. Watch out!

John Higdon said that the telco could get enough folks to switch their
residential service to declare that the unlimited calling option was
no longer in the public interest.

I think it could happen a little differently.  In most places where
there is a measured service option, it is priced so that most
residential customers would pay less by switching over to measured
service without ever changing their calling patterns.

So if the telco starts pushing measured service to these low usage
customers and a bunch of them switched, suddenly they are getting less
revenue for the same service, which gives them the right to go to the
PUC and ask for a rate increase for the unlimited calling customers.

Once this happens, there could be a snowball effect, where the telco
gets more and more customers to switch, based upon higher and higher
rates for unlimited calling.  This further erodes the rate base,
causing a situation where eventually nearly everyone except truly high
usage residential customers are on measured service.  So the telco
gets a de-facto mandatory measured service, without any change in the
tariff.


Tad Cook  Seattle, WA  Packet: KT7H @ N7HFZ.WA.USA.NA  Phone: [phone]
MCI Mail: 3288544      Telex: 6503288544 MCI UW
USENET:...uw-beaver!sumax!amc-gw!ssc!tad  or, [e-mail]

------------------------------

From: Roger Fajman <[e-mail]>
Date: Sat, 24 Nov 90  15:54:49 EST
Subject: Re: New 410 Code for MD


> I think two changes in such rapid succession in the way to dial from
> DC to its Maryland suburbs would have been too much for the minds of
> our civil servants and way too much for the minds of our elected
> officials.

It seems to me that we can do without the gratuitous insults in this
forum.  The change to area codes for local calls in the DC area seemed
to cause few problems.  I heard few complaints other than a couple of
newspaper columns that seemed at least partly tongue in cheek.  Not
much different than the other areas, I suspect.  We had to update our
user data base, which previously had not contained area codes for
local numbers.

Yes, TELECOM Digest's reach is so great that even some of us civil
servants see it.  :-)


Roger Fajman                        Telephone:  [phone]
National Institutes of Health       BITNET:     RAF@NIHCU
Bethesda, Maryland, USA             Internet:   [e-mail]

------------------------------

From: "Mark A. Emanuele" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Dealing With Telemarketers
Date: 25 Nov 90 05:25:46 GMT
Organization: Overleaf, Inc.


I recently got a call from a company called "T.H.E. Phone Company"
telling me that I could save a bundle if i switched to a new long
distance "program", I asked them if they were AT&T.

Response: We're The Phone Company.

Again I asked if they were AT&T (my long distance carrier).

Response: Hold on one second while I get my supervisor.

Supervisor: Can I help You ?

Me: What is the name of your company?

Supv: The Phone Company.

Me: No, your corporate name.

Supv: "T.H.E.  Phone Company, Inc."

Me: CLICK !

I wonder if AT&T or NJ Bell know about this fraud!


Mark A. Emanuele          V.P. Engineering      Overleaf, Inc.
500 Route 10 Ledgewood,   NJ 07852-9639         attmail!overlf!emanuele
[phone] Voice      [phone] Fax    [e-mail]


[Moderator's Note: I'm sure they know about it. The problem is there
is no copyright or prohibition on the phrase 'The Phone Company', so
there is no way telco can stop them. These days, neither NJB or AT&T
are *the* phone company, but merely two of several which can call
themselves that. Here in Chicago we had a fellow who incorporated his
business as 'The Phone Company', and his pitch was for a maintainence
agreement you signed on a one year contract for him to fix your phones
when they were broken, ala Illinois Bell's 'Line Backer' program. IBT
screamed about it, but it was only when the Consumer Fraud division of
the Attorney General's office caught him claiming to be part and
parcel of IBT in one of his calls tape recorded by their agent that
they were able to shut him down. His monthly invoices even looked
*identical* to IBT's -- even with 'other charges and credits' !! His
bills did not say IBT, but they did include the old Bell System logo
of the bell inside the circle, which I guess belongs to no one now.  PAT]

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V10 #844
******************************










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Date:     Mon, 26 Nov 90 1:48:56 CST
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
[To]:     [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V10 #845
BCC:
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Mon, 26 Nov 90 01:48:48 CST    Volume 10 : Issue 845

Inside This Issue:                         Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Re: Centel Dials For Caller ID [Philip Gladstone]
    Re: A Look at Moderator's Phone Bill [Arun Baheti]
    Re: A Look at Moderator's Phone Bill [David Lesher]
    Re: Keeping a Line "Busy" Without a Phone Off Hook [Arun Baheti]
    Re: Keeping a Line "Busy" Without a Phone Off Hook [Barton F. Bruce]
    French Modem Info Sought [Richard W. Fortier]
    International Dialing [Jerry Durand]
    Two Cellular Phones, One Number [Jerry Durand]
    Hangup Indication [Johnny Zweig]
    V & F Coordinates in Europe [Gene N. Cartier]
    The "Bell" Logo [John Higdon]
    GTE Does do Business in Writing [David G. Cantor]
    Help on Telco Video Projects Sought [Bruce Klopfenstein]
    Return*Call Humor [Kenneth Weaverling]
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Philip Gladstone)
Subject: Re: Centel Dials For Caller ID
Organization: Data General, Development Lab Europe
Date: 24 Nov 90 16:19:47


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (TELECOM
Moderator) writes:

> ... She asked, "Why would anyone subscribe to Caller ID if the
> calling party could defeat it?"

The EEC (European Community) are investigating the whole area of
Telecom privacy at the moment. There is a draft council directive (SYN
288) that covers this very issue. Article 12 says that

1)  The caller must be able to supress the transmission of his Caller
    ID on a case by case basis or permanently.

2)  The called party may eliminate reception of the caller id (case by
    case or permanently). Further the called party MUST be able to
    limit incoming calls to those which identify the callers number.

The rest of the directive covers itemised billing, storage of billing
data, security (in particular of mobile comms), protection of personal
data, emergency services override of article 12, call forwarding,
unsolicited phone advertising.

All this lot to be implemented by 1 Jan 1993.


Philip Gladstone       Development Lab Europe
Data General, Cambridge   England.  [phone]

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 25 Nov 90 17:06 CDT
From: "Arun Baheti <[e-mail]>" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: A Look at Moderator's Phone Bill


Oi vey, Patrick!  I hope that you can at least deduct some of that from
your taxes... :-)  (Or that you are at least somehow reimbursed for
at least some of the costs!)


[Moderator's Note: I get re-imbursed for international calls I make
from home on business due to the time difference.  PAT]

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 25 Nov 90 19:42:32 -0500
From: David Lesher <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: A Look at Moderator's Phone Bill
Organization: NRK Clinic for habitual NetNews Abusers
Reply-To: David Lesher <[e-mail]>


The REAL question for those of you stuck in 'every call is a toll
call' land, PT, is:

    Is your bell.eecs.nwu.edu port a local call?

{David's defn: local -- you talk all day and it does not cost any
            more than if you talk for one minute.
        L.D  --    anything other than the above.

If NOT, it might be cheaper for you to move on campus :-}


[Moderator's Note: Since I am on the far north side of Chicago (312)
there are many suburban 708 points -- including the Evanston dialup
lines -- which are local ('talk' all day) to me.  PAT]

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 25 Nov 90 17:01 CDT
From: "Arun Baheti <[e-mail]>" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Keeping a Line "Busy" Without a Phone Off Hook


The way I used to do it when I ran a BBS is just to have the modem do
it for you.  On my trusty US Robotics Courier, I just used the Hayes
command set to get the phone "off hook" and I left it there until I
was done with the line.

ab

------------------------------

From: "Barton F. Bruce" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Keeping a Line "Busy" Without a Phone Off Hook
Date: 25 Nov 90 22:38:24 EDT
Organization: Cambridge Computer Associates, Inc.


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Dan Boehlke)
writes:

> What is the best way to busy a phone line?  I have a bank of modems

The 120 ohm 5 watt resistor typically used for a key system hold
should do.  Old Rixon modem cages we have in racks all used 200 ohm 2
watt resistors.

If your loop is short, you may get up near 100 ma, and a long loop
will seldom go below 23 ma which is the lower limit for many TT dials.
You need enough current flowing for the CO to think you are off hook.
15 ma should do it, but by 25 you are safe. Just be sure your resistor
can handle the heat.

I used to be 'nice' and use a resistor, but tend to simply short the
line these days. Our NYC office for years would busy ALL LINES except
the first (which had the answering machine) by having the receptionist
flip a switch 'to turn on the answering machine' as she left. A 12
pole wire spring relay in the KSU did the rest, and was simply
shorting the lines.  This config also lit her hold button, just to
remind her to switch it off in the morning.

NYTel never said boo. I assume they learned to ignore any alarms
raised, or more probably never got any.

If the line you need to busy is ground start, ground the ring side, or
keeping it simple, ground BOTH sides of the line.

When there is an open wire that is THEIR fault, they generally will
busy the particular line at the CO until it gets fixed - if you make
it clear to repair that the dead line is messing up hunting. If only
one wire is open, you can still busy the line if it is the Tip side
that is open. Just treat it like a ground start line.

Another way to busy a dead line is to dial it from some spare line and
simply leave it ringing. Some smarter COs won't let this ring forever
though.

------------------------------

From: "Richard W. Fortier" <epochsys![e-mail]>
Subject: French Modem Info Sought
Date: 25 Nov 90 16:39:49 GMT
Organization: Epoch Systems, Westboro MA


I am currently residing in the US, but shortly I will be relocating to
France.  Does anyone have any information or insights to offer
regarding modems compatible with the French telephone system?  I'm
particularly interested in leads that will enable me to buy a modem
before going over.

Are there any legal/tariff issues I should be concerned about?


Richard W. Fortier, Epoch Systems Inc. [phone]
8 Technology Drive, Westboro, MA 01581-1796
uunet!epochsys!rfortier, [e-mail]

------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Subject: International Dialing
Date: Sun, 25 Nov 90 11:26:21 PST


In article <[e-mail]> the Moderator writes:

>[Moderator's Note: I just now tried it from Chicago, USA. It accepted
>the entire number (that is, 011-44-81-603-four more), and the response
>to me on each of several attempts was the same recorded announcement:
>You call cannot be completed by the telephone company in the country
>you are calling at this time. Please try your call again later."

When I tried the above number from my cellular phone (GTE, with
"restored" international dialing), I got a recording telling me the
country area code was bad and to contact my AT&T operator for
assistance (AT&T, not Sprint??).

 From my business MCI line, I got a recording in an English accent
telling me the proper way to dial London.


Jerry Durand    Durand Interstellar, Inc.
408 356-3886    [e-mail]

------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Subject: Two Cellular Phones, One Number
Date: Sun, 25 Nov 90 11:39:31 PST


In the process of checking cellular coverage at our research facility,
I had to get a "loner" three watt phone from a local cellular dealar
(Bridge Radio in San Jose, CA) since mine is only a .6W Micro-Tac.  I
was very surprised to find out they were going to program the phone
for the number assigned to my Micro-Tac (they later gave me a
different number when they found out I had GTE service, they said a
GTE number wouldn't ROAM in a Pac-Bell area!).  Wouldn't my phone
number in a phone with a different serial number trigger all sorts of
fraud alerts?  Is it legal for them to do this (apperantly they do
this for all their loner phones)?


Jerry Durand     Durand Interstellar, Inc.
408 356-3886     [e-mail]


------------------------------

From: Johnny Zweig <[e-mail]>
Subject: Hangup Indication
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Organization: U of Illinois, Dept. of Computer Science, Systems Research Group
Date: Sun, 25 Nov 90 23:49:27 GMT


I was just listening to the seventeenth message in a row on my
answering machine that says "If you would like to make a call, please
hang up and try it again" and got to thinking: for POTS, what
indicator is there that the party on the other end of a connection has
hung up?  Is it just the dialtone(*), or is there some other kind of
signal (line-voltage, say) that lets you know?  I understand that ISDN
will have hang-up messages on the D-channel, so maybe I should just
rush out and buy one of the ISDN answering machines I've been seeing
all those ads for.


Johnny Curious

(*) followed by silence followed by the stupid announcement followed by that
loud beeping followed by more silence

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 25 Nov 90 18:52:49 MST
From: "Gene N. Cartier" <[e-mail]>
Subject: V & F Coordinates in Europe?


We currently have a "C" based modeling tool that we use to design and
optimize voice and data networks for both government and commercial
customers.  It uses published NPA/NNX info which maps to V & F
coordinates.  By using the V & F coordinates it computes distances
which are used as tariff entries.  We want to expand the model to
include European PTTs.

Compared to the US, the European tariffs are very simple.  We use the
Eurodata Foundation publications for basic tariff data.  However, in
order to calculate distances we have to use an approximate latitude
and longitude of the locations we model.  Until now this has been
simple because the networks have been simple.  Usually they have been
the European branch offices of U.S. companies.  We now have an
opportunity to redesign and optimize the voice and data network of a
major European bank.  It has over 1100 locations in France and Belgium
(branches, data centers and ATMs).  To map spot the lat/long of every
location would significantly add to the cost and/or data collection
effort.  Is there a counterpart to V & F coordinates in Europe?  Can
you determine the tariff location of a site based on its NPA/NNX (or
European PTT equivalent?)  Any knowledge or suggestions on how the
European PTTs compute tariff distances will be greatly appreciated.
As I said before the tariffs are simple, computing the distances to
apply the tariffs is more complicated.

Any assistance or advice will be appreciated and I'll post a summary
of the results to the net.


Gene Cartier     Systems Research & Applications Corp
Arlington, VA (703-558-7507)    [e-mail]

------------------------------

Subject: The "Bell" Logo
Date: 25 Nov 90 18:47:28 PST (Sun)
From: John Higdon <[e-mail]>


On Nov 25 at 11:41, TELECOM Moderator writes:

> His monthly invoices even looked
> *identical* to IBT's -- even with 'other charges and credits' !! His
> bills did not say IBT, but they did include the old Bell System logo
> of the bell inside the circle, which I guess belongs to no one now.  PAT]

Patrick, I believe you are mistaken. Unlike the "walking fingers"
which no one ever bothered to copyright or register and as a result
found itself in the public domain, the bell logo was made the
collective property of the seven RBOC's in the MFJ. I believe there is
at least one RBOC still actively using the logo even though most have
dropped it.

Southwestern Bell puts it on its telephone products and there may be
an eastern RBOC that still uses it. It is not in the public domain.


John Higdon <[e-mail]> (hiding out in the desert)

------------------------------

Reply-To: [e-mail]
Subject: GTE Does do Business in Writing
Date: Sun, 25 Nov 90 20:05:24 -0800
From: "David G. Cantor" <[e-mail]>


I just received the appended letter in reponse to my written request
that my telco service not be changed without written request.

What surprised me is that it is, to them, an absolutely routine
situation.  The evidence being the PO Box IN WHITTIER (GTE's
headquarters are in Thousand Oaks).


November 19, 1990            In reply refer to
                    1000-500
                    C6.3

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Cantor

This is in reply to your letter of November 13 concerning your
telephone service.

As you have requested, your telphone accounts, [numbers deleted--dgc]
were noted that any changes must be provided in writing by either
David G. Cantor or Harriet Cantor.

Please forward any requests you have to:

    GTE
    Post Office Box 4007
    Whittier, CA 90607-4007

Thank you for the opportunity to assist you.

Very truly yours,

(signature)

C.A. Crain
Area President-West

------------------------------

From: Bruce Klopfenstein <bgsuvax![e-mail]>
Subject: Help on Telco Video Projects Sought
Date: 26 Nov 90 05:13:35 GMT
Organization: Bowling Green State University B.G., Oh.


I am interested in the evolving plans and current pilot projects
involving telco entry into video distribution into the home.  I'm
posting this message in the hopes that there might be an electronic
version of these telco plans already available, but am also interested
in personal views on the subject.  For those who don't know, Pacific
Telesis, U.S. West, and Southwestern Bell are all invloved in some way
in cable television projects outside the U.S.  Bell South has also
been very active in video test projects.

Updates and more specific details are what I am most interested in.

Thanks.


Bruce C. Klopfenstein          |  [e-mail]
Radio-TV-Film Department       |  [e-mail]
318 West Hall                  |  [e-mail]
Bowling Green State University |  [phone]; 372-8690
Bowling Green, OH  43403       |  fax [phone]

------------------------------

From: Ken Weaverling <[e-mail]>
Date: Mon, 26 Nov 1990 00:31:05 EST
Subject: Return*Call Humor


Here in northern Delaware, we have had CLASS calling in most exchanges
for a few years now. Return*Call was great at first, but is slowly
losing its effectiveness with cranks as more and more people realize
how it works.

About a year ago, my girl friend had an encounter with Return*Call biting
her back. It went like this ...

My girl friend gets a crank phone call, the typical heavy breathing type.

She immedialely Return*Calls it. A lady answers. My girl friend shouts
into the phone "I know who you are and what you are up to, so you
better stop it now" and then hangs up the phone.

(A typical Return*Call bluff. You don't know who they are, but it
works effectively until word gets around how Return*Call works ...)

A minute later, our phone rings again. My girl friend answers and it
is this woman again, who obviously Return*Called us. She stated that
she knew who we were (bluff again) and if the crank phone calls don't
stop, she was going to call the police.

We sat around puzzled for a moment, then finally figured out that
there must be several extensions in their house and the original crank
call must have originated, perhaps, with a child, and the child's
Mother answered our Return*Call.

I then did a Return*Call myself to her to try and explain the
situation to her. When she answered, she was at the boiling point. I
tried explaining but I don't think she heard a word. She hollered that
she had had enough, was going to hang up, initiate a call trace, and
then call the police.

At that point, I realized I should have probably just let it go after
her first call, but by this time it was too late. We just sat back and
waited for the police to contact us. However, this never happened,
thankfully.

So, the morale is, "Those that live by Return*Call can get bitten by
it too!"  --or-- "Those that never had class to begin with, shouldn't
try and get it from the phone company."

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V10 #845
******************************










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Date:     Tue, 27 Nov 90 1:39:05 CST
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
[To]:     [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V10 #846
BCC:
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Tue, 27 Nov 90 01:37:42 CST    Volume 10 : Issue 846

Inside This Issue:                         Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Re: A Look at Moderator's Phone Bill [John Higdon]
    Re: A Look at Moderator's Phone Bill [Phydeaux]
    Re: Transoceanic Cables [Tad Cook]
    Re: New Area Codes and Intl. Dialling [Olivier Giffard]
    Re: Need Info on ANSI X.12 [Toby Nixon]
    Re: Dealing With Telemarketers [Dave Levenson]
    Re: Are Cellular Calls Free to Landline Customers, or Not? [John R. Covert]
    Re: Wrong Number Rights [Wm. Randolph Franklin]
    Re: Unitel (Canada) Fax Service [David Leibold]
    Re: Hangup Indication [David Wilson]
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: Re: A Look at Moderator's Phone Bill
Date: 26 Nov 90 11:40:14 PST (Mon)
From: John Higdon <[e-mail]>


David Lesher <[e-mail]> writes:

> {David's defn: local -- you talk all day and it does not cost any
>             more than if you talk for one minute.
>         L.D  --    anything other than the above.

According "David's defn", all business and measured residence
customers can dial nothing but long distance in Pac*BellLand. Under
mandatory business and optional residence measured service, even Zone
One (as local as you can get -- radius eight miles) is timed 24 hours
a day.  During the day it amounts to about $0.01/min with evening and
night discounts (sound familiar?).


John Higdon <[e-mail]> (hiding out in the desert)

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 26 Nov 90 08:29:12 -0800
From: Phydeaux <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: A Look at Moderator's Phone Bill
Organization: From the grass eaters at the Bovine Munching Works


Howdy!

I'm about to move (two weeks!)  to Chicago from northern NJ.  I'm
curious about how much cellular service is out there and which service
you think is best.  Also, where would I find more info out about
personal 1-800 service so my poor friends in NYC can call me. I
note from the glimpse you gave us of your phone bill that you've got
something like that.
                                                        reb

*-=#= Phydeaux =#=-*      [e-mail]    [e-mail]
ICBM:  40.55N 74.11W      h:182 Market St. Saddle Brook, NJ 07662 201-845-0256
Home FAX!  201-845-0258 Send neat stuff!                 In Chicago 11/27-12/2


[Moderator's Note: I've got two cell phones; one each from Ameritech
and Cellular One. Rates are similar. I have only the off-peak package
from each and my total bill is in the $30-40 range per month on
Ameritech and the $15-20 per month range on Cellular One. I make one
or two cellular calls daily. I get my 800 service from Telecom*USA for
about $2.75 per month per 800 number plus 29 cents per minute of
usage. Obviously I keep the calls short and call back direct.  Say, I
was wondering about something: Why did you choose a dog's name for
your handle, and how did the network get named?  PAT]

------------------------------

From: hpubvwa!ssc![e-mail]
Subject: Re: Transoceanic Cables
Date: Mon, 26 Nov 90 0:34:13 PST


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (John
R. Levine) writes:

> TAT-1 was only laid in 1956.  Transatlantic telephone service
> started in 1927, but until 1956 used SSB radio.

I thought single sideband radiotelephone wasn't developed until after
World War II.


Tad Cook   Seattle, WA   Packet: KT7H @ N7HFZ.WA.USA.NA  Phone: [phone]
MCI Mail: 3288544        Telex: 6503288544 MCI UW
USENET:...uw-beaver!sumax!amc-gw!ssc!tad    or, [e-mail]

------------------------------

From: Olivier Giffard <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: New Area Codes and Intl. Dialling
Date: 26 Nov 90 09:50:18 GMT
Reply-To: Olivier Giffard <[e-mail]>
Organization: Chorus systemes, Saint Quentin en Yvelines, France


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail]
writes:

%% After London split from 01 into 071 and 081 OTC implemented a full
%% conversion table, so dialling +44 1 xxx will tell you whether to dial
%% 71 or 81.  If you dial the wrong one, you also get the correct
%% intercept.  For most prefixes the intercept comes in after three
%% prefix digits, for some only two are needed.

%% Try dialling 19 44 81 603 xxxx, and see if you get a French intercept.
%% I bet you will.

Wrong guess. I've just tried: I dialled 19 44 81 603 xxxx and got an
English intercept message saying: " The London area code 1 has been
changed to 71 for the number you have dialled. Please redial replacing
44 1 with 44 71."  (This being said by a feminine voice very slowly
and mentioning the country code for the UK makes me suspect that this
message is only aimed at foreigners. I suspect they have only one
message for any wrong code because the message mentionned 44 1 and not
44 81 as I had dialled.)

%% [Moderator's Note: I just now tried it from Chicago, USA. It accepted
%% the entire number (that is, 011-44-81-603-four more), and the response
%% to me on each of several attempts was the same recorded announcement:
%% You call cannot be completed by the telephone company in the country
%% you are calling at this time. Please try your call again later."
%% Interestingly, my call had left Chicago, gotten out of the USA and was
%% sitting in limbo somewhere. Instead of playing the French recording to

Well that should have been an English message anyway as you dialled
the UK.


Olivier Giffard                Home: [phone]
Chorus Systemes                Office: [phone]
6, avenue Gustave Eiffel        Fax: [phone]
F-78182 ST QUENTIN EN YVELINES CEDEX    France

------------------------------

From: Toby Nixon <hayes![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Need Info on ANSI X.12
Date: 26 Nov 90 09:25:39 GMT
Organization: Hayes Microcomputer Products, Norcross, GA


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] writes:

>    I am looking for information on EDI, specifically on ANSI X.12. I
> would greatly appreciate any information anyone could send me on the
> ANSI X.12 standards, or a phone number I may call to get the info.

Information on EDI and X.12 standards can be obtained from the X.12
secretariat:

    Data Interchange Standards Association
    1800 Diagonal Road, Suite 355
    Alexandria  VA  22314-2852
    Voice: 703-548-7005
    Fax:   [phone]

I won't take the time to list all of the standards here, but DISA
would be happy to send you a list.


Toby Nixon, Principal Engineer    | Voice   [phone]  Telex 151243420
Hayes Microcomputer Products Inc. | Fax     [phone]  CIS   70271,404
P.O. Box 105203                   | UUCP uunet!hayes!tnixon  AT&T    !tnixon
Atlanta, Georgia  30348  USA      | Internet       hayes![e-mail]

------------------------------

From: Dave Levenson <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Dealing With Telemarketers
Date: 26 Nov 90 14:04:54 GMT
Organization: Westmark, Inc., Warren, NJ, USA


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] our
Moderator adds, in part:

[Regarding a telephone maintenance company who called itself The
Phone Company and told prospective customers that  it was part of
Illinois Bell ... ]

> they were able to shut him down. His monthly invoices even looked
> *identical* to IBT's -- even with 'other charges and credits' !! His
> bills did not say IBT, but they did include the old Bell System logo
> of the bell inside the circle, which I guess belongs to no one now.  PAT]

It is my understanding that the Bell-in-a-circle logo belongs to
Bellcore, and that they license its use by their supporting regional
Bell Operating Companies.  NJ Bell still uses it as part of their
corporate logo (alongside the words NJ BELL) but not by itself.


Dave Levenson        Internet: [e-mail]
Westmark, Inc.        UUCP: {uunet | rutgers | att}!westmark!dave
Warren, NJ, USA        AT&T Mail: !westmark!dave
Voice: 908 647 0900      Fax: [phone]

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 26 Nov 90 08:10:32 PST
From: "John R. Covert  26-Nov-1990 0936" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Are Cellular Calls Free to Landline Customers, or Not?


>>I have read, from time to time, messages in TELECOM Digest which
>>assert that it is supposed to be toll-free for a landline telephone
>>subscriber with flat-rate service to call any cellular subscriber in
>>whatever the regional cellular calling area is supposed to be.  The
>>only charge is airtime to the cellular subscriber.

>A recent item in one of the communications trade publications stated
>that a major New England cellular provider was about to begin
>reversing that trend by charging the landline caller for calls made TO
>cell phones.

We are talking about two different, but related, things here:

    1. What is the landline charge (if any) to the landline
       customer for calling a cellular phone?

    2. Who pays the airtime charge -- the landline customer
       calling the cellular phone, or the cellular customer?

The answers to both of these questions really depend on where you are.

In the U.S. and Canada, each NPA-NXX combination has a location name
and a set of V&H coordinates used for billing.  Inter-LATA LD calls
are always billed based on the mileage from the calling location to
the called location, and that's the end of the story.  It is simply
not possible to charge any different way, nor to add on an airtime
charge.

Intra-LATA and local calls (as well as some inter-LATA in-state calls)
are charged based on whatever the local PUC/DPU has approved.

In Massachusetts, there are no special tariffs for calls to cellular
phones.  Your cellular number may be a Boston, Lowell, Lawrence,
Worcester, or whatever number.  Callers pay the normal charges for
calls to any other number in (for example) Worcester, when making
calls to cellular phones with Worcester numbers regardless of where
the cellular phone currently is located.  In fact, in many cases,
cellular numbers are only a few thousands groups out of an NXX which
is shared with other services, including landline phones.

In other areas, a cellular carrier may provide special
interconnections with the LOCAL phone company for handling incoming
calls.  When this is done, the cellular prefix may be reachable as a
local call, or even a free call, from a larger area than other
prefixes which have the same location name.  But this only applies to
calls handled by the LOCAL phone companies in the area.

In addition, it is possible for a cellular carrier to provide a
special arrangement with the LOCAL phone company to bill airtime to
the landline customer who calls the cellular phone.  U.S. West has
done this in Phoenix.  The "Calling Party Paid Prefixes" are 602-377,
-531, and -540.  When calling cellular phones with these prefixes FROM
PHOENIX, the airtime charge will be applied to the caller's phone
bill.  The call must be dialled with 1-602-7D.

However, when calling these prefixes from OUTSIDE Phoenix, there is no
special charge to the caller other than the charge for a normal call
to Phoenix.  The cellular customer (who can't tell where the call is
coming from) still pays for the airtime upon answering the call if it
originated from outside Phoenix.

In other countries, such as the U.K. and Germany, cellular phones have
their own nationwide prefixes.  In Germany all cellular phones are
reached by dialling 0161+7D; the phone is paged nationwide, including
those areas in the eastern part of the country where there are cell
sites; I know of sites in Leipzig and Magdeburg.  The caller pays a
message unit (DM 0,23 or $0.1554 at current rates) for each eight
seconds during the peak period, or about $1.16 per minute (more from
pay phones or post offices, where message units are DM 0,30, or from
hotels where message units are DM0,50-0,70).  Sixt/Budget charged me
DM 0,90 for each message unit on the rented phone I had a few weeks
ago, making calls within Germany cost $4.56 per minute during the peak
period (if you could get a circuit in heavily overloaded Berlin).  I
was quite glad I was not paying for incoming calls.

The astute person will note that it costs less to call a cellular
phone in Germany from many other countries than from within the
country.  Calls to Germany from the U.K. are 46p per minute during the
peak period, or about 90 cents at current exchange rates.  Calls to
Germany from the Netherlands are even cheaper (in fact, it appears
that it is cheaper to call points in Germany from the Netherlands than
from anywhere within Germany over 100 km or 62 miles, but that's
another topic).

>A recent item in one of the communications trade publications stated
>that a major New England cellular provider was about to begin
>reversing that trend by charging the landline caller for calls made TO
>cell phones.

I checked with NYNEX Mobile in Boston, Cellular One (a Southwestern
Bell Company) in Boston, Linx (SNET) Cellular in Connecticutt, and
Metro Mobile in Connecticut.  None of them knew anything about any
such plans.


john

------------------------------

From: Wm Randolph Franklin <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Wrong Number Rights
Organization: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy NY
Date: 26 Nov 90 18:57:46 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Paolo Bellutta)
writes:

>2) Two years ago, friends of mine visited the US for the first time.
>They visited the south west.  They wanted to book a room in Page
>(border Utah - Arizona) and they called a motel.  They called the
>number that was reported on the directory listing of the motel chain
>(I don't recall the name).  They took the reservation, name, C.C.  #.
>Being a bit late, they called again to be sure the reservation was
>held after 6pm.  They arrived, after a 400 miles ride, at the motel in
>Page at 9pm.  No reservation, no vacancy, nearest place: St.George.

Do you KNOW that your friends called the wrong number?  Hotels are
wont to "lose" reservations when they fill up.  The fact that your
friends arrived at 9 and the hotel was full reinforces this.  It's
happened to me.  You want to get a reservation number and the clerk's
name when making the reservation.  Then, if it's guaranteed, raise
hell since they just broke a contract.


Wm. Randolph Franklin
Internet: [e-mail] (or @cs.rpi.edu)    Bitnet: Wrfrankl@Rpitsmts
Telephone: [phone];  Telex: 6716050 RPI TROU; Fax: [phone]
Paper: ECSE Dept., 6026 JEC, Rensselaer Polytechnic Inst, Troy NY, 12180

------------------------------

From: woody <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Unitel (Canada) Fax Service
Date: Fri, 23 Nov 90 23:14:26 EST


I have been using the Unitel FacsRoute service at work on occasion; it
is indeed a black box that lets the local calls go through while
sending the long distance ones on its way to Unitel's circuits.

One interesting quirk that I was able to find was that long distance
calls in 416 could be completed as 1 + NNX.XXXX even though Bell
Canada now requires 1 + 416 + NXX.XXXX within 416. Alas, the extra
delays in the connection setup via Unitel over straight long distance
outweigh any savings in dialing three fewer digits.

There is a grace period allowed for an initial voice connection, so
that fax connections may be made by voice first. The idea is that any
voice after the grace period will be cut off as required by tariff.
Some months back, Unitel checked out the competing fax service by Bell
Canada/Telecom Canada and found that their grace period was quite
extensive, enough to make regular voice calls instead of fax calls ...
a bit of a scoop for Unitel.

------------------------------

From: David E A Wilson <munnari!cs.uow.edu.au![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Hangup Indication
Organization: Dept of Computer Science, Wollongong University
Date: Mon, 26 Nov 90 21:50:32 GMT


Here in Australia the "remote end has hung up" condition is indicated
by a continuously repeated beep pause beep pause ... I have no
experience with answering machines but we have a couple of Bit Blitzer
1200bps modems which are quite happy to chat to the beep beep tone for
days on end (not very good for what were at one stage our fastest
dial-in lines to the campus).


David Wilson    Dept Comp Sci, Uni of Wollongong    [e-mail]

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V10 #846
******************************










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Date:     Tue, 27 Nov 90 2:26:06 CST
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
[To]:     [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V10 #847
BCC:
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Tue, 27 Nov 90 02:25:55 CST    Volume 10 : Issue 847

Inside This Issue:                         Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Prodigy "Protestors" Respond [Steven W. Grabhorn]
    Hackers Break Into DEA Lines [Joe Abernathy, via CuD / Houston Chronicle]
    Ontario Government Subsidizes TDDs [Nigel Allen]
    Interesting Article About Spread Spectrum Comms [Alain Fontane]
    MCI Improves Customer Service [David Lemson]
    Slammed! Default Carrier Changed Without Okay [Roger Preisendefer]
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: "Steven W. Grabhorn" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Prodigy "Protestors" Respond
Date: 27 Nov 90 05:33:19 GMT
Organization: Naval Ocean Systems Center, San Diego


I know we've seen quite a bit of discussion about Prodigy in the last
several weeks, however, I'd like to pass along an article I received
from some of the Prodigy members involved in the "protest."  Prodigy
certainly does own its own service and it seems like they can do what
they see fit with it.  However, I thought it might be a good idea to
forward some thoughts from the other side of the fence. Although I use
Prodigy occasionally, the thoughts below may or may not reflect my own
feelings, and the usual disclaimers about myself and my employer
apply.

               ----------Begin Article------------

NEW PRODIGY GUIDELINES RESTRICT USE OF PRIVATE E-MAIL

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, NOVEMBER 24, 1990:

Prodigy Service, the IBM/Sears owned home computer service, has taken
another unprecedented step in its clampdown on private electronic
communication.

In what appears to be a direct response to the growing strength and
visibility of Prodigy members who are protesting Prodigy's abandonment
of its much publicized "flat fee" billing structure and proposed
e-mail charges, the service has very quietly issued a new set of
"messaging guidelines" (see attached) [not included ?? -sg].]
Imposition of these guidelines will restrict the private exchange of
information on Prodigy in ways never before attempted on a commercial
online service.

Russ Singer, a protest coordinator remarks, "Obviously Prodigy feels
an informed membership is not in their best interest."

Six days after being issued, existence of the new regulations is
unknown to most Prodigy users.  The guidelines have not been announced
on the "Highlights" screen members encounter when logging on to the
service.

Among the guidelines, which take effect immediately, are prohibitions
on: Contacting Prodigy's online merchants and advertisers for any
reason other than to "purchase goods and services" and to "communicate
about specific orders placed online"; "A mailing with a request to
recipients to continue distribution to others," which Prodigy
describes as "chain letters". Use of "automated message distribution
programs (other than those provided by Prodigy); and the threat of
termination of users who fail to provide a credit card number but who
continue to send a large number of messages .

The guidelines are vague and raise disturbing questions about free
speech and the sanctity of private communication. These issues have
aroused the concern of the ACLU and other legislative and consumer
groups.  Although issued universally, the intent of the guidelines
seems aimed at stemming the protest.

Says Henry Niman, another protest coordinator, "These guidelines don't
make sense from a monetary standpoint. If Prodigy goes ahead with
e-mail charges, in only five weeks these rules will be unnecessary."
Although $.25 per message would afford Prodigy a bloated profit
margin, most users on the service would find the cost prohibitive.

Adds Niman, "These regulations do nothing more than create confusion
and intimidation. What purpose is served by requiring, under threat of
termina- tion, a credit card number from members who have already
established a billing arrangement with the service?"

Should e-mail charges be imposed, Prodigy, which is believed to be 80%
advertiser supported, will have created an electronic marketplace in
which merchants cannot benefit from customer to customer referrals.
With the addition of Prodigy's latest guidelines, merchants will be
denied customer feedback on the condition of that marketplace.  Many
protesters are asking, "Don't advertisers have an interest in knowing
what management is doing?"

Singer adds, "If what Prodigy wants to be is a shopping mall then it
should advertise itself that way, not as a flat rate interactive
service.  Restricting users to submitting posts to Prodigy's public
bulletin boards makes Prodigy no more 'interactive' than a letter to
the editor in a newspaper."

Prodigy's campaign to silence dissent on the service began on October
30th when Prodigy expelled ten of the most visible members of the
protest group (The Cooperative Defense Committee). An hour later
discussion of e-mail charges was prohibited on the only PUBLIC forum
provided for member feedback .  Fifteen days later, Prodigy targeted
four more protesters by sending them newly devised "warning" notices
informing them that private "mass mailings" might be used as grounds
for termination.

If Prodigy's new "guidelines" applied universally, you would not be
getting this FAX.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT:  PENELOPE HAY [phone]


Steve Grabhorn, Code 645, Naval Ocean Systems Center, San Diego, CA, 92152
Phone:[phone] Internet:[e-mail] UUCP:..!sdcsvax!nosc!grabhorn

------------------------------

From: chron!magic322![e-mail](Joe Abernathy)
Subject: Hackers Break Into DEA Lines
Date: Wed, 21 Nov 90 17:32:59 CST


[Moderator's Note: Reprinted from the current issue (2.13) of Computer
Underground Digest. Subscriptions to CuD may be obtained by writing to
the Moderators: tk0jut2.niu.bitnet.  PAT]

                        ------------------

   "Hackers break into DEA lines:  Long-distance Service the Target"
      From:  Houston Chronicle, Saturday, Nov. 17, 1990 (p. 1A)
        By JOE ABERNATHY  (Copyright 1990, Houston Chronicle)

Computer hackers and others stole long distance service worth up to
$1.8 million from the government through the Houston offices of the
Drug Enforcement Administration, the agency acknowledged Friday.

"We became aware of it last spring," said DEA spokesman Thomas
Lentini.  "Southwestern Bell telephone security told us that they
suspected somebody was hacking into our FTS system. That's the Federal
Telephone System."

The agency cannot estimate the precise value of the long distance
service since it used a dedicated line without per-call billing.  But
an Arizona prosecutor who specializes in computer fraud has estimated
that such a breach can use service worth at least $100,000 a month.

Self-described hackers told the Houston Chronicle that hundreds of
people around the nation used the government phone lines over a period
of 18 months.

The DEA has taken measures to protect its system, Lentini said.

The thefts were discovered during a nationwide, previously undisclosed
Southwestern Bell investigation into the fraudulent use of phone
credit cards.

"There were some folks that were making unauthorized use of customers'
credit cards," said Ken Brasel, Southwestern Bell spokesman. "In our
investigation of these people we discovered that they had used these
credit cards to call a local number which turned out to be the DEA."

By punching in an access code after connecting with this number,
callers could place outgoing calls using the federal government's
dedicated, private phone lines.

"You just had to dial 8 and you could go anywhere," said a hacker who
brought the DEA system invasion to the Chronicle's attention.
"Hundreds used it."

"A guy even walked up to me in Safeway once and asked if I'd heard
about the 221 PBX," said another hacker.

These two and other hackers, identifying themselves by their computer
system "handles" but declining to give their real names, discussed the
matter with a Chronicle reporter in a series of late-night conference
calls that they initiated.

PBX, or private branch exchange, is the name given to the telephone
switching systems used in medium to large companies, while 221 is the
downtown prefix of the three DEA lines offering access into the
federal phone system.

"The way the system works is we call an access number that puts us
into FTS, then we can call anywhere," Lentini said, explaining that
the system was dedicated to upper management's use, typically for
calls to Washington.

"In effect, they have their own WATS line," Brasel said. "When they
talk from here to Washington, they don't go through an AT&T operator."

The phone lines were used both for normal calls and for computer data
telecommunications, hackers said, and calls were placed around the
world.

According to the Arizona state attorney general's office, which has
become renowned for its vigorous pursuit of hackers, PBXs are a prime
source for overseas phone fraud, and give hackers a layer of security.
If a call is traced,it is traced back to the company that owns the
PBX, not to the hacker.

"In the last two years it's just skyrocketed in terms of
international" calls, said Gail Thackeray, an assistant attorney
general in Arizona. "All of the long distance carriers are under
siege."

Thackeray estimated in a recent Chronicle interview that PBX abuse
will cost industry $500 million this year. According to her formulas,
the DEA hackers may have used service worth $100,000 or more during
each of the 18 months in which the agency's phone system was
compromised.

"We have some anti-social, fairly dangerous hackers out there because
of the size of tools they have," Thackeray said.

Assisted by computers, the hackers find the PBX numbers through trial
and error by calling all available numbers in a prefix. "Numbers get
passed around like a stock commodity," said one.

A breach can go undetected for a long time because the government
doesn't render bills on its dedicated phone lines.

"Once the break-in was discovered, we immediately changed the access
number," Lentini said.

"We worked with Southwestern Bell trying to determine who the culprit
was and we just couldn't do it," he said. "They were getting into it
from pay telephones" as well as from residences and places of
employment.

"Southwestern Bell is still monitoring our lines for indicators that
they're hacking into it again."

Referring to the larger investigation of credit card fraud, Brasel
urged that consumers exercise caution.

"What these guys were doing is calling up and saying 'We're from AT&T
and we've had a computer failure' and they say 'We need your credit
card number and your PIN (personal identification number),' " he said.
"That's like giving someone the key to the bank vault. You just don't
do that."

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 26 Nov 90 00:45 EST
From: Nigel Allen <[e-mail]>
Subject: Ontario Government Subsidizes TDDs
Organization: Contact Public Unix BBS. Toronto, Canada.


Effective October 1, 1990, the Ontario government pays part of the
cost of telecommunications devices for the deaf (TDDs) for deaf and
hearing-impaired people.

The subsidies are arranged through the Assistive Devices Program of
the Ontario Ministry of Health, which also subsidizes the purchase of
artificial limbs and wheelchairs. (In some U.S. states, I think TDD
purchases are subsidized through an explicit surcharge on telephone
bills.)

According to information that appeared in the newsletter of the
Canadian Hearing Society, the government will pay 75% of the cost of
the TDD up to a maximum of $400. It will also pay 75% of the cost of a
signalling device (such as a flashing light) which indicates that the
phone is ringing.

The first TDDs were obsolete telephone company teletypes. They were
often reconditioned by telephone company employees and retirees on
their own time, as part of their volunteer work with the Telephone
Pioneers of America. Subsequenly, a number of manufacturers developed
modern, light-weight TDDs, which use the same slow transmission speed
and limited character set as the obsolete teletypes.

Both the Canadian Hearing Society and Bell Canada's Telecommunications
Centre for Special Needs sell TDDs.

For more information, call the Assistive Devices Branch, Ontario
Ministry of Health, 6th Floor, 7 Overlea Blvd., Toronto, Ontario M4H
1A8, Canada, at [phone]. The TDD number is 1-800-268-8023,
which is probably good only in Ontario.


Nigel Allen             [e-mail]
52 Manchester Avenue    voice [phone]
Toronto, Ontario  M6G 1V3, Canada     fax [phone]

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 26 Nov 90 10:47:29 +0100
From: "Alain FONTAINE (Postmaster - NAD)" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Interesting Article About Spread Spectrum Comms


The August '90 issue of IEEE Spectrum (Vol 27 N 8) contains an
interesting article about the forthcoming commercial usage of spread
spectrun techniques. The four page article by Donald L.  Schilling,
Raymond L. Pickholtz and Laurence B. Milstein explains, in simple
terms, the theory upon which spread spectrum radio communication is
based, and give some hindsights about the probable use of the
technique in the future.

The readers of the TELECOM Digest will probably be most interested by
the considerations made about cellular telephony. It seems that the
opinion of the authors is that the (TDMA) digital cellular system now
ready for deployment will not be the ultimate system. They cite the
following figures: the current (FDM) analog system can support up to
55 simultaneous conversations in each cell; the planned (TDMA) digital
system will immediatly support three times that number (165), with a
future possible maximum of 330.  The use of spread spectrum (CDMA)
techniques would, according to the result of computations performed by
the authors, allow over 1000 simultaneous conversations in the same
bandwith. The authors also explain how CDMA is inherently more immune
to the destructive effects of multipath transmissions.


AF

------------------------------

From: David Lemson <[e-mail]>
Subject: MCI Improves Customer Service
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Mon, 26 Nov 90 14:46:06 GMT


I was at my parents' house this weekend for the holiday and had
occasion to call MCI's Customer Service 800 number (800-444-4444) to
ask a few questions about hours of the my parents' PrimeTime plans.

I noticed that they have made some very good improvements in their
auto-attendant.  When you call, the first thing you hear is a message
telling you that if you want to use the computer attendant, press 1.
If you want to talk to an operator, hold on.  Then, it asks if you
want commercial accounts, if so, press 1.  If you are just an ordinary
Joe, just hold on for an operator.  I waited a total of about 15-20
seconds before an operator was on the line.

I think they're really responding to the "It took so long before I
could talk to a real person!" propaganda.

On the other side of the coin, I recently had to call NEC
Technologies' non-800 customer service number (in the 708 NPA).  I had
to wade through at least 6 auto-attendant menus just to reach someone
who didn't even know about what the menus indicated she would.  I
really understand why some people don't like these things.


David E. Lemson UofI Computing Svcs Student Consultant
Internet : [e-mail]  University of Illinois, Urbana

------------------------------

Subject: Slammed! Default Carrier Changed Without Okay
From: Roger Preisendefer <lighthouse!phantom![e-mail]>
Date: Mon, 26 Nov 90 20:01:21 EST
Organization: Cyberspace Five


I just opened my telephone bill for the month, and found that my long
distance carrier is now US Sprint.  A call to 700-555-4141 confirms
that this is the default carrier.  What is the best way to handle
this?  I am fairly pissed, and would like to raise a stink.


Roger Preisendefer


[Moderator's Note: Call the Business Office and tell them to change it
back to whatever you want and to note the records there is never to be
any change made without your personal okay.  PAT]

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V10 #847
******************************










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Date:     Tue, 27 Nov 90 21:24:52 CST
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
[To]:     [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V10 #848
BCC:
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Tue, 27 Nov 90 21:24:42 CST    Volume 10 : Issue 848

Inside This Issue:                         Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Re: The "Bell" Logo [Glenn R. Stone]
    Re: The "Bell" Logo [Douglas Scott Reuben]
    Re: The "Bell" Logo [Carol Springs]
    Re: Keeping a Line "Busy" Without a Phone Off Hook [Rop Gonggrijp]
    Re: Keeping a Line "Busy" Without a Phone Off Hook [Tad Cook]
    Re: Keeping a Line "Busy" Without a Phone Off Hook [[e-mail]]
    Re: IDG Hackers [John G. Dobnick]
    Re: IDG Hackers [John Macdonald]
    Re: Return*Call Humor [Matt Funkchick]
    Re: CENTREX/10BaseT Conflict [Carol Farlow Lerche]
    Re: TELECOM Digest Guide to Special Prefixes/Numbers [Matthew McGehrin]
    Re: Turkey City Codes [Fuat C. Baran]
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: "Glenn R. Stone" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: The "Bell" Logo
Date: 26 Nov 90 22:24:58 GMT
Organization: Dead Poets Society


In <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (John Higdon) writes:

[about the "bell" logo being PD]

>Patrick, I believe you are mistaken. Unlike the "walking fingers"
>[...]  the Bell logo was made the
>collective property of the seven RBOC's in the MFJ. I believe there is
>at least one RBOC still actively using the logo even though most have
>dropped it.

Yep.  Southern Bell still uses the old "Ma Bell" symbol; it's right
here on my phone bill envelope.  It's also high atop the Southern Bell
tower on West Peachtree, three blocks from the Georgia Tech campus
where I'm typing this.  They're even using the same font to spell
"Southern Bell"... although the little subtitle "A BELLSOUTH Company"
is different.

Another interesting tidbit in my phone bill this month: Southern Bell
is now implementing a late charge.  Effective 1/1/91, anyone who has
an unpaid past due balance of more than $30 will be charged 1.25% per
month.

No comment.


Glenn R. Stone ([e-mail]) -- Atlanta, GA


[Moderator's Note: Most telcos have charged a late fee for years. It
really is fair, considering they have to pay their bills like anyone
else.   PAT]

------------------------------

Date: 27-NOV-1990 00:45:38.23
From: Douglas Scott Reuben <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: The "Bell" Logo


Hi-

John Higdon posted about use of the old Bell System logo among the
RBOCs:

I know NYNEX (New York Tel and New England Tel) uses the Bell in its
logo, as do the individual operating companies of NY Tel and New
England Tel.  (And their Mobile division, occasionally...) An employee
at NE Tel told me a few years ago that NYNEX wanted to get rid of the
Bell logo wherever the word "NYNEX" appears, but so far they don't
seem to have implemented this yet.

SNET (Southern New England Tel, NOT part of NYNEX, thankfully!),
doesn't use the Bell logo anymore (although it has replaced it with a
cheap copy), but their mobile division (SONECOR? or is it
SNET-Mobilcom?) still uses the Bell on some of their literature,
probably to distinguish it from Metro Mobile, the "A" cellular
carrier. (They are not an "RBOC", nor in one.)

Bell Atlantic (C&P Tel, Diamond State Tel, Bell of PA, NJ Bell, more?)
still uses the Bell symbol on all of its divisions, ie, "Bell
Atlantic" the RBOC, all of the local Bells, and the mobile division.

Bell South (well, ok, whatever the Bell is in New Orleans - South
Central Bell?) also seems to use the logo, although I am not sure what
the mobile division uses.

I'm not sure about Ameritech (Midwest) as a whole, but I THINK the
payphones at O'Hare and Midway said Illinois Bell and had the Bell
logo next to it.  (This was six months ago, so maybe it changed.)
Don't know if "Ameritech" the RBOC uses it, though.

US West (at least the ex-Pacific Northwest Bell BOC) USED to use it,
until maybe about January, 1990. I have a Bend, Oregon directory from
1989, and it has the logo, but the newer 1990-1991 book does not. If I
remember correctly, there was a small passage in the newer book
stating that PNB was changing its name to "US West", or something to
that effect.

As to Pac*Bell, well, they kept the word "Bell", but I guess the like
the highly original asterisk symbol a lot better! :-) (They must have
searched REALLY hard for that logo! "Gee ... let's use one of the
buttons on the phone!")  Interestingly, I see a lot of their products
in stores (phones, answering machines, etc.) that say "Pac*Tel" and
have the Bell logo next to it, but I don't see it anywhere else.
(There is also some other company, maybe it is Northwestern Bell?,
that has a logo "Bell Phones" in bold type and a Bell logo next to it.
There is also Southwestern Bell, which has the standard SWB/Bell logo
 ... nothing new there.)

Anyone know what Cincinnati Bell (not a "real" BOC, and certainly not
an RBOC) uses? Maybe they borrowed SNET's! (or more likely, SNET
borrowed Cincinnati Bell's! :-) )


Doug

[e-mail]
[e-mail]

------------------------------

From: Carol Springs <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: The "Bell" Logo
Date: Mon, 26 Nov 90 13:06:50 EDT


In Volume 10, Issue 845, John Higdon writes:

>...the bell logo was made the
>collective property of the seven RBOC's in the MFJ. I believe there is
>at least one RBOC still actively using the logo even though most have
>dropped it.

New England Telephone uses the logo on its bills and envelopes.
Perhaps NET's continued use of the bell-in-circle serves to emphasize
NET's status as a "real" telco despite the absence of "Bell" in its
name.


Carol Springs                      [e-mail]

------------------------------

From: Rop Gonggrijp <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Keeping a Line "Busy" Without a Phone Off Hook
Date: 26 Nov 90 19:00:21 GMT
Organization: Hack-Tic


[e-mail] (Dan Boehlke) writes:

>What is the best way to busy a phone line?  I have a bank of modems
>and from time to time I need to pull one from the pool.  Some modems
>have a "busy out" swtich.  My modems do not have a switch.  Pulling a
>modem causes the hunt to stop at modem I pulled, giving the caller a
>"no one is home" type ring.  I have heard that putting a resistor
>accross the wire is enough to hold it off hook.

It's even simpler: just short the phone wires (tip and ring) and
presto.

>If memory serves it was a 1000ohm resistor.  I have hesitated to do
>this without trying to learn more.  What effect does this have on the
>switch?  Does the effect varry from phone switch to phone switch?

1000 ohms definitely sounds too high. If you insist on using a
resistor, use 10 ohms instead. The switch itself limits the current to
about 20-50 mA so there should be no problem. Always play with toys
they tell you not to play with..... ;*)


Rop Gonggrijp ([e-mail]) is also editor of  Hack-Tic (hack/phreak mag.)
Postbus 22953    (in DUTCH)   1100 DL  AMSTERDAM   tel: [phone]

------------------------------

From: hpubvwa!ssc![e-mail]
Subject: Re: Keeping a Line "Busy" Without a Phone Off Hook
Date: 27 Nov 90 06:42:40 GMT


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Dan Boehlke)
writes:

> What is the best way to busy a phone line?  I have a bank of modems
> and from time to time I need to pull one from the pool.  Some modems
> have a "busy out" swtich.  My modems do not have a switch.  Pulling a
> modem causes the hunt to stop at modem I pulled, giving the caller a
> "no one is home" type ring.  I have heard that putting a resistor
> accross the wire is enough to hold it off hook.  If memory serves it
> was a 1000ohm resistor.  I have hesitated to do this without trying to
> learn more.  What effect does this have on the switch?  Does the
> effect varry from phone switch to phone switch?

The resistor should be a value that, when combined with the resistance
of the line, is small enough to draw at least 22 ma or so of loop
current.

But no need to use a resistor ... just temporarily short the line.
The CO will see busy, although after awhile it will cut off battery to
the line in modern digital switches.  Once you are ready to use the
line again, in some exchanges you may have to leave the line unshorted
and on hook for several minutes before the switch will test the line
and return full CO battery to it.


Tad Cook  Seattle, WA  Packet: KT7H @ N7HFZ.WA.USA.NA  Phone: [phone]
MCI Mail: 3288544      Telex: 6503288544 MCI UW
USENET:...uw-beaver!sumax!amc-gw!ssc!tad   or, [e-mail]

------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (System Administration)
Subject: Re: Keeping a Line "Busy" Without a Phone Off Hook
Date: 26 Nov 90 21:22:37 GMT
Organization: Hale Telecommunications San Diego CA


> What is the best way to busy a phone line?  I have a bank of modems
> and from time to time I need to pull one from the pool.  Some modems
> have a "busy out" swtich.  My modems do not have a switch.  Pulling a
> modem causes the hunt to stop at modem I pulled, giving the caller a
> "no one is home" type ring.  I have heard that putting a resistor
> accross the wire is enough to hold it off hook.  If memory serves it
> was a 1000ohm resistor.  I have hesitated to do this without trying to
> learn more.  What effect does this have on the switch?  Does the
> effect varry from phone switch to phone switch?

When I need to busy out a port, I just dial out to the port's own
number, at least in my area, this will busy the line (since the line
is off hook, and the number being dialed will always be busy.  I'm not
sure how your hunt works, but here, only the original number will
forward into the group, so if you call a number in the middle of the
group, it is not forwarded.  I guess this couldn't be used on the main
number, as you'd get forwarded to your next port.


System Administrator     Hale Telecommunications Public Access
[e-mail]         619-660-6734 8N1 1200-2400
USENET  UUCP             SYSOP SUPPORT

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 27 Nov 90 12:56:08 -0600
From: John G Dobnick <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: IDG Hackers

>> magazine, prompted two Staten Island, N.Y., teen-age brothers to break
>> into the telephone mail system at International Data Group's
>> Peterborough, N.H., office - where Gamepro is published - and cause
>> $2.4 million worth of damage.

> I wonder how likely that figure is to shrink under the gaze of a
> competent defense lawyer

> [Moderator's Note: Suppose the damage was only $24,000; or $240, or
> $24.  Then what?   PAT]

To the Moderator, re: your comments...

I have no sympathy for the "teen-age brothers" who allegedly trashed
the phone mail system -- if they are guilty they must pay the
consequences.  And perhaps be made examples of.  [Cheee...  am I in a
vindictive mood this morning, or what?  :-) ]

However, I agree with the poster, Mr. Izenberg, about the "spector of
Bellsouth".  It will be interesting to see how much the claimed monetary
damages have been "inflated".  [I find the $2.4 million hard to swallow.]


John G Dobnick  (JGD2)
Computing Services Division @ University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
INTERNET: [e-mail]             ATTnet: [phone]
UUCP: uunet!uwm!csd4.csd.uwm.edu!jgd

------------------------------

From: John Macdonald <eci386![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: IDG Hackers
Reply-To: John Macdonald <eci386![e-mail]>
Organization: Elegant Communications Inc.
Date: Tue, 27 Nov 1990 11:05:31 -0500


|[Moderator's Note: Suppose the damage was only $24,000; or $240, or
|$24.  Then what?   PAT]

Pat, are you trying to say that it doesn't matter how much damage was
done?  The and importance and concerns are the same for $2.4M and $24?
Do you consider the offence to be identical when one person kicks over
a sand castle and another dynamites a ten story building?

Certainly it is a cause for concern when people break into a computer,
but I feel that the amount of damage actually done, if any, is an
important consideration in deterining the appropriate response for
society to take.

BellSouth's previous actions have provided a very strong precedent for
distrusting even the scale of damage when estimated by the victim.
The fact that we can be seriously be discussing the possibility that
the damage estimate is inflated by a factor of a hundred thousand is
somewhat frightening in itself.


John Macdonald    jmm@eci386


[Moderator's Note: It is not clear to me what BellSouth's actions in
their litigation have to do with the most recent case of vandalism and
burglary. Why are you trying to associate the one with the other? If
you don't like it when hackers are stereotyped or painted with one
brush then you would do well to extend the same courtesy to telcos and
computer sites. And no, the monetary value is not nearly as important
as is the nearly forgotten and frequently ignored ethical value called
'respect for the property rights of others'. I really get sick of
hearing this bologna about how hackers/phreakers are so different,
oh-so-special, such prima donnas whose only offense was that due to
their high degree of intelligence and insatiable curiosity they got
into someplace they don't belong and that the rest of us have to cater
to them rather than risk possibly traumatizing them with a jail
sentence followed by federal probation.   PAT]

------------------------------

From: funky chicken <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Return*Call Humor
Organization: University of Chicago
Date: Mon, 26 Nov 90 17:35:59 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Ken
Weaverling) describes how his girl friend had "Return*called" a crank
call, yelling at the caller, only to have that person return the call
and act as if she were the crank caller.  He concludes:

>We sat around puzzled for a moment, then finally figured out that
>there must be several extensions in their house and the original crank
>call must have originated, perhaps, with a child, and the child's
>Mother answered our Return*Call.

Or else the real crank caller was at another number and was forwarding
calls to another one of his/her victims.


Matt Funkchick


[Moderator's Note: This raises a good point. When a call reaches you
via forwarding through some other number, does 'return call' go to the
forwarded number or the original caller? Likewise for Call Screening
and Caller-ID: *whose* ID gets passed for the purpose of callback
and/or screening, etc?   PAT]

------------------------------

From: Carol Farlow Lerche <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: CENTREX/10BaseT Conflict
Organization: Research Libraries Group
Date: Tue, 27 Nov 90 07:43:11 GMT


The problem with using an existing cable to carry both voice pairs and
10BaseT Ethernet is not so much inductive coupling getting ringing
into the data but rather the possibility that a telephone installer
will place a live phone line _onto_ your 10BaseT connection one day.

------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Matthew McGehrin)
Subject: Re: TELECOM Digest Guide to Special Prefixes/Numbers
Date: 27 Nov 90 03:16:17 GMT


In New Jersey, most parts a ring back can be accomplished by dialing

                                55x-####

 ... where x is a number from 1 to 9, and # is the last four digits of
your phone number. In North Jersey, 200 and 400 exchanges work,
sometimes 600 also works, it depends, if you dial 1201-200-#### (#
>0,<9998), it will give a recording saying '201-200-####' is not in
service, then bill you for that call. Called up the local office and
asked what number was 200, I could see the look on their faces  :)


matthew

ProLine : matthew@pro-sherwood    Internet: [e-mail]
UUCP: crash!pro-sherwood!matthew  ARPA: crash!pro-sherwood![e-mail]

------------------------------

From: "Fuat C. Baran" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Turkey City Codes
Organization: Columbia University Center for Computing Activities
Date: Tue, 27 Nov 90 22:10:37 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (VLD/VMB) writes:

>90  Turkey

>    1 or 11  Istanbul

I think just 1.

>    41  Ankara

Ankara is now 4.

They went from six (2+4) to seven digits (3+4) local phone numbers a
couple of years ago at which time Ankara went from 41 to 4.


Fuat

Internet: [e-mail]          U.S. MAIL: Columbia University
  BITNET: fuat@cunixf                           Center for Computing Activities
    UUCP: ...!rutgers!columbia!cunixf!fuat      712 Watson Labs, 612 W115th St.
   Phone: [phone]  Fax: [phone]   New York, NY 10025

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V10 #848
******************************










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Date:     Tue, 27 Nov 90 22:53:26 CST
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
[To]:     [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V10 #849
BCC:
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Tue, 27 Nov 90 22:52:55 CST    Volume 10 : Issue 849

Inside This Issue:                         Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Re: US Sprint Offers Conference Calling [Randy Borow]
    Re: US Sprint Offers Conference Calling [Lars Poulsen]
    Re: Keeping a Line "Busy" Without a Phone Off Hook [Brian Kantor]
    Re: The "Bell" Logo [Barry Margolin]
    Re: Unitel FacsRoute With Modems [Peter Smith]
    Re: New Area Codes and Intl. Dialling [Tom Gray]
    Re: BRI to the Home: When? [Fred R. Goldstein]
    Re: Hackers Break Into DEA Lines [John R. Covert]
    Re: Prodigy "Protesters" Respond [Henry Mensch]
    Programming Cellular Phones [Eric Varsanyi]
----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Date: Mon Nov 26 14:23:06 CST 1990
Subject: Re: US Sprint Offers Conference Calling


In reply to G.S. Thurman's raves about Sprint's conference calling
service:

        Big deal. Has Mr. Thurman (I'm assuming a male here) been
living in a cave? U.S. Sprint didn't "start this service," as he
lauds. AT&T has had something even better (and far less confusing, I
might add) for some time now.  It's called Alliance Teleconferencing.

        It works in a similar way, by using the "#" and "*" keys, but
also has many other enhanced features Sprint cannot yet match. I've
used Alliance several times and love it. It even has a "Meet Me"
feature which allows all conferees to start the conference at a
predetermined time simply by calling a secure, private access number.

        Once again, AT&T leads; the others follow.

Randy Borow    Rolling Meadows, IL.   [phone]

------------------------------

From: Lars Poulsen <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: US Sprint Offers Conference Calling
Organization: Rockwell CMC
Date: Tue, 27 Nov 90 22:22:26 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (George S.
Thurman) writes (some hype deleted):

>US SPRINT ... now offer the ability to make conference calls on their
>Network ... at no extra charge until February 16, 1991, when
>there will be a 75 cent surcharge if you use this feature with your
>FONCARD(sm).

(1) Does this mean that the service is available without a
    surcharge on 10xxx calls from my home phone ?

>The new service will be known as QUICKCONFERENCE(sm), and instructions
>are as follows:

>After you establish a connection with your first party, depress the
>"*" [for at least one full second] followed by 12. This brings an
>additional Sprint dial tone.  Dial the number of the next party.
>(Do NOT dial "0").  Depress "*" again followed this time by 13.
>You are now connected! To drop the additional party, or if the
>additional party's number is busy, dial "*" followed by 14.

(2) How many parties can be conferenced?  Just three?  Five?
    Unlimited? (probably not, due to computer table space
    requirements).

    If only three parties allowed, it sounds like three-way calling
    without having to pay for presubscription to the feature.
    Nice, but not something I have missed at home; and at work,
    our PBX does three-way calls quite nicely.

    If this allows five or more participants with reasonable quality,
    it will be great competition for the AT&T conference call
    facility provided out of the special service centers.

(3) Is this provided through the switch at the IEC POP ?
    The described procedure would almost require this.
    How is the call billed? From the originator's location to
    each participant?

(4) Since the activation requires the switch to listen to data
    on the open call, will this not interfere with other uses
    of tone signalling? (Banking, remote control answering amchines
    and maybe even modems?) If it does, it would be a near disaster.

Is anyone from SPRint listening ?


Lars Poulsen, SMTS Software Engineer
CMC Rockwell  [e-mail]


[Moderator's Note: I'll defer to George Thurman to find out some of
the answers to your questions. As it was explained to me, this new
service from Sprint is intended to be a three-way call type thing
without the need to set something up via Alliance for folks (most of
us?) who rarely need that much conferencing ability.  It will be
billed as two calls from the originator to wherever.  PAT]

------------------------------

From: Brian Kantor <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Keeping a Line "Busy" Without a Phone Off Hook
Date: 27 Nov 90 19:41:46 GMT
Organization: The Avant-Garde of the Now, Ltd.


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Dan Boehlke)
wrote:

> What is the best way to busy a phone line?  I have a bank of modems

Our modem lines all enter on RJ21 "punchblocks" so I've got some
rather nice clips that can be pushed over the terminals on the blocks
and make contact with the pair that I want to busy out.  Between the
two terminals on the clip I have a red LED and a 270 ohm 1/2w resistor
in series.  As long as I get the clip on the right way, it busies out
the line and lights up so I can see that I've got one of the lines
busied out.

Since most of our modems have error correction, I've even gotten away
with putting one of these on a line that's in use -- when the user
disconnects, the line remains busy and I can then pull the modem at my
leisure.  The modem's error correction fixes the blast of noise from
the clip as I slip it in.


Brian

------------------------------

From: Barry Margolin <think![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: The "Bell" Logo
Organization: Thinking Machines Corporation, Cambridge MA, USA
Date: Tue, 27 Nov 90 23:09:03 GMT


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (John Higdon)
writes:

>the Bell logo was made the collective property of the seven RBOC's
>in the MFJ. I believe there is at least one RBOC still actively using
>the logo even though most have dropped it.

>Southwestern Bell puts it on its telephone products and there may be
>an eastern RBOC that still uses it. It is not in the public domain.

NYNEX still uses it.  We had a meeting today with a couple of NYNEX
representatives, and the Bell logo is emblazoned on their business
cards.


Barry Margolin       Thinking Machines Corp.
[e-mail]     {uunet,harvard}!think!barmar

------------------------------

From: psmith <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Unitel FacsRoute With Modems
Date: 28 Nov 90 00:04:57 GMT
Organization: School of Computer Science, Univ. of Windsor, Ontario, Canada


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Paul
Gauthier) writes:

> the use of Unitel's FacsRoute with modems. They say it will work
> perfectly and don't mind in the least if you do it.
 ...
> [Moderator's Note: Can you please give us the number to call for
> information on this service, with contact names if possible?   PAT]

Unitel's Sales office in (at least) SW Ontario is 1-800-265-7814.
Nobody there right now (7pm EST); guess they're not in Vancouver. :-)


Peter Smith

------------------------------

From: Tom Gray <mitel!spock![e-mail]>
Subject: Re: New Area Codes and Intl. Dialling
Date: 27 Nov 90 12:10:04 GMT
Reply-To: Tom Gray <mitel!smithd![e-mail]>
Organization: Mitel. Kanata (Ontario). Canada.


In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail]
writes:

>In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Olivier Giffard)
>writes:

>> I've just tried to dial a number in the 917 area code (non existent
>> yet) from France. I got a French intercept message just after dialing
>> the 7 of 917 saying that this code was not in service. What means has
>> a switch in France to know that. There must be some kind of table to

>Why is there an intercept?  So the company which catches the wrong
>number does not have to foot the bill for bandwidth to find out the
>number is not connected.  Invalid area codes are the simplest to
>check, since they change slowly, and there is a relatively small
>number of valid possibilities.

>Try dialling 19 44 81 603 xxxx, and see if you get a French intercept.

>[Moderator's Note: I just now tried it from Chicago, USA. It accepted
>the entire number (that is, 011-44-81-603-four more), and the response
>to me on each of several attempts was the same recorded announcement:
>You call cannot be completed by the telephone company in the country
>you are calling at this time. Please try your call again later."
>Interestingly, my call had left Chicago, gotten out of the USA and was
>sitting in limbo somewhere. Instead of playing the French recording to
>me, when AT&T heard something 'go wrong' over there, it yanked the
>connection back and played an English language message instead.  PAT]

There may have been a combination of factors going on here. When you
reached the international network, a different type of networking
(siganlling) exists than that usually used in the US. When you
siganlled the French network with your originate, there was probably
an English language source signal in the message. Thus you could have
been connected to an English language recording in France because of
this. More likely, the originate message for your call, was answered
with a reply of "non-existing number" from the French network.  The US
side gateway switch (international) then would have terminated the
call on a recording without wasting transatlantic bandwidth.

I wouldn't know the precise signalling scheme used on your call but
the CCITT signalling scheme R2 provides all of these services and is
used on international calls.

In any event, it would have been the gateway switch on either side of
the Atlantic that would have intercepted your call. The national
signalling systems in both countries are separated by the gateway. Any
reply from the French network would have been meaningless to the
normal ATT network. ATT would have completed your call to the US
gateway and then turned control of your call over to the gateway. The
US gateway would signal the French gateway which will in turn control
the setting up of the call in France. With multiple connections it is
possible that the gateways will signal between themselves with tones
which are meaningless to the national networks.  This always seems
like the gateways are using the national networks as large PBX's to
me.

------------------------------

From: "Fred R. Goldstein" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: BRI to the Home: When?
Date: 26 Nov 90 19:22:18 GMT
Organization: Digital Equipment Corp., Littleton MA USA


In article <[e-mail]>, [e-mail] (Jim
McCauley) writes:

>Little has changed in the interim to convince me that meaningful
>digital services will be made available to me by the gang at the other
>end of my pair of wires (Pacific Bell).  By "meaningful digital
>services," I mean:

>    1. Basic rate interface
>    2. Data interchange across switches (Signalling System 7)
>    3. An inexpensive BRI --> 9600 baud serial interface
>    4. A reasonable user interface for establishing data calls
>Do any of you telephone wizards out there in cyberspace have any idea
>when even such rudimentary services might be tariffed?

At least here in Massachusetts, where NYNEX/NET tends to be a little
behind other telcos in some areas, they've filed an ISDN tariff.  The
BRI will be a $5 supplement above normal exchange rates.  Packet on
the D channel will be $8/month (plus usage).  Packet on one B channel
will be $22/month (plus usage, at higher-than-voice rates).

The catch?  Besides the prices (basing switched data rates on an older
pre-ISDN CS-PDN tariff), they don't have SS7 in MA yet, so data
services are island-only.  That'll take until late 1991-1992 to get
into most offices.  Also, the price of customer equipment like
Terminal adapters is still pretty high, owing, I think, to low
volumes.  That will determine the user interface, not the net.

At least it's beginning to move.


Fred R. Goldstein              Digital Equipment Corp., Littleton MA
[e-mail]   voice: [phone]
 Do you think anyone else on the planet would share my opinions, let
 alone a multi-billion dollar corporation?

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 27 Nov 90 17:36:57 PST
From: "John R. Covert  27-Nov-1990 0921" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Hackers Break Into DEA Lines

>Thackeray estimated in a recent Chronicle interview that PBX abuse
>will cost industry $500 million this year. According to her formulas,
>the DEA hackers may have used service worth $100,000 or more during
>each of the 18 months in which the agency's phone system was
>compromised.

$100,000 in a month seems to be a little high.  Considering that a
full rate call to anywhere in the 48 states costs at most 25 cents a
minute, recalling that FTS restricts international calling, and not
taking the night and evening discount periods into account or the
savings the government gets having a private network (in other words,
considering each minute to be worth 25 cents), it would require
400,000 minutes of usage to cost $100,000.

That's more than nine hackers on the lines 24 hours a day, seven days
a week.  Unlikely.

john

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 27 Nov 90 09:24:50 -0500
From: Henry Mensch <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Prodigy "Protesters" Respond
Reply-To: [e-mail]


Sad to say, Mr. Grabhorn's informants are in error when they say these
changes were not made available via the "Highlights" screen (the first
screen you see after you sign on to *Prodigy*).

In fact, several times over the past few weeks the new e-mail changes
have been highlighted on the "Highlights" changes ("... to learn more,
[JUMP] <some e-mail jumpword>"), and that's how I learned about them.


# Henry Mensch    /   <[e-mail]>   /   E40-379 MIT,  Cambridge, MA
# <[e-mail]-relay> / <[e-mail]> / <[e-mail]>
#     via X.400: S=mensch; OU=informatik; P=tu-muenchen; A=dbp; C=de


[Moderator's Note: Although their techniques for dealing with the
users they perceive to be troublesome leave something to be desired,
Prodigy is not entirely at fault in this. Maybe it is unrealistic to
think of Prodigy as a system intended for email. In the next issue of
the Digest, I'll be printing a response from Prodigy management to
complaints and questions raised about their new rates.   PAT]

------------------------------

Date: Mon, 26 Nov 90 13:25:53 MST
From: Eric Varsanyi <[e-mail]>
Subject: Programming Cellular Phones


This weekend I bought a second cellular phone and actually managed to
install and program it myself. The phone only has a single NAM and I
would like to be able to use it on two different systems.

Motorola has an policy (enforced in software) of only allowing the NAM
in a phone to be programmed three times. After the third time it locks
out and attempts to get into programming mode.

On my first phone (Motorola 750 handheld) I found out how to clear the
counter from Motorola (it was like pulling teeth). It involves
shorting Pin 6 on the back of the phone to ground to get into
maintenance mode and then typing #32# to clear the phone out. Motorola
would not tell me what anything except #32# would do.

On the new phone (A Motorola MC200) they put the same silly
restriction on NAM programming. For some large sum of money they will
sell you an "adaptor" that goes between the DB25 on the tranceiver and
control head.  A local cellular installer told me that this adaptor
simply shorts two pins on the DB25 to get into the maintenance mode
(just like on the 750).

So, the question is: Does anyone out there (perhaps someone with a
NAMFAX) have any info on which pins get into maintenance mode on an
MC200?  Also, is there a generic list of commands that most Motorola
phones recognize once in maintenance mode (aside from #32#)?

Is there a good technical reason to not allow rampant reprogramming of
your NAM or is Motorola just doing this to ensure revenue for their
'factory authorized' service centers?


Eric Varsanyi ([e-mail])        Cray Computer Corporation


[Moderator's Note: They may have also gotten a little heat from the
cellular companies or the feds regarding fraudulent use of the phone.
It wouldn't be the first time for Motorola. Years ago they
manufactured a chip known as 021-A for forty channel CB radios. It was
(ahem!) programmable by the most simple-minded CB radio user. Anyone
with a solder gun and an Exacto-blade would get in there and cut the
trace which kept pin 16 from going low. Presto, 40 channel CB suddenly
can tune all the way to 27.805 megs provided the pirate technician
could broadband it and get it to oscillate up there. The FCC finally
got tired of it and leaned hard on Motorola to quit using that chip.  PAT]

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V10 #849
******************************










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Date:     Tue, 27 Nov 90 23:35:06 CST
From:     TELECOM Moderator <[e-mail]>
[To]:     [e-mail]
Subject:  TELECOM Digest V10 #850
BCC:
Message-ID:  <[e-mail]>


TELECOM Digest     Tue, 27 Nov 90 23:35:06 CST    Volume 10 : Issue 850

Inside This Issue:                         Moderator: Patrick A. Townson

    Prodigy Responds to E-Mail Criticism [Nigel Allen]
    Polish Payphones Revisited [Richard Budd]
    Slovak Payphones - Try Calling Long Distance [Richard Budd]
    Rochester Tel and AT&T Bring ISDN to the Home [Ted O. Burger]
    Pizza Pizza Toll-Free Cellular Number [Nigel Allen]
    AT&T Mail Advertising [Steve Forrette]
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Tue, 27 Nov 90 00:00 EST
From: Nigel Allen <[e-mail]>
Subject: Prodigy Responds to E-Mail Criticism
Organization: Contact Public Unix BBS. Toronto, Canada.


I haven't had the chance to use Prodigy (the company doesn't seem to
be interested in the Canadian market), but I thought people might want
to see Prodigy's attempts to defend its position on e-mail charges.

I found the following message on a hobbyist BBS. (I didn't actually
call California, but the message originated there.)

                     -------------

 * Original message from Robert Stone
 * Originally posted on HOTTIPS BBS, Glendale, Calif., [phone]

Thought you might find the following interesting, and laughable.  This
was handed out at COMDEX to a friend of mine, with the words, "We
don't give this to everyone, just those who persist in asking about
E-mail."  Oh, it was handed out by Prodigy at their booth.

11/9/90 handout at Comdex
Prodigy stationery

 Prodigy
 Interactive Personal Service
 Prodigy Services Company
 445 Hamilton Avenue
 White Plains, NY 10601

FACTS ABOUT MESSAGING ON THE PRODIGY SERVICE

On September 6th Prodigy announced a repricing of personal messages
sent on the Prodigy Service, effective Jan 1, 1991. Here are some
facts about the new charges.

The Prodigy service was designed to give American families a broad
range of information, services, and transactions with unequaled ease
of use and low coast. Some of our most popular features are news and
stock quotes, home shopping and banking, airline ticketing, stock
trading and our new encyclopedia, movie guide and travel guide.

Hundreds of features are available -- including 30 free personal
messages a month -- for a single, low flat fee of $9.95 a month in an
annual subscription.  Messages are delivered instantly anywhere in the
country and held for your family and friends when they're not at home.
Prodigy does not charge by the minute for any of these services and we
don't impose an access charge on any of our 500 local-call telephone
numbers nationwide. Our flat rate applies all the time without
restrictions to "off peak" hours.

We believe that remarkable value is unmatched by any media in America.
There are basically two reasons why we can offer so much for so
little.

First, subscription revenue from members is supplemented by the
commissions we earn when members buy things on the service.
(Advertising alone, doesn't cover our costs. It's member response to
that advertising that counts.) Every time you use the service to buy a
holiday gift, book an airline ticket, pay a bill, trade a stock, send
flowers or buy stamps, you are helping to assure the continuation of a
flat, unmetered fee.

Our unique distributed architecture accounts for the other part of the
flat-fee equation. Most Prodigy service features follow a "one-to
many" model. We send "data objects" from a central site to hundreds of
thousands of members' home computers, where they are processed.  The
efficiencies of this process are reflected in our low, flat annual
subscription fee.

(more on reverse side)

But personal messaging follows a different "one-to-Prodigy-to-one"
model. Every message goes through costly leased telephone lines (often
across the country), and is stored in our large central computers.
Every time a member wants to read a message, it must be sent -- on
demand -- back out over the network. This is much more expensive than
the "one-to-many" model.

When we began to test market in a few cities, we didn't have much
live usage experience.  We sized the network and set our flat-rate
price at levels that assumed a moderate amount of personal messaging
among families as part of a broad range of services.

Most families typically make a few dozen long distance telephone calls
a month. And that's the kind of messaging volume we expected.  We were
right -- in almost all cases. Well over 90% of member households sent
fewer than 30 messages a month.

A small minority of members used the Prodigy Service as a high-volume
"E-mail" network -- something we didn't expect and certainly can't
afford to offer at current rates. In retrospect, we see that we were
giving people the ability to run up the cost of the Prodigy service
without limit. As we approached our national launch in September, we
found that 3% of members were sending nearly 90% of personal messages.

A very small group of members had even created special programs
capable of flooding the network with thousands of messages. Messaging
volume was growing 20% as month and costs were escalating rapidly. We
were spending more money to lease more lines, add more mainframe and
storage capacity and divert skilled professionals to support this
single feature among the hundreds available -- a feature being used
very heavily by only a small percentage of members.

With our launch nationwide on September 6th, we faced a business
decision. We could continue to allow a small group of heavy messagers
to keep pushing up the costs, and pass those costs on to the general
membership in ever-higher fees.  Or we could ask those who received
the most value from heavy personal messaging to pay in proportion to
the value they receive. There was only one fair choice.

A flat 25-cent fee per personal message after 30 free per household
each month begins January 1 and will help us to recover some of the
many millions of dollars we spend to support this feature.

                                                              11/9/90

 * message forwarded by Nigel Allen ([e-mail])

------------------------------

From: Richard Budd <[e-mail]>
Date: Tue, 27 Nov 90 10.53.53  EST
Subject: Polish Payphones Revisited


In TELECOM Digest 10/469, Donald E. Kimberlin <0004133373@mcimail.
com> writes:

>        "`Since Polish payphone mechanisms were increased to
> 20 zlotys several months ago, 20-zloty coins have gone into hiding.

>         "`The payphone-sized 20-zlotycoins are selling on the streets
> for 200 to 1,000 zlotys apiece.'" (I still say cheap at a thousand
> zlotys -- about a dime U.S., isn't it?)

Wolf Paul <iiasa!cossun![e-mail]> writes:

> A Polish colleague of mine informs me that payphones were recently
> converted to use a special phone token, which presumably is available
> at the official rate at various outlets.

While visiting Krakow in September I discovered pay phones use two
different types of tokens, one for local and the other for long
distance The local token at the Hotel Cracovia was 500 Zloty (at the
equivalent of a nickel, still a bargain).  I do not know the price of
long-distance tokens.  For the telephones at the Hotel Cracovia, you
purchased tokens at the front desk.  Through a switching device in the
telephone, you could not dial local with a long-distance token and
vice versa.  We tried and received no connection.  No explanation,
just dead air.

This experience came courtesy of another traveller who had been
telephoning the Soviet Consulate in Krakow.  He was trying to obtain
an entry visa to bicycle through the Baltic States, for which he had
spent already a week in town (his adventures with the consulate's
telecom system would be an article in itself).  Telephone calls in
Poland are an exercise in patience.  He tried telephoning from the
student hotel where we were staying and received wrong numbers on his
first two tries even though he swore he dialed the correct numbers in
both cases.  The desk clerk explained to us that the telphone system
is so bad that it is not unusual to reach the wrong person on a first
try.  The clerk tried dialing the consulate yet a third time and
instead rung up a doctor's office.

Don't even attempt trying to call North America unless you're patient.
A teacher from London finally got a connection to the U.K. after four
days of trying.

While staying in Wroclaw (Breslau), there was a news item on TV that
the city had installed the nation's first public telephones
activitated through credit cards.  I couldn't understand the fine
details because it was in Polish.  From what my host explained to me,
the credit cards are issued by the telephone company and you insert
them into a slot in the telephone and then dial the number.  No word
yet how successful people have been with their calls.


Richard Budd     Marist College    Pughkeepsie, NY   [e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 27 Jul 90 11:20:13 EST
From: Richard Budd <[e-mail]>
Subject: Slovak Payphones - Try Calling Long Distance


While bicycling through Eastern Europe, I spent a few days in the east
Slovak city of Kosice.  A student from the university invited me to
spend the night with her and her family in Bardejov, about 60 km from
Kosice and asked me to telephone her to let her know when I was coming.
After two days in Kosice (a gem of a town and well off the tourist
track), I tried contacting her through a pay phone, a frustrating
experience.

A local telephone call in Czechoslovakia costs one crown (about a
nickel).  You place your one crown coin onto a small ramp that sticks
out from the top of the phone.  You then dial the number and if you
make the connection, the coin slides down the ramp and into the coin
box. It works with local calls, though you will be cut off suddenly
and without warning if you talk too long.  However it is impossible to
make a long distance call from these telephones.  Inserting more coins
will not work.  The telephone only accepts one 1Kcs coin and then only
to complete the initial connection.  You dial outside the area code
where the telephone is located and all you get is dead air.  At least
you do not lose your 1Kcs coin.

 From what I understand, payphones are a vestige of the tight government
control of the people that existed under the Communists.  According to
the telephone company, there was no need to telephone long distance from
a payphone.  There didn't seem to be much need for local calls either
since there were less than ten in the whole city and half of them were
out of order.

I later called the family in Bardejov from a private phone belong to
an engineer in Kosice, with whom I was staying.  There was no
difficulty reaching the other party, but the cost was over forty
crowns ($1.75) for two minutes, and this to a town the equivalent of
only 36 miles away and in a city where a three course meal can be had
for under a dollar.


Richard Budd    Marist College   Poughkeepsie, NY    [e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 27 Nov 90 12:16:47 EST
From: Ted O Burger <[e-mail]>
Subject: Rochester Tel and AT&T Bring ISDN to the Home


NEWS RELEASE BY ROCHESTER TELEPHONE -- Monday, November 26, 1990

Summary:  Rochester Tel teams up with AT&T for home ISDN trial

        Working with AT&T Network Systems, Rochester Tel has become
the first telephone company in the country to test a prototype
residential application of Integrated Services Digital Networks
(ISDN).  ISDN allows for the simultaneous tn was based on the serving
central office and other technical criteria.

        The results of the research will help AT&T determine whether
it will continue development of this product for commercial
distribution and, if so, the eventual configuration of the product.
Rochester Tel will have an indication of the local potential for the
product as well as some direction for targeting its marketing effort.
It will also give Rochester Tel hands-on experience with ISDN in the
residential market and with the deployment of ISDN in general.

        The controller will provide homes an affordable way to convert
a single line into a multi-line service with multiple directory
numbers.  One number could be for the family, one for children and one
for business use.  Through distinctive ringing, everyone will know who
is being called.  This will allow two totally separate voice
conversations and a data connection over one wire coming into the
home.

        In addition, for the first time ever, trial participants will
be using PRODIGY(R) services through its ISDN link.  PRODIGY(R) is an
inter-active personal computer service designed through a joint
venture of Sears and IBM.  With PRODIGY, users can bank and shop from
home, view news, weather and sports information, book and movie
reviews, play games, order airline tickets and do much more.

        The trial begins this month and will continue for the next
four months.  Employees of Rochester Tel and three other Rochester
area companies are participating; selection was based on the serving
central office and other technical criteria.

        The results of the research will help AT&T determine whether
it will continue development of this product for commercial
distribution and, if so, the eventual configuration of the product.
Rochester Tel will have an indication of the local potential for the
product as well as some direction for targeting its marketing effort.
It will also give Rochester Tel hands-on experience with ISDN in the
residential market and with the deployment of ISDN in general.

                        #               #               #

For additional information, contact:
Carol Schuhart, Project Manager-Rochester Tel at 716-777-7337
        or
Rich Meyer, Media Relations Manager-AT&T Network Systems at 201-606-2453


                        BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
                AT&T PROTOTYPE HOME NETWORK CONTROLLER

Allows customers to use existing analog equipment and home wiring to
support ISDN voice services.

Maintains continuous power to support basic telephone service when
commercial power is lost.

Provides for both incoming and outgoing call management under full
end-customer control.

Supports familiar features on analog equipment: For example, the
system signals with a simulated call waiting tone when a second call
is incoming; by depressing the switchhook, the customer can put the
first call on hold and answer the second.

Supplies an RS-232 interface port for administration and for direct
connection to the "D" channel for 9.6 Kbps packet data.

Provides for modular growth to support future enhancements.

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 25 Nov 90 23:28 EST
From: Nigel Allen <[e-mail]>
Subject: Pizza Pizza Toll-Free Cellular Number
Organization: Contact Public Unix BBS. Toronto, Canada.


The best-known telephone number in Toronto is 967-1111.  It belongs to
Pizza Pizza, a chain of pizza outlets with a single telephone number.
The company says your pizza is free if they don't deliver it within 30
minutes.  (The pizza itself is adequate but unexciting, but this is
not rec.cooking.gourmet.pizza.)  Pizza Pizza has dozens of outlets,
and perhaps a hundred or more incoming phone lines.

Its latest gimmick is fairly cute: a toll-free cellular number, #1111,
which reminds people of the 967-1111 number.

I'm familiar with toll-free cellular numbers sponsored by radio
stations to encourage people to phone in reports about traffic
problems (CFNY-FM, 102.1 MHz, can be reached at *102 from Cantel
phones) and ones sponsored by police departments (I think someone said
that *NC will get you the North Carolina Highway Patrol).  And there
are those to reach customer service for the cellular company.

This is the first toll-free cellular number I've seen that doesn't
fall into any of the above categories.


Nigel Allen   [e-mail]
52 Manchester Avenue      tel. [phone] (voice)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M6G 1V3    fax [phone]

------------------------------

Date: Tue, 27 Nov 90 03:01:07 -0800
From: Steve Forrette <[e-mail]>
Subject: AT&T Mail Advertising


I just received the November issue of "AT&T Home-Office Resources."
On the back cover is a list of product descriptions that you can get
by calling 800/722-2688.  Message number 170 is "AT&T Mail".  (Other
messages are about all sorts of things, like fax, operator services,
Reach Out America, etc.).  After listening to the message, you can
press "1" to be connected to an AT&T Mail rep.  Maybe they don't want
to keep it a secret anymore.

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V10 #850
******************************