TELECOM Digest Fri, 25 Feb 94 10:42:00 CST Volume 14 : Issue 104 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson Digital Cellphone Report - GSM (Juha Veijalainen) Methods For Calling USA From Europe? (Mario Valente) Technical Manual For an OKI 1150 (Barry Lustig) Looking For Long Distance Carrier Info For Business/Home (Craig Eid) Multimedia Conference (ICMCS 94) (Joseph Boykin) Update: Questions About Voice Mail (Stan Schwartz) Centrex/Key Phone System/PBX (lyre@mindvox.phantom.com) Telecommunications and Computers (Lars Kalsen) Who Sells Used Telecom Gear? (Pat Barron) Radio Program on History of the Telephone (Ralph Chapman) Neal-Wilkinson Trunk Capacity Table (Lars Borg) Why Are Rates to India Increasing? (Linc Madison) What Happened to my Answering Machine? (Yuxing Tian) Information Wanted on TR303, AIN 0.1 (Doug Hohulin) Information Needed on Satellite Phone (Min Hu) Information Wanted on FCC 91-115 (cristy@dupont.com) NYNEX "Slamming" 800 Business Directories? (Tom Betz) InterLATA CID (Terry J. Nelson) Re: Vermont Gets Ready For NNX Area Codes (John R. Levine) Re: Vermont Gets Ready For NNX Area Codes (Andy Behrens) CONNECT SysOp Subscription Discount Offer (Patricia Snyder-Rayl) TELECOM Digest is an electronic journal devoted mostly but not exclusively to telecommunications topics. It is circulated anywhere there is email, in addition to various telecom forums on a variety of public service systems and networks including Compuserve and GEnie. Subscriptions are available at no charge to qualified organizations and individual readers. Write and tell us how you qualify: * telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu * The Digest is compilation-copyrighted by Patrick Townson Associates of Skokie, Illinois USA. We provide telecom consultation services and long distance resale services including calling cards and 800 numbers. To reach us: Post Office Box 1570, Chicago, IL 60690 or by phone at 708-329-0571 and fax at 708-329-0572. Email: ptownson@townson.com. ** Article submission address only: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu ** Our archives are located at lcs.mit.edu and are available by using anonymous ftp. The archives can also be accessed using our email information service. For a copy of a helpful file explaining how to use the information service, just ask. TELECOM Digest is gatewayed to Usenet where it appears as the moderated newsgroup comp.dcom.telecom. It has no connection with the unmoderated Usenet newsgroup comp.dcom.telecom.tech whose mailing list "Telecom-Tech Digest" shares archives resources at lcs.mit.edu for the convenience of users. Please *DO NOT* cross post articles between the groups. All opinions expressed herein are deemed to be those of the author. Any organizations listed are for identification purposes only and messages should not be considered any official expression by the organization. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: JVE%FNAHA@eccsa.Tredydev.Unisys.com Date: 25 Feb 1994 10:49 Subject: Digital Cellphone Report - GSM Lately we've seen postings on US/Canadian digital cellphones. I'd like to share my experiences of using GSM for about ten months now. - there are no dual mode phones. You either have a digital phone (and 'all digital network') or you don't. Analogue NMT nets are still going strong and growing, but they are completely separate. - during last summer coverage was a bit spotty and calls were cut off relatively often. Since last autumn things got much better; coverage is much better and I have not experienced any special problems with call setup or calls being cut off. - roaming is available in most of the Europe. You just switch on your phone in a foreign country and it picks up the network (if any). You can program your preferred networks on your SIM card. - GSM does interfere with some radio equipment. I have no problems with my car radio, office/home phones, TV etc. On the other hand my old portable stereo picks up GSM transmission. It seems to be a matter of radio/TV/phone quality. I've had more interference problems in Britain and Switzerland - why, I don't know. - voice quality is good, though you cannot distinquish GSM from an analog phone, if both phones are close to cell and no cell handoffs happen. If you use phones in fringe areas (weak fields) the difference is noticeable. GSM voice is not completely clear, though, it might cut off for a fraction of a second, it might make you talk like Donald Duck and sometimes it seems to fill in gaps (like 'Yes, I like it' would be replaced with 'Yesssss like it'). New services are being introduced now. 'Short messaging service' sends max. 160 character messages to your phone even when you are speaking and group 3 fax should be available soon. Other GSM II features will come later on. Juha Veijalainen 4ge system analyst, tel. +358 40 5004402 Unisys Finland Internet: JVE%FNAHA@eccsa.tredydev.unisys.com ------------------------------ From: mvalente@draco.lnec.pt Subject: Methods For Calling USA From Europe? Organization: LNEC, Lab. Nac. de Eng. Civil, Lisboa, Portugal Date: Thu, 24 Feb 1994 18:14:02 GMT Hi: I'm trying to setup an Internet service provider here in Portugal, where there isnt one. After trying with several service providers in Europe to get a connection and the possibility to resell and finding many difficulties, not to mention the cost of phone lines in Europe, I have started looking at other possibilities, namely USA providers ( there are more, more friendly, and with more probability of getting the reselling option ). The problem is of course the cost of the lines. I'd like to find out about some possibilities. The ones I thought/found out: - satellite feed, using some service like PageSat or Planet. This has the disadvantage of not being able to send, just receive. - leased line to the US. I suppose the cost is impossible. - using AT&T to dialup. I'm really interested in this one, since I have a service provider that allows me to connect via AT&T. I just need to find how to use AT&T from Portugal. Anyone know where this information is? - ISDN connection. Unfortunately ISND connectionsm like phone lines in Europe have a time charge: for each period of time you're charged some cost, which is quite big when you call outside Portugal (if I call the USA using the local PTT I pay $4 per minute; yes that's four dollars a minute!) Any info welcome ( especially how to use AT&T from here ) Thanks in advance, C U! Mario Valente ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Feb 1994 16:35:17 EST From: Barry Lustig Subject: Technical Manual For an OKI 1150 I just called OKI Telecom to order a copy of the technical manual for an OKI 1150 cellular phone. The sales rep. on the other end of the line said that the manual costs $172.50. Does anybody else think that this is outrageous? Why are they trying to discourage phone owners from getting the manuals for their phones? Barry Lustig Nicholas-Applegate Capital Management [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Maybe because without the manual, if something is not working right on the phone the owners will simply think it is something they are incorrectly programming and blame themselves; with a comprehensive manual in hand they will find out it is not their fault at all but that the phone is no good! It is sometimes best to keep the owners in ignorance, you know. :) PAT] ------------------------------ From: craige@sad.hp.com (Craig Eid) Subject: Looking For Long Distance Carrier Info For Business/Home Date: Thu, 24 Feb 1994 21:41:38 GMT Organization: HP Sonoma County (SRSD/MWTD/MID) I need to decide as soon as possible which long distance carrier we'll be using on our new business line. Most of our calls will be for ten minutes or less, within the same state, and within a 200 mile radius. Does anyone have any suggestions, or should I just call up the majors and get quotes? Craig Eid e-mail address craige@hpsad.sad.hp.com ------------------------------ From: boykin@harvey.gte.com (Joseph Boykin) Subject: Multimedia Conference (ICMCS 94) Reply-To: boykin@gte.com Organization: GTE Laboratories Date: Thu, 24 Feb 1994 22:08:48 GMT For those who have already received information on the IEEE Computer Society's Multimedia Computing and Systems Conference (ICMCS '94), there have been a few changes since the original information went out, so you may wish to pick up the latest. New versions of the program, registration form, etc. are available either from me or via anonymous FTP on ftp.gte.com (132.197.8.2) in pub/ICMCS. Joe Boykin ICMCS Registration Chair 617-466-2803 (Phone) 617-466-2137 (FAX) boykin@gte.com ------------------------------ From: stans@panix.com (Stan Schwartz) Subject: Update: Questions About Voice Mail Date: 24 Feb 1994 18:45:23 -0500 Organization: PANIX Public Access Internet and Unix, NYC I spoke with the NYNEX reps today and they confirmed the following for me: NYNEX's Voice Mail product (Call Answering) combined with Call Waiting works the following way in my 5ESS CO (516-694-NNNN): - If I am on the phone and DON'T answer the second call, the mailbox will NOT answer the call. - If I *70 to de-activate Call Waiting before I make a call, any incoming call will get a busy while I am on the call. I then appealed to NYNEX's "President's Help Line" (1-800-722-2300), and after much explaining and whining, the representative agreed to contact the product manager for the service and ask her why it is programmed that way. I was promised a return phone call (but she didn't say when ;-) ). (BTW: here on Long Island, I am kind of "self-determining" that I am in a 5ESS switch by dialing my exchange's verification number, which is usually in the NNX-9901 format. When I dial 694-9901, the recording tells me the type of switch in the CO and which exchanges it serves. Is there any way to verify how accurate and up-to-date this recording is?) Stan ------------------------------ From: lyre@mindvox.phantom.com (Lyre) Subject: Centrex/Key Phone System/PBX Date: Fri, 25 Feb 94 01:17:15 EST Organization: [MindVox] / Phantom Access Technologies / (+1 800-MindVox) I want some kind of system that will give me automated attendant voicemail and multiline capabilities. The number of lines is four to six; the number of instruments is four to start. Any recommendations/things to stay away from? Cost IS an issue. I was wondering if I can do this with Intellipath digital centrex on either DMS-100 or 5ESS, or what would be the most cost-effective key system? Thanks. ------------------------------ From: dalk@login.dkuug.dk (Lars Kalsen) Subject: Telecommunications and Computers Date: 25 Feb 94 12:04:21 GMT Organization: DKnet Hi - I am trying to get an overview over the area: Systems integrating Telecommunication and Computers =================================================== It could be voice-response systems which are placing orders directly in the company's computer system. Or systems for customer service which integrate telephony with customer datases in an intelligent way. Or it could be anything else. If you: - have knowledge of such systems I would like to have a short desciption.(Maybe you compnay have some). - know articles on the subject - I would like to have a reference - know any or sites where I can look for inforamtion - i would like to hera from you. Any inforamtion is appreciated. Plaese E-mail me if you have some. Greetings from Denmark, Lars Kalsen dalk@login.dkuug.dk ------------------------------ From: Pat_Barron@transarc.com Subject: Who Sells Used Telecom Gear? Date: Fri, 25 Feb 1994 10:43:28 -0500 Organization: Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA I'm looking for a small, used PBX ("small" is defined as three or four lines). The cheaper, the better, which is why I want used equipment. Any pointers? Thanks! Pat ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Feb 94 12:41:09 EST From: chapman@ihlpe.att.com Subject: Radio Program on History of the Telephone Organization: AT&T WBEZ (FM 91.5, Chicago) will be broadcasting a for-part "radio history of the telephone", titled "Hell's Bells", starting Feb. 28 at 7:00-8:00 PM. The other three parts will be aired March 1, 2, and 7 (same time). This is an American Public Radio program; the folks at the station said it will likely be aired on other APR or NPR stations around the country, but on different schedules. Check with your local station, or call Israel Smith at APR in Minneapolis, 612-338-5000. Ralph Chapman AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL ------------------------------ From: lgb@cci.com (Lars Borg) Subject: Neal-Wilkinson Trunk Capacity Table Organization: Northern Telecom, Network Application Systems Date: Thu, 24 Feb 1994 17:26:34 GMT Would someone please E-mail a copy of the Neal-Wilkinson trunk capacity tables, or tell me were I can find a copy? Lars G. Borg, E-mail: lgb@cci.com Northern Telcom / Network Application Systems (716) 654-2573 ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Feb 1994 12:56:48 -0800 From: LincMad@netcom.com (Linc Madison) Subject: Why Are Rates to India Increasing? I was looking at yet another one of those newspaper ads for the various LD companies' international discount calling plans, and I've noticed that they list numbers like "India 73 cents (thru 3/30/94, 78 cents after)" Is the PTT in India increasing its "landing fees"? Linc Madison * Oakland, California * LincMad@Netcom.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Feb 1994 13:39:23 -0600 From: Yuxing Tian Subject: What Happened to my Answering Machine? [I live in Chicago, and have a normal greeting message in my answering machine.] Here is the story: Yesterday, when I got home and listen to the messages left in my answering machine. A strange message is: ( ~10 seconds music) ( two rings at the other end) ( a lady picked up the phone and asked "Hello, Number?") ( ~2 seconds silent) ( she hung up.) Could anybody lighten me about what happened? Thanks a lot. ------------------------------ Date: 24 Feb 1994 17:53:24 U From: Hohulin_Doug.IL25-macmail3@il25-macmail3.schaumburg.mnc.mot.com Subject: Information Wanted on TR303, AIN 0.1 I have two questions: How wide spread is TR303 deployed? Is anyone using AIN 0.1 today on their class 5 switches? Which switches are they available on? ------------------------------ From: hu@helios.physics.utoronto.ca (Min Hu) Subject: Information Needed on Satellite Phone Organization: University of Toronto Physics/Astronomy/CITA Date: Fri, 25 Feb 1994 01:11:52 GMT Hi, During the gulf war, both the reporters and the American soldiers used a kind of satellite phone system so that they could communicate with outside world. Does anybody out there know companies who make or sell this kind of mobile phone system? The following features will be desirable. 1. Ability to communicate while the phone is in motion (say a jeep) 2. The diameter of the antanne should be less than 1 meter 3. The satellite carrier should be either American satellite or sea monitoring satellite. 4. The antanne should be all-direction antanne, do not have to worry about the direction of the satellite. It will be greatly appreciated if you can offer any clue as how to find this kind of company. Thanks in advance. HU MIN, University of Toronto, Dept. of Physics Toronto, Ontario, Canada. M5S 1A7 Email: hu@physics.utoronto.ca / hu@utordop.bitnet ------------------------------ From: cristy@eplrx7.es.duPont.com (Cristy) Subject: Information Wanted on FCC 91-115 Organization: DuPont Central Research & Development Date: Thu, 24 Feb 1994 22:06:52 GMT My latest phone bill allows for some additional privacy for customers of unlisted numbers. I disagree with the requirement to pay the $1.50+ charge per month to be eligible for increased privacy. The reference is FCC 91-115. Does anyone know the text of this ruling or where I can get access to this ruling? cristy@dupont.com ------------------------------ From: tbetz@panix.com (Tom Betz) Subject: NYNEX "Slamming" 800 Business Directories? Date: 24 Feb 1994 14:04:37 -0500 Organization: Betz & Associates While reviewing our business phone bill, I noticed a $24.99 charge for an "1994 ATT BUS GUD" and a $3.50 shipping and handling charge. I enquired about it to NYNEX billing, who told me that "1994 ATT BUS GUD" means "1994 AT&T Toll-Free National 800 Directory", and that I had called an 800 number and ordered it. In fact, in January I had received a call from a telemarketer asking me if I wanted it, and had told them no, specifically telling them that as an AT&T 800 customer, I get these for free on request. When one arrived recently, our receptionist signed for it, and when I saw it, I assumed that our AT&T rep had sent it to us; in fact, the NYNEX telemarketer had disregarded my refusal and sent it to us, and then told NYNEX that I had called >him< and placed an order for it! Apparently, NYNEX has hired a sleazy outfit, one that is lying to NYNEX about the orders it has received, to do some of its telemarketing. I wonder how many thousands of times this year NYNEX will be collecting $29.49 from businesses who, like me, said "no" when solicited to buy this book, but who don't notice the charge on their bills? How many millions of dollars in commissions will this sleaze operation earn from these tactics? Check your bills, folks. Tom Betz ---- 114 Woodworth Ave, Yonkers NY 10701-2509 (914) 332-7511 - tbetz@panix.com tom_betz@execnet.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Feb 94 12:47:00 EST From: tjnelson@attmail.att.com Subject: InterLATA CID Organization: AT&T I have a question regarding the use of Caller ID on Inter-LATA calls. Currently the technology exists to deliver the calling number to the terminating LEC office: Originating-->--ISUP-->--InterLATA-->--ISUP-->--Terminating CID LEC Carrier CID LEC Since this information in most cases is deliverable right now, why doesn't InterLATA CID exist? The only reason I've heard so far is that the RBOCs must be "de-regulated" before they can accept/deliver Inter-LATA originating numbers. This doesn't seem to make much sense. Perhaps it's just a matter of working out which carrier charges who and for how much or is there another reason? adTHANKSvance, Terry Nelson @ AT&T ATTMail: tjnelson@attmail.com GEnie: tjnelson@genie.geis.com America On Line: tjnelson@aol.com UUCP: wnxser!tjnelson UUCP via Internet: tjnelson@wnxser.att.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Feb 94 12:41 EST From: johnl@iecc.com (John R Levine) Subject: Re: Vermont Gets Ready For NNX Area Codes Organization: I.E.C.C., Cambridge, Mass. > Please explain these two statements. If it's a "free local call" > (within the same area code, no less), then it's not a toll call, so > why is "Vermont's new toll dialing plan" relevant here at all? We're in Morgan, Vt. which has its own 895 exchange. But since we're way out on the east edge of town, we're closer to Island Pond, so we have an Island Pond 723 phone number. Normally, a call from 723 to 895 is a toll call, but there's a rule that all calls within your own town are considered local, so as a special case, calls to Morgan 895 numbers are free (or at worse charged message units) even though they're dialed as toll calls. There are 895 numbers in Holland and West Charleston as well; don't know if I get charged for them or not. > Do you currently dial these calls as eight digits (1 + 7D)? If so, why? Yup. Same reason. > Are there any other places in the NANP where local intra-NPA calls > require more than seven digits to dial? This situation is quite common in rural areas, and the rule that calls within your town are free seems to be ancient and widespread. In New Hampshire, NET came up with a uniquely awful way to implement this: you were supposed to make such calls on your calling card, then when the bill came, call up the business office and ask them to adjust the bill. I think they now do it automatically as well. [re having to dial calls from 802-723 to 802-895 with 11 digits, even though they are free for us because it's within the same town] > I wonder why Nynex doesn't fix this. If they are smart enough to bill > those calls at local (not toll) rates, they should also have the skills > to let you *dial* them as local (not toll) calls. It'd require per-line dialing plan programming in the switch, something that I don't think CO switches are set up to do. Most 723 customers are in Island Pond, so for them 895 really is a toll call. Some 723 customers are in East Charleston, who have to be able to call 895 numbers in West Charleston (same town, different P.O.) for free, but not necessarily 895 numbers in Morgan or Holland. The same applies for 895 customers calling 723, of course. I expect that it's a lot easier to fix this at the time bills are printed, since the bill printing computer has all of the address information available and, more important, doesn't have to figure out the answer in real time. NYNEX's original proposal was to make all intra-NPA calls in its territory 7D regardless of toll, which would have solved this problem once and for all. Unfortunately, state regulators insisted that they go to 1 + NPA for calls that used to be 1 + 7D. Here's another example of 1+ nonsense: I live in Cambridge Mass., and my sister lives in Lexington, about 10 miles away. For me to call her is a message unit call, not dialed with 1+, which costs 6.5 cents for the first minute, 5.5 cents for subsequent minutes, with no time of day discount. On weekends, intra-NPA toll calls to places like Nantucket (50 miles away) cost less than calling Lexington because they have time-of-day discounts. Indeed, on weekends it saves money to dial her with a 10333 prefix and hand this local call to Sprint! Regards, John Levine, johnl@iecc.com, jlevine@delphi.com, 1037498@mcimail.com ------------------------------ From: Andy.Behrens@coat.com Subject: Re: Vermont Gets Ready For NNX Area Codes Date: 24 Feb 1994 21:21:54 GMT Organization: Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA John Levine writes: > A flyer in my latest phone bill reveals that Vermont's new toll > dialing plan is 1-802-NNX-XXXX... > Personally, I find the new plan to be a big pain in the neck, since, > due to a peculiarity of exchange boundaries, it'll require that I dial > most free local calls within our town with 11 digits. and Bob Goudreau asks: > If it's a "free local call" (within the same area code, no less), then > it's not a toll call, so why is "Vermont's new toll dialing plan" > relevant here at all? Do you currently dial these calls as eight > digits (1 + 7D)? If so, why? A number of years ago, the Vermont PUC mandated that calls to a telephone located in the same town[*] must be billed as local calls, regardless of exchange boundaries. The intent was that people should not have to pay toll charges to call their town offices. But because the state is rural, and hilly, a few outlying houses in a town may be separated from the rest of the town by a ridge of hills. It may be easier for the phone company to wire them into a neighboring exchange -- even when that exchange is far enough away from the town that the two exchanges would be considered "long distance" These outlying people will have to dial 1-802 + 7D to call their neighbors in the same town, but it's a local call for them. Other people in their exchange, for whom the call crosses town boundaries, would pay toll charges. These calls are currently dialed as 1 + 7D. Andy [*] Note: "Towns" in Vermont are what most states call "townships". Everyone in a given town is governed by the same officials, has the same fire department, etc. Andy Behrens P.O. Box 116, South Strafford, Vt. (802) 765-4138 ------------------------------ From: pegasus@cyberspace.org (Patricia Snyder-Rayl) Subject: CONNECT SysOp Subscription Discount Offer Date: 24 Feb 1994 16:29:44 -0500 Organization: Cyberspace Communications Public-Access UNIX CONNECT Magazine Offers Special Subscription Rate for BBS Sysops ================================================================ OK. You've heard about CONNECT, possibly even picked up copies of the magazine at your local newsstand, bookstore or computer dealer. Maybe you've seen our advertising in books such as the "Whole Earth Online Almanac," or you saw the mention of CONNECT in the December 6, 1993 issue of U.S. News & World Report. Or maybe you've just heard about the magazine from talk on the commercial online services, or seen the CONNECT Online BBS Edition door on a local BBS. But, you still haven't subscribed. As a BBS sysop, perhaps you've just been too busy keeping your system in peak shape. And maybe you've also been thinking about advertising your BBS via CONNECT's International BBS Listing or Service Ads. Well, we're making you an offer that'll save you money *AND* give your BBS some added international exposure. To receive details and the necessary form, email your request to pegasus@cyberspace.org. CONNECT Magazine (313) 973-8825 "The Modem User's Resource" (313) 973-0411 fax services, Internet and BBS 3487 Braeburn Circle (313) 973-9137 BBS networks from a user's Ann Arbor, MI 48108 14.4Kbps V.32bis| perspective. ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest V14 #104 ****************************** ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Area # 700 EMAIL 02-25-94 11:42 Message # -17086 From : TELECOM Moderator To : ELIOT GELWAN PVT RCVD Subj : TELECOM Digest V14 #104 ÿ@FROM :TELECOM@DELTA.EECS.NWU.EDU From telecom-request@delta.eecs.nwu.edu Fri Feb 25 12:30:07 1994 Received: from uu7.psi.com by uu9.psi.com (5.65b/4.0.061193-PSI/PSINet) via SMTP; id AA17728 for eliot.gelwan; Fri, 25 Feb 94 12:30:07 -0500 Received: from delta.eecs.nwu.edu by uu7.psi.com (5.65b/4.0.071791-PSI/PSINet) via SMTP; id AA00531 for eliot.gelwan@channel1.com; Fri, 25 Feb 94 12:27:47 -0500 Received: by delta.eecs.nwu.edu (4.1/SMI-4.0-proxy) id AA28828; Fri, 25 Feb 94 10:42:25 CST Return-Path: Received: by delta.eecs.nwu.edu (4.1/SMI-4.0-proxy) id AA28815; Fri, 25 Feb 94 10:42:22 CST Date: Fri, 25 Feb 94 10:42:22 CST From: telecom@delta.eecs.nwu.edu (TELECOM Moderator) Message-Id: <9402251642.AA28815@delta.eecs.nwu.edu> To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu Subject: TELECOM Digest V14 #104 TELECOM Digest Fri, 25 Feb 94 10:42:00 CST Volume 14 : Issue 104 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson Digital Cellphone Report - GSM (Juha Veijalainen) Methods For Calling USA From Europe? (Mario Valente) Technical Manual For an OKI 1150 (Barry Lustig) Looking For Long Distance Carrier Info For Business/Home (Craig Eid) Multimedia Conference (ICMCS 94) (Joseph Boykin) Update: Questions About Voice Mail (Stan Schwartz) Centrex/Key Phone System/PBX (lyre@mindvox.phantom.com) Telecommunications and Computers (Lars Kalsen) Who Sells Used Telecom Gear? (Pat Barron) Radio Program on History of the Telephone (Ralph Chapman) Neal-Wilkinson Trunk Capacity Table (Lars Borg) Why Are Rates to India Increasing? (Linc Madison) What Happened to my Answering Machine? (Yuxing Tian) Information Wanted on TR303, AIN 0.1 (Doug Hohulin) Information Needed on Satellite Phone (Min Hu) Information Wanted on FCC 91-115 (cristy@dupont.com) NYNEX "Slamming" 800 Business Directories? (Tom Betz) InterLATA CID (Terry J. Nelson) Re: Vermont Gets Ready For NNX Area Codes (John R. Levine) Re: Vermont Gets Ready For NNX Area Codes (Andy Behrens) CONNECT SysOp Subscription Discount Offer (Patricia Snyder-Rayl) TELECOM Digest is an electronic journal devoted mostly but not exclusively to telecommunications topics. It is circulated anywhere there is email, in addition to various telecom forums on a variety of public service systems and networks including Compuserve and GEnie. Subscriptions are available at no charge to qualified organizations and individual readers. Write and tell us how you qualify: * telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu * The Digest is compilation-copyrighted by Patrick Townson Associates of Skokie, Illinois USA. We provide telecom consultation services and long distance resale services including calling cards and 800 numbers. To reach us: Post Office Box 1570, Chicago, IL 60690 or by phone at 708-329-0571 and fax at 708-329-0572. Email: ptownson@townson.com. ** Article submission address only: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu ** Our archives are located at lcs.mit.edu and are available by using anonymous ftp. The archives can also be accessed using our email information service. For a copy of a helpful file explaining how to use the information service, just ask. TELECOM Digest is gatewayed to Usenet where it appears as the moderated newsgroup comp.dcom.telecom. It has no connection with the unmoderated Usenet newsgroup comp.dcom.telecom.tech whose mailing list "Telecom-Tech Digest" shares archives resources at lcs.mit.edu for the convenience of users. Please *DO NOT* cross post articles between the groups. All opinions expressed herein are deemed to be those of the author. Any organizations listed are for identification purposes only and messages should not be considered any official expression by the organization. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: JVE%FNAHA@eccsa.Tredydev.Unisys.com Date: 25 Feb 1994 10:49 Subject: Digital Cellphone Report - GSM Lately we've seen postings on US/Canadian digital cellphones. I'd like to share my experiences of using GSM for about ten months now. - there are no dual mode phones. You either have a digital phone (and 'all digital network') or you don't. Analogue NMT nets are still going strong and growing, but they are completely separate. - during last summer coverage was a bit spotty and calls were cut off relatively often. Since last autumn things got much better; coverage is much better and I have not experienced any special problems with call setup or calls being cut off. - roaming is available in most of the Europe. You just switch on your phone in a foreign country and it picks up the network (if any). You can program your preferred networks on your SIM card. - GSM does interfere with some radio equipment. I have no problems with my car radio, office/home phones, TV etc. On the other hand my old portable stereo picks up GSM transmission. It seems to be a matter of radio/TV/phone quality. I've had more interference problems in Britain and Switzerland - why, I don't know. - voice quality is good, though you cannot distinquish GSM from an analog phone, if both phones are close to cell and no cell handoffs happen. If you use phones in fringe areas (weak fields) the difference is noticeable. GSM voice is not completely clear, though, it might cut off for a fraction of a second, it might make you talk like Donald Duck and sometimes it seems to fill in gaps (like 'Yes, I like it' would be replaced with 'Yesssss like it'). New services are being introduced now. 'Short messaging service' sends max. 160 character messages to your phone even when you are speaking and group 3 fax should be available soon. Other GSM II features will come later on. Juha Veijalainen 4ge system analyst, tel. +358 40 5004402 Unisys Finland Internet: JVE%FNAHA@eccsa.tredydev.unisys.com ------------------------------ From: mvalente@draco.lnec.pt Subject: Methods For Calling USA From Europe? Organization: LNEC, Lab. Nac. de Eng. Civil, Lisboa, Portugal Date: Thu, 24 Feb 1994 18:14:02 GMT Hi: I'm trying to setup an Internet service provider here in Portugal, where there isnt one. After trying with several service providers in Europe to get a connection and the possibility to resell and finding many difficulties, not to mention the cost of phone lines in Europe, I have started looking at other possibilities, namely USA providers ( there are more, more friendly, and with more probability of getting the reselling option ). The problem is of course the cost of the lines. I'd like to find out about some possibilities. The ones I thought/found out: - satellite feed, using some service like PageSat or Planet. This has the disadvantage of not being able to send, just receive. - leased line to the US. I suppose the cost is impossible. - using AT&T to dialup. I'm really interested in this one, since I have a service provider that allows me to connect via AT&T. I just need to find how to use AT&T from Portugal. Anyone know where this information is? - ISDN connection. Unfortunately ISND connectionsm like phone lines in Europe have a time charge: for each period of time you're charged some cost, which is quite big when you call outside Portugal (if I call the USA using the local PTT I pay $4 per minute; yes that's four dollars a minute!) Any info welcome ( especially how to use AT&T from here ) Thanks in advance, C U! Mario Valente ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Feb 1994 16:35:17 EST From: Barry Lustig Subject: Technical Manual For an OKI 1150 I just called OKI Telecom to order a copy of the technical manual for an OKI 1150 cellular phone. The sales rep. on the other end of the line said that the manual costs $172.50. Does anybody else think that this is outrageous? Why are they trying to discourage phone owners from getting the manuals for their phones? Barry Lustig Nicholas-Applegate Capital Management [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Maybe because without the manual, if something is not working right on the phone the owners will simply think it is something they are incorrectly programming and blame themselves; with a comprehensive manual in hand they will find out it is not their fault at all but that the phone is no good! It is sometimes best to keep the owners in ignorance, you know. :) PAT] ------------------------------ From: craige@sad.hp.com (Craig Eid) Subject: Looking For Long Distance Carrier Info For Business/Home Date: Thu, 24 Feb 1994 21:41:38 GMT Organization: HP Sonoma County (SRSD/MWTD/MID) I need to decide as soon as possible which long distance carrier we'll be using on our new business line. Most of our calls will be for ten minutes or less, within the same state, and within a 200 mile radius. Does anyone have any suggestions, or should I just call up the majors and get quotes? Craig Eid e-mail address craige@hpsad.sad.hp.com ------------------------------ From: boykin@harvey.gte.com (Joseph Boykin) Subject: Multimedia Conference (ICMCS 94) Reply-To: boykin@gte.com Organization: GTE Laboratories Date: Thu, 24 Feb 1994 22:08:48 GMT For those who have already received information on the IEEE Computer Society's Multimedia Computing and Systems Conference (ICMCS '94), there have been a few changes since the original information went out, so you may wish to pick up the latest. New versions of the program, registration form, etc. are available either from me or via anonymous FTP on ftp.gte.com (132.197.8.2) in pub/ICMCS. Joe Boykin ICMCS Registration Chair 617-466-2803 (Phone) 617-466-2137 (FAX) boykin@gte.com ------------------------------ From: stans@panix.com (Stan Schwartz) Subject: Update: Questions About Voice Mail Date: 24 Feb 1994 18:45:23 -0500 Organization: PANIX Public Access Internet and Unix, NYC I spoke with the NYNEX reps today and they confirmed the following for me: NYNEX's Voice Mail product (Call Answering) combined with Call Waiting works the following way in my 5ESS CO (516-694-NNNN): - If I am on the phone and DON'T answer the second call, the mailbox will NOT answer the call. - If I *70 to de-activate Call Waiting before I make a call, any incoming call will get a busy while I am on the call. I then appealed to NYNEX's "President's Help Line" (1-800-722-2300), and after much explaining and whining, the representative agreed to contact the product manager for the service and ask her why it is programmed that way. I was promised a return phone call (but she didn't say when ;-) ). (BTW: here on Long Island, I am kind of "self-determining" that I am in a 5ESS switch by dialing my exchange's verification number, which is usually in the NNX-9901 format. When I dial 694-9901, the recording tells me the type of switch in the CO and which exchanges it serves. Is there any way to verify how accurate and up-to-date this recording is?) Stan ------------------------------ From: lyre@mindvox.phantom.com (Lyre) Subject: Centrex/Key Phone System/PBX Date: Fri, 25 Feb 94 01:17:15 EST Organization: [MindVox] / Phantom Access Technologies / (+1 800-MindVox) I want some kind of system that will give me automated attendant voicemail and multiline capabilities. The number of lines is four to six; the number of instruments is four to start. Any recommendations/things to stay away from? Cost IS an issue. I was wondering if I can do this with Intellipath digital centrex on either DMS-100 or 5ESS, or what would be the most cost-effective key system? Thanks. ------------------------------ From: dalk@login.dkuug.dk (Lars Kalsen) Subject: Telecommunications and Computers Date: 25 Feb 94 12:04:21 GMT Organization: DKnet Hi - I am trying to get an overview over the area: Systems integrating Telecommunication and Computers =================================================== It could be voice-response systems which are placing orders directly in the company's computer system. Or systems for customer service which integrate telephony with customer datases in an intelligent way. Or it could be anything else. If you: - have knowledge of such systems I would like to have a short desciption.(Maybe you compnay have some). - know articles on the subject - I would like to have a reference - know any or sites where I can look for inforamtion - i would like to hera from you. Any inforamtion is appreciated. Plaese E-mail me if you have some. Greetings from Denmark, Lars Kalsen dalk@login.dkuug.dk ------------------------------ From: Pat_Barron@transarc.com Subject: Who Sells Used Telecom Gear? Date: Fri, 25 Feb 1994 10:43:28 -0500 Organization: Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA I'm looking for a small, used PBX ("small" is defined as three or four lines). The cheaper, the better, which is why I want used equipment. Any pointers? Thanks! Pat ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Feb 94 12:41:09 EST From: chapman@ihlpe.att.com Subject: Radio Program on History of the Telephone Organization: AT&T WBEZ (FM 91.5, Chicago) will be broadcasting a for-part "radio history of the telephone", titled "Hell's Bells", starting Feb. 28 at 7:00-8:00 PM. The other three parts will be aired March 1, 2, and 7 (same time). This is an American Public Radio program; the folks at the station said it will likely be aired on other APR or NPR stations around the country, but on different schedules. Check with your local station, or call Israel Smith at APR in Minneapolis, 612-338-5000. Ralph Chapman AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL ------------------------------ From: lgb@cci.com (Lars Borg) Subject: Neal-Wilkinson Trunk Capacity Table Organization: Northern Telecom, Network Application Systems Date: Thu, 24 Feb 1994 17:26:34 GMT Would someone please E-mail a copy of the Neal-Wilkinson trunk capacity tables, or tell me were I can find a copy? Lars G. Borg, E-mail: lgb@cci.com Northern Telcom / Network Application Systems (716) 654-2573 ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Feb 1994 12:56:48 -0800 From: LincMad@netcom.com (Linc Madison) Subject: Why Are Rates to India Increasing? I was looking at yet another one of those newspaper ads for the various LD companies' international discount calling plans, and I've noticed that they list numbers like "India 73 cents (thru 3/30/94, 78 cents after)" Is the PTT in India increasing its "landing fees"? Linc Madison * Oakland, California * LincMad@Netcom.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Feb 1994 13:39:23 -0600 From: Yuxing Tian Subject: What Happened to my Answering Machine? [I live in Chicago, and have a normal greeting message in my answering machine.] Here is the story: Yesterday, when I got home and listen to the messages left in my answering machine. A strange message is: ( ~10 seconds music) ( two rings at the other end) ( a lady picked up the phone and asked "Hello, Number?") ( ~2 seconds silent) ( she hung up.) Could anybody lighten me about what happened? Thanks a lot. ------------------------------ Date: 24 Feb 1994 17:53:24 U From: Hohulin_Doug.IL25-macmail3@il25-macmail3.schaumburg.mnc.mot.com Subject: Information Wanted on TR303, AIN 0.1 I have two questions: How wide spread is TR303 deployed? Is anyone using AIN 0.1 today on their class 5 switches? Which switches are they available on? ------------------------------ From: hu@helios.physics.utoronto.ca (Min Hu) Subject: Information Needed on Satellite Phone Organization: University of Toronto Physics/Astronomy/CITA Date: Fri, 25 Feb 1994 01:11:52 GMT Hi, During the gulf war, both the reporters and the American soldiers used a kind of satellite phone system so that they could communicate with outside world. Does anybody out there know companies who make or sell this kind of mobile phone system? The following features will be desirable. 1. Ability to communicate while the phone is in motion (say a jeep) 2. The diameter of the antanne should be less than 1 meter 3. The satellite carrier should be either American satellite or sea monitoring satellite. 4. The antanne should be all-direction antanne, do not have to worry about the direction of the satellite. It will be greatly appreciated if you can offer any clue as how to find this kind of company. Thanks in advance. HU MIN, University of Toronto, Dept. of Physics Toronto, Ontario, Canada. M5S 1A7 Email: hu@physics.utoronto.ca / hu@utordop.bitnet ------------------------------ From: cristy@eplrx7.es.duPont.com (Cristy) Subject: Information Wanted on FCC 91-115 Organization: DuPont Central Research & Development Date: Thu, 24 Feb 1994 22:06:52 GMT My latest phone bill allows for some additional privacy for customers of unlisted numbers. I disagree with the requirement to pay the $1.50+ charge per month to be eligible for increased privacy. The reference is FCC 91-115. Does anyone know the text of this ruling or where I can get access to this ruling? cristy@dupont.com ------------------------------ From: tbetz@panix.com (Tom Betz) Subject: NYNEX "Slamming" 800 Business Directories? Date: 24 Feb 1994 14:04:37 -0500 Organization: Betz & Associates While reviewing our business phone bill, I noticed a $24.99 charge for an "1994 ATT BUS GUD" and a $3.50 shipping and handling charge. I enquired about it to NYNEX billing, who told me that "1994 ATT BUS GUD" means "1994 AT&T Toll-Free National 800 Directory", and that I had called an 800 number and ordered it. In fact, in January I had received a call from a telemarketer asking me if I wanted it, and had told them no, specifically telling them that as an AT&T 800 customer, I get these for free on request. When one arrived recently, our receptionist signed for it, and when I saw it, I assumed that our AT&T rep had sent it to us; in fact, the NYNEX telemarketer had disregarded my refusal and sent it to us, and then told NYNEX that I had called >him< and placed an order for it! Apparently, NYNEX has hired a sleazy outfit, one that is lying to NYNEX about the orders it has received, to do some of its telemarketing. I wonder how many thousands of times this year NYNEX will be collecting $29.49 from businesses who, like me, said "no" when solicited to buy this book, but who don't notice the charge on their bills? How many millions of dollars in commissions will this sleaze operation earn from these tactics? Check your bills, folks. Tom Betz ---- 114 Woodworth Ave, Yonkers NY 10701-2509 (914) 332-7511 - tbetz@panix.com tom_betz@execnet.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Feb 94 12:47:00 EST From: tjnelson@attmail.att.com Subject: InterLATA CID Organization: AT&T I have a question regarding the use of Caller ID on Inter-LATA calls. Currently the technology exists to deliver the calling number to the terminating LEC office: Originating-->--ISUP-->--InterLATA-->--ISUP-->--Terminating CID LEC Carrier CID LEC Since this information in most cases is deliverable right now, why doesn't InterLATA CID exist? The only reason I've heard so far is that the RBOCs must be "de-regulated" before they can accept/deliver Inter-LATA originating numbers. This doesn't seem to make much sense. Perhaps it's just a matter of working out which carrier charges who and for how much or is there another reason? adTHANKSvance, Terry Nelson @ AT&T ATTMail: tjnelson@attmail.com GEnie: tjnelson@genie.geis.com America On Line: tjnelson@aol.com UUCP: wnxser!tjnelson UUCP via Internet: tjnelson@wnxser.att.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Feb 94 12:41 EST From: johnl@iecc.com (John R Levine) Subject: Re: Vermont Gets Ready For NNX Area Codes Organization: I.E.C.C., Cambridge, Mass. > Please explain these two statements. If it's a "free local call" > (within the same area code, no less), then it's not a toll call, so > why is "Vermont's new toll dialing plan" relevant here at all? We're in Morgan, Vt. which has its own 895 exchange. But since we're way out on the east edge of town, we're closer to Island Pond, so we have an Island Pond 723 phone number. Normally, a call from 723 to 895 is a toll call, but there's a rule that all calls within your own town are considered local, so as a special case, calls to Morgan 895 numbers are free (or at worse charged message units) even though they're dialed as toll calls. There are 895 numbers in Holland and West Charleston as well; don't know if I get charged for them or not. > Do you currently dial these calls as eight digits (1 + 7D)? If so, why? Yup. Same reason. > Are there any other places in the NANP where local intra-NPA calls > require more than seven digits to dial? This situation is quite common in rural areas, and the rule that calls within your town are free seems to be ancient and widespread. In New Hampshire, NET came up with a uniquely awful way to implement this: you were supposed to make such calls on your calling card, then when the bill came, call up the business office and ask them to adjust the bill. I think they now do it automatically as well. [re having to dial calls from 802-723 to 802-895 with 11 digits, even though they are free for us because it's within the same town] > I wonder why Nynex doesn't fix this. If they are smart enough to bill > those calls at local (not toll) rates, they should also have the skills > to let you *dial* them as local (not toll) calls. It'd require per-line dialing plan programming in the switch, something that I don't think CO switches are set up to do. Most 723 customers are in Island Pond, so for them 895 really is a toll call. Some 723 customers are in East Charleston, who have to be able to call 895 numbers in West Charleston (same town, different P.O.) for free, but not necessarily 895 numbers in Morgan or Holland. The same applies for 895 customers calling 723, of course. I expect that it's a lot easier to fix this at the time bills are printed, since the bill printing computer has all of the address information available and, more important, doesn't have to figure out the answer in real time. NYNEX's original proposal was to make all intra-NPA calls in its territory 7D regardless of toll, which would have solved this problem once and for all. Unfortunately, state regulators insisted that they go to 1 + NPA for calls that used to be 1 + 7D. Here's another example of 1+ nonsense: I live in Cambridge Mass., and my sister lives in Lexington, about 10 miles away. For me to call her is a message unit call, not dialed with 1+, which costs 6.5 cents for the first minute, 5.5 cents for subsequent minutes, with no time of day discount. On weekends, intra-NPA toll calls to places like Nantucket (50 miles away) cost less than calling Lexington because they have time-of-day discounts. Indeed, on weekends it saves money to dial her with a 10333 prefix and hand this local call to Sprint! Regards, John Levine, johnl@iecc.com, jlevine@delphi.com, 1037498@mcimail.com ------------------------------ From: Andy.Behrens@coat.com Subject: Re: Vermont Gets Ready For NNX Area Codes Date: 24 Feb 1994 21:21:54 GMT Organization: Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA John Levine writes: > A flyer in my latest phone bill reveals that Vermont's new toll > dialing plan is 1-802-NNX-XXXX... > Personally, I find the new plan to be a big pain in the neck, since, > due to a peculiarity of exchange boundaries, it'll require that I dial > most free local calls within our town with 11 digits. and Bob Goudreau asks: > If it's a "free local call" (within the same area code, no less), then > it's not a toll call, so why is "Vermont's new toll dialing plan" > relevant here at all? Do you currently dial these calls as eight > digits (1 + 7D)? If so, why? A number of years ago, the Vermont PUC mandated that calls to a telephone located in the same town[*] must be billed as local calls, regardless of exchange boundaries. The intent was that people should not have to pay toll charges to call their town offices. But because the state is rural, and hilly, a few outlying houses in a town may be separated from the rest of the town by a ridge of hills. It may be easier for the phone company to wire them into a neighboring exchange -- even when that exchange is far enough away from the town that the two exchanges would be considered "long distance" These outlying people will have to dial 1-802 + 7D to call their neighbors in the same town, but it's a local call for them. Other people in their exchange, for whom the call crosses town boundaries, would pay toll charges. These calls are currently dialed as 1 + 7D. Andy [*] Note: "Towns" in Vermont are what most states call "townships". Everyone in a given town is governed by the same officials, has the same fire department, etc. Andy Behrens P.O. Box 116, South Strafford, Vt. (802) 765-4138 ------------------------------ From: pegasus@cyberspace.org (Patricia Snyder-Rayl) Subject: CONNECT SysOp Subscription Discount Offer Date: 24 Feb 1994 16:29:44 -0500 Organization: Cyberspace Communications Public-Access UNIX CONNECT Magazine Offers Special Subscription Rate for BBS Sysops ================================================================ OK. You've heard about CONNECT, possibly even picked up copies of the magazine at your local newsstand, bookstore or computer dealer. Maybe you've seen our advertising in books such as the "Whole Earth Online Almanac," or you saw the mention of CONNECT in the December 6, 1993 issue of U.S. News & World Report. Or maybe you've just heard about the magazine from talk on the commercial online services, or seen the CONNECT Online BBS Edition door on a local BBS. But, you still haven't subscribed. As a BBS sysop, perhaps you've just been too busy keeping your system in peak shape. And maybe you've also been thinking about advertising your BBS via CONNECT's International BBS Listing or Service Ads. Well, we're making you an offer that'll save you money *AND* give your BBS some added international exposure. To receive details and the necessary form, email your request to pegasus@cyberspace.org. CONNECT Magazine (313) 973-8825 "The Modem User's Resource" (313) 973-0411 fax services, Internet and BBS 3487 Braeburn Circle (313) 973-9137 BBS networks from a user's Ann Arbor, MI 48108 14.4Kbps V.32bis| perspective. ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest V14 #104 ****************************** ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Area # 700 EMAIL 02-25-94 11:49 Message # -17065 From : TELECOM Moderator To : ELIOT GELWAN PVT RCVD Subj : TELECOM Digest V14 #104 ÿ@FROM :TELECOM@DELTA.EECS.NWU.EDU From telecom-request@delta.eecs.nwu.edu Fri Feb 25 12:38:09 1994 Received: from delta.eecs.nwu.edu by uu9.psi.com (5.65b/4.0.061193-PSI/PSINet) via SMTP; id AA19123 for eliot.gelwan; Fri, 25 Feb 94 12:38:09 -0500 Received: by delta.eecs.nwu.edu (4.1/SMI-4.0-proxy) id AA29162; Fri, 25 Feb 94 10:49:32 CST Return-Path: Received: by delta.eecs.nwu.edu (4.1/SMI-4.0-proxy) id AA29149; Fri, 25 Feb 94 10:49:28 CST Date: Fri, 25 Feb 94 10:49:28 CST From: telecom@delta.eecs.nwu.edu (TELECOM Moderator) Message-Id: <9402251649.AA29149@delta.eecs.nwu.edu> To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu Subject: TELECOM Digest V14 #104 TELECOM Digest Fri, 25 Feb 94 10:42:00 CST Volume 14 : Issue 104 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson Digital Cellphone Report - GSM (Juha Veijalainen) Methods For Calling USA From Europe? (Mario Valente) Technical Manual For an OKI 1150 (Barry Lustig) Looking For Long Distance Carrier Info For Business/Home (Craig Eid) Multimedia Conference (ICMCS 94) (Joseph Boykin) Update: Questions About Voice Mail (Stan Schwartz) Centrex/Key Phone System/PBX (lyre@mindvox.phantom.com) Telecommunications and Computers (Lars Kalsen) Who Sells Used Telecom Gear? (Pat Barron) Radio Program on History of the Telephone (Ralph Chapman) Neal-Wilkinson Trunk Capacity Table (Lars Borg) Why Are Rates to India Increasing? (Linc Madison) What Happened to my Answering Machine? (Yuxing Tian) Information Wanted on TR303, AIN 0.1 (Doug Hohulin) Information Needed on Satellite Phone (Min Hu) Information Wanted on FCC 91-115 (cristy@dupont.com) NYNEX "Slamming" 800 Business Directories? (Tom Betz) InterLATA CID (Terry J. Nelson) Re: Vermont Gets Ready For NNX Area Codes (John R. Levine) Re: Vermont Gets Ready For NNX Area Codes (Andy Behrens) CONNECT SysOp Subscription Discount Offer (Patricia Snyder-Rayl) TELECOM Digest is an electronic journal devoted mostly but not exclusively to telecommunications topics. It is circulated anywhere there is email, in addition to various telecom forums on a variety of public service systems and networks including Compuserve and GEnie. Subscriptions are available at no charge to qualified organizations and individual readers. Write and tell us how you qualify: * telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu * The Digest is compilation-copyrighted by Patrick Townson Associates of Skokie, Illinois USA. We provide telecom consultation services and long distance resale services including calling cards and 800 numbers. To reach us: Post Office Box 1570, Chicago, IL 60690 or by phone at 708-329-0571 and fax at 708-329-0572. Email: ptownson@townson.com. ** Article submission address only: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu ** Our archives are located at lcs.mit.edu and are available by using anonymous ftp. The archives can also be accessed using our email information service. For a copy of a helpful file explaining how to use the information service, just ask. TELECOM Digest is gatewayed to Usenet where it appears as the moderated newsgroup comp.dcom.telecom. It has no connection with the unmoderated Usenet newsgroup comp.dcom.telecom.tech whose mailing list "Telecom-Tech Digest" shares archives resources at lcs.mit.edu for the convenience of users. Please *DO NOT* cross post articles between the groups. All opinions expressed herein are deemed to be those of the author. Any organizations listed are for identification purposes only and messages should not be considered any official expression by the organization. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: JVE%FNAHA@eccsa.Tredydev.Unisys.com Date: 25 Feb 1994 10:49 Subject: Digital Cellphone Report - GSM Lately we've seen postings on US/Canadian digital cellphones. I'd like to share my experiences of using GSM for about ten months now. - there are no dual mode phones. You either have a digital phone (and 'all digital network') or you don't. Analogue NMT nets are still going strong and growing, but they are completely separate. - during last summer coverage was a bit spotty and calls were cut off relatively often. Since last autumn things got much better; coverage is much better and I have not experienced any special problems with call setup or calls being cut off. - roaming is available in most of the Europe. You just switch on your phone in a foreign country and it picks up the network (if any). You can program your preferred networks on your SIM card. - GSM does interfere with some radio equipment. I have no problems with my car radio, office/home phones, TV etc. On the other hand my old portable stereo picks up GSM transmission. It seems to be a matter of radio/TV/phone quality. I've had more interference problems in Britain and Switzerland - why, I don't know. - voice quality is good, though you cannot distinquish GSM from an analog phone, if both phones are close to cell and no cell handoffs happen. If you use phones in fringe areas (weak fields) the difference is noticeable. GSM voice is not completely clear, though, it might cut off for a fraction of a second, it might make you talk like Donald Duck and sometimes it seems to fill in gaps (like 'Yes, I like it' would be replaced with 'Yesssss like it'). New services are being introduced now. 'Short messaging service' sends max. 160 character messages to your phone even when you are speaking and group 3 fax should be available soon. Other GSM II features will come later on. Juha Veijalainen 4ge system analyst, tel. +358 40 5004402 Unisys Finland Internet: JVE%FNAHA@eccsa.tredydev.unisys.com ------------------------------ From: mvalente@draco.lnec.pt Subject: Methods For Calling USA From Europe? Organization: LNEC, Lab. Nac. de Eng. Civil, Lisboa, Portugal Date: Thu, 24 Feb 1994 18:14:02 GMT Hi: I'm trying to setup an Internet service provider here in Portugal, where there isnt one. After trying with several service providers in Europe to get a connection and the possibility to resell and finding many difficulties, not to mention the cost of phone lines in Europe, I have started looking at other possibilities, namely USA providers ( there are more, more friendly, and with more probability of getting the reselling option ). The problem is of course the cost of the lines. I'd like to find out about some possibilities. The ones I thought/found out: - satellite feed, using some service like PageSat or Planet. This has the disadvantage of not being able to send, just receive. - leased line to the US. I suppose the cost is impossible. - using AT&T to dialup. I'm really interested in this one, since I have a service provider that allows me to connect via AT&T. I just need to find how to use AT&T from Portugal. Anyone know where this information is? - ISDN connection. Unfortunately ISND connectionsm like phone lines in Europe have a time charge: for each period of time you're charged some cost, which is quite big when you call outside Portugal (if I call the USA using the local PTT I pay $4 per minute; yes that's four dollars a minute!) Any info welcome ( especially how to use AT&T from here ) Thanks in advance, C U! Mario Valente ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Feb 1994 16:35:17 EST From: Barry Lustig Subject: Technical Manual For an OKI 1150 I just called OKI Telecom to order a copy of the technical manual for an OKI 1150 cellular phone. The sales rep. on the other end of the line said that the manual costs $172.50. Does anybody else think that this is outrageous? Why are they trying to discourage phone owners from getting the manuals for their phones? Barry Lustig Nicholas-Applegate Capital Management [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Maybe because without the manual, if something is not working right on the phone the owners will simply think it is something they are incorrectly programming and blame themselves; with a comprehensive manual in hand they will find out it is not their fault at all but that the phone is no good! It is sometimes best to keep the owners in ignorance, you know. :) PAT] ------------------------------ From: craige@sad.hp.com (Craig Eid) Subject: Looking For Long Distance Carrier Info For Business/Home Date: Thu, 24 Feb 1994 21:41:38 GMT Organization: HP Sonoma County (SRSD/MWTD/MID) I need to decide as soon as possible which long distance carrier we'll be using on our new business line. Most of our calls will be for ten minutes or less, within the same state, and within a 200 mile radius. Does anyone have any suggestions, or should I just call up the majors and get quotes? Craig Eid e-mail address craige@hpsad.sad.hp.com ------------------------------ From: boykin@harvey.gte.com (Joseph Boykin) Subject: Multimedia Conference (ICMCS 94) Reply-To: boykin@gte.com Organization: GTE Laboratories Date: Thu, 24 Feb 1994 22:08:48 GMT For those who have already received information on the IEEE Computer Society's Multimedia Computing and Systems Conference (ICMCS '94), there have been a few changes since the original information went out, so you may wish to pick up the latest. New versions of the program, registration form, etc. are available either from me or via anonymous FTP on ftp.gte.com (132.197.8.2) in pub/ICMCS. Joe Boykin ICMCS Registration Chair 617-466-2803 (Phone) 617-466-2137 (FAX) boykin@gte.com ------------------------------ From: stans@panix.com (Stan Schwartz) Subject: Update: Questions About Voice Mail Date: 24 Feb 1994 18:45:23 -0500 Organization: PANIX Public Access Internet and Unix, NYC I spoke with the NYNEX reps today and they confirmed the following for me: NYNEX's Voice Mail product (Call Answering) combined with Call Waiting works the following way in my 5ESS CO (516-694-NNNN): - If I am on the phone and DON'T answer the second call, the mailbox will NOT answer the call. - If I *70 to de-activate Call Waiting before I make a call, any incoming call will get a busy while I am on the call. I then appealed to NYNEX's "President's Help Line" (1-800-722-2300), and after much explaining and whining, the representative agreed to contact the product manager for the service and ask her why it is programmed that way. I was promised a return phone call (but she didn't say when ;-) ). (BTW: here on Long Island, I am kind of "self-determining" that I am in a 5ESS switch by dialing my exchange's verification number, which is usually in the NNX-9901 format. When I dial 694-9901, the recording tells me the type of switch in the CO and which exchanges it serves. Is there any way to verify how accurate and up-to-date this recording is?) Stan ------------------------------ From: lyre@mindvox.phantom.com (Lyre) Subject: Centrex/Key Phone System/PBX Date: Fri, 25 Feb 94 01:17:15 EST Organization: [MindVox] / Phantom Access Technologies / (+1 800-MindVox) I want some kind of system that will give me automated attendant voicemail and multiline capabilities. The number of lines is four to six; the number of instruments is four to start. Any recommendations/things to stay away from? Cost IS an issue. I was wondering if I can do this with Intellipath digital centrex on either DMS-100 or 5ESS, or what would be the most cost-effective key system? Thanks. ------------------------------ From: dalk@login.dkuug.dk (Lars Kalsen) Subject: Telecommunications and Computers Date: 25 Feb 94 12:04:21 GMT Organization: DKnet Hi - I am trying to get an overview over the area: Systems integrating Telecommunication and Computers =================================================== It could be voice-response systems which are placing orders directly in the company's computer system. Or systems for customer service which integrate telephony with customer datases in an intelligent way. Or it could be anything else. If you: - have knowledge of such systems I would like to have a short desciption.(Maybe you compnay have some). - know articles on the subject - I would like to have a reference - know any or sites where I can look for inforamtion - i would like to hera from you. Any inforamtion is appreciated. Plaese E-mail me if you have some. Greetings from Denmark, Lars Kalsen dalk@login.dkuug.dk ------------------------------ From: Pat_Barron@transarc.com Subject: Who Sells Used Telecom Gear? Date: Fri, 25 Feb 1994 10:43:28 -0500 Organization: Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA I'm looking for a small, used PBX ("small" is defined as three or four lines). The cheaper, the better, which is why I want used equipment. Any pointers? Thanks! Pat ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Feb 94 12:41:09 EST From: chapman@ihlpe.att.com Subject: Radio Program on History of the Telephone Organization: AT&T WBEZ (FM 91.5, Chicago) will be broadcasting a for-part "radio history of the telephone", titled "Hell's Bells", starting Feb. 28 at 7:00-8:00 PM. The other three parts will be aired March 1, 2, and 7 (same time). This is an American Public Radio program; the folks at the station said it will likely be aired on other APR or NPR stations around the country, but on different schedules. Check with your local station, or call Israel Smith at APR in Minneapolis, 612-338-5000. Ralph Chapman AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL ------------------------------ From: lgb@cci.com (Lars Borg) Subject: Neal-Wilkinson Trunk Capacity Table Organization: Northern Telecom, Network Application Systems Date: Thu, 24 Feb 1994 17:26:34 GMT Would someone please E-mail a copy of the Neal-Wilkinson trunk capacity tables, or tell me were I can find a copy? Lars G. Borg, E-mail: lgb@cci.com Northern Telcom / Network Application Systems (716) 654-2573 ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Feb 1994 12:56:48 -0800 From: LincMad@netcom.com (Linc Madison) Subject: Why Are Rates to India Increasing? I was looking at yet another one of those newspaper ads for the various LD companies' international discount calling plans, and I've noticed that they list numbers like "India 73 cents (thru 3/30/94, 78 cents after)" Is the PTT in India increasing its "landing fees"? Linc Madison * Oakland, California * LincMad@Netcom.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Feb 1994 13:39:23 -0600 From: Yuxing Tian Subject: What Happened to my Answering Machine? [I live in Chicago, and have a normal greeting message in my answering machine.] Here is the story: Yesterday, when I got home and listen to the messages left in my answering machine. A strange message is: ( ~10 seconds music) ( two rings at the other end) ( a lady picked up the phone and asked "Hello, Number?") ( ~2 seconds silent) ( she hung up.) Could anybody lighten me about what happened? Thanks a lot. ------------------------------ Date: 24 Feb 1994 17:53:24 U From: Hohulin_Doug.IL25-macmail3@il25-macmail3.schaumburg.mnc.mot.com Subject: Information Wanted on TR303, AIN 0.1 I have two questions: How wide spread is TR303 deployed? Is anyone using AIN 0.1 today on their class 5 switches? Which switches are they available on? ------------------------------ From: hu@helios.physics.utoronto.ca (Min Hu) Subject: Information Needed on Satellite Phone Organization: University of Toronto Physics/Astronomy/CITA Date: Fri, 25 Feb 1994 01:11:52 GMT Hi, During the gulf war, both the reporters and the American soldiers used a kind of satellite phone system so that they could communicate with outside world. Does anybody out there know companies who make or sell this kind of mobile phone system? The following features will be desirable. 1. Ability to communicate while the phone is in motion (say a jeep) 2. The diameter of the antanne should be less than 1 meter 3. The satellite carrier should be either American satellite or sea monitoring satellite. 4. The antanne should be all-direction antanne, do not have to worry about the direction of the satellite. It will be greatly appreciated if you can offer any clue as how to find this kind of company. Thanks in advance. HU MIN, University of Toronto, Dept. of Physics Toronto, Ontario, Canada. M5S 1A7 Email: hu@physics.utoronto.ca / hu@utordop.bitnet ------------------------------ From: cristy@eplrx7.es.duPont.com (Cristy) Subject: Information Wanted on FCC 91-115 Organization: DuPont Central Research & Development Date: Thu, 24 Feb 1994 22:06:52 GMT My latest phone bill allows for some additional privacy for customers of unlisted numbers. I disagree with the requirement to pay the $1.50+ charge per month to be eligible for increased privacy. The reference is FCC 91-115. Does anyone know the text of this ruling or where I can get access to this ruling? cristy@dupont.com ------------------------------ From: tbetz@panix.com (Tom Betz) Subject: NYNEX "Slamming" 800 Business Directories? Date: 24 Feb 1994 14:04:37 -0500 Organization: Betz & Associates While reviewing our business phone bill, I noticed a $24.99 charge for an "1994 ATT BUS GUD" and a $3.50 shipping and handling charge. I enquired about it to NYNEX billing, who told me that "1994 ATT BUS GUD" means "1994 AT&T Toll-Free National 800 Directory", and that I had called an 800 number and ordered it. In fact, in January I had received a call from a telemarketer asking me if I wanted it, and had told them no, specifically telling them that as an AT&T 800 customer, I get these for free on request. When one arrived recently, our receptionist signed for it, and when I saw it, I assumed that our AT&T rep had sent it to us; in fact, the NYNEX telemarketer had disregarded my refusal and sent it to us, and then told NYNEX that I had called >him< and placed an order for it! Apparently, NYNEX has hired a sleazy outfit, one that is lying to NYNEX about the orders it has received, to do some of its telemarketing. I wonder how many thousands of times this year NYNEX will be collecting $29.49 from businesses who, like me, said "no" when solicited to buy this book, but who don't notice the charge on their bills? How many millions of dollars in commissions will this sleaze operation earn from these tactics? Check your bills, folks. Tom Betz ---- 114 Woodworth Ave, Yonkers NY 10701-2509 (914) 332-7511 - tbetz@panix.com tom_betz@execnet.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Feb 94 12:47:00 EST From: tjnelson@attmail.att.com Subject: InterLATA CID Organization: AT&T I have a question regarding the use of Caller ID on Inter-LATA calls. Currently the technology exists to deliver the calling number to the terminating LEC office: Originating-->--ISUP-->--InterLATA-->--ISUP-->--Terminating CID LEC Carrier CID LEC Since this information in most cases is deliverable right now, why doesn't InterLATA CID exist? The only reason I've heard so far is that the RBOCs must be "de-regulated" before they can accept/deliver Inter-LATA originating numbers. This doesn't seem to make much sense. Perhaps it's just a matter of working out which carrier charges who and for how much or is there another reason? adTHANKSvance, Terry Nelson @ AT&T ATTMail: tjnelson@attmail.com GEnie: tjnelson@genie.geis.com America On Line: tjnelson@aol.com UUCP: wnxser!tjnelson UUCP via Internet: tjnelson@wnxser.att.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Feb 94 12:41 EST From: johnl@iecc.com (John R Levine) Subject: Re: Vermont Gets Ready For NNX Area Codes Organization: I.E.C.C., Cambridge, Mass. > Please explain these two statements. If it's a "free local call" > (within the same area code, no less), then it's not a toll call, so > why is "Vermont's new toll dialing plan" relevant here at all? We're in Morgan, Vt. which has its own 895 exchange. But since we're way out on the east edge of town, we're closer to Island Pond, so we have an Island Pond 723 phone number. Normally, a call from 723 to 895 is a toll call, but there's a rule that all calls within your own town are considered local, so as a special case, calls to Morgan 895 numbers are free (or at worse charged message units) even though they're dialed as toll calls. There are 895 numbers in Holland and West Charleston as well; don't know if I get charged for them or not. > Do you currently dial these calls as eight digits (1 + 7D)? If so, why? Yup. Same reason. > Are there any other places in the NANP where local intra-NPA calls > require more than seven digits to dial? This situation is quite common in rural areas, and the rule that calls within your town are free seems to be ancient and widespread. In New Hampshire, NET came up with a uniquely awful way to implement this: you were supposed to make such calls on your calling card, then when the bill came, call up the business office and ask them to adjust the bill. I think they now do it automatically as well. [re having to dial calls from 802-723 to 802-895 with 11 digits, even though they are free for us because it's within the same town] > I wonder why Nynex doesn't fix this. If they are smart enough to bill > those calls at local (not toll) rates, they should also have the skills > to let you *dial* them as local (not toll) calls. It'd require per-line dialing plan programming in the switch, something that I don't think CO switches are set up to do. Most 723 customers are in Island Pond, so for them 895 really is a toll call. Some 723 customers are in East Charleston, who have to be able to call 895 numbers in West Charleston (same town, different P.O.) for free, but not necessarily 895 numbers in Morgan or Holland. The same applies for 895 customers calling 723, of course. I expect that it's a lot easier to fix this at the time bills are printed, since the bill printing computer has all of the address information available and, more important, doesn't have to figure out the answer in real time. NYNEX's original proposal was to make all intra-NPA calls in its territory 7D regardless of toll, which would have solved this problem once and for all. Unfortunately, state regulators insisted that they go to 1 + NPA for calls that used to be 1 + 7D. Here's another example of 1+ nonsense: I live in Cambridge Mass., and my sister lives in Lexington, about 10 miles away. For me to call her is a message unit call, not dialed with 1+, which costs 6.5 cents for the first minute, 5.5 cents for subsequent minutes, with no time of day discount. On weekends, intra-NPA toll calls to places like Nantucket (50 miles away) cost less than calling Lexington because they have time-of-day discounts. Indeed, on weekends it saves money to dial her with a 10333 prefix and hand this local call to Sprint! Regards, John Levine, johnl@iecc.com, jlevine@delphi.com, 1037498@mcimail.com ------------------------------ From: Andy.Behrens@coat.com Subject: Re: Vermont Gets Ready For NNX Area Codes Date: 24 Feb 1994 21:21:54 GMT Organization: Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA John Levine writes: > A flyer in my latest phone bill reveals that Vermont's new toll > dialing plan is 1-802-NNX-XXXX... > Personally, I find the new plan to be a big pain in the neck, since, > due to a peculiarity of exchange boundaries, it'll require that I dial > most free local calls within our town with 11 digits. and Bob Goudreau asks: > If it's a "free local call" (within the same area code, no less), then > it's not a toll call, so why is "Vermont's new toll dialing plan" > relevant here at all? Do you currently dial these calls as eight > digits (1 + 7D)? If so, why? A number of years ago, the Vermont PUC mandated that calls to a telephone located in the same town[*] must be billed as local calls, regardless of exchange boundaries. The intent was that people should not have to pay toll charges to call their town offices. But because the state is rural, and hilly, a few outlying houses in a town may be separated from the rest of the town by a ridge of hills. It may be easier for the phone company to wire them into a neighboring exchange -- even when that exchange is far enough away from the town that the two exchanges would be considered "long distance" These outlying people will have to dial 1-802 + 7D to call their neighbors in the same town, but it's a local call for them. Other people in their exchange, for whom the call crosses town boundaries, would pay toll charges. These calls are currently dialed as 1 + 7D. Andy [*] Note: "Towns" in Vermont are what most states call "townships". Everyone in a given town is governed by the same officials, has the same fire department, etc. Andy Behrens P.O. Box 116, South Strafford, Vt. (802) 765-4138 ------------------------------ From: pegasus@cyberspace.org (Patricia Snyder-Rayl) Subject: CONNECT SysOp Subscription Discount Offer Date: 24 Feb 1994 16:29:44 -0500 Organization: Cyberspace Communications Public-Access UNIX CONNECT Magazine Offers Special Subscription Rate for BBS Sysops ================================================================ OK. You've heard about CONNECT, possibly even picked up copies of the magazine at your local newsstand, bookstore or computer dealer. Maybe you've seen our advertising in books such as the "Whole Earth Online Almanac," or you saw the mention of CONNECT in the December 6, 1993 issue of U.S. News & World Report. Or maybe you've just heard about the magazine from talk on the commercial online services, or seen the CONNECT Online BBS Edition door on a local BBS. But, you still haven't subscribed. As a BBS sysop, perhaps you've just been too busy keeping your system in peak shape. And maybe you've also been thinking about advertising your BBS via CONNECT's International BBS Listing or Service Ads. Well, we're making you an offer that'll save you money *AND* give your BBS some added international exposure. To receive details and the necessary form, email your request to pegasus@cyberspace.org. CONNECT Magazine (313) 973-8825 "The Modem User's Resource" (313) 973-0411 fax services, Internet and BBS 3487 Braeburn Circle (313) 973-9137 BBS networks from a user's Ann Arbor, MI 48108 14.4Kbps V.32bis| perspective. ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest V14 #104 ****************************** ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Downloaded From P-80 International Information Systems 304-744-2253