TELECOM Digest     Tue, 24 Jan 95 02:46:00 CST    Volume 15 : Issue 56

Inside This Issue:                          Editor: Patrick A. Townson

    Changes to 411 Directory Assistance Service in Atlanta (Nigel 
Allen)
    BellSouth ISDN Rates (Was ISDN in Florida) (Ed Goldgehn)
    Belgacom and Greek Panaphone (Juha Veijalainen)
    LD Provider Juggling (Justin T. Leavens)
    Sub-Lease 900 Number Possible? (Clint Scott)
    GAO's Information Superhighway Report (Mike Dolak)
    Voice Over Frame Relay and ISDN (Dino Sims)
    Spokane Service Outage (Ry Jones)
    Jobs Available in San Diego: ATM/SONET/OC48 (Shaun Maki)
    FAX Group 3 and Group 4 Standard Information Wanted (Elron Adar)
    Help Needed Locating Retailer For MicroTac Ultralite (Steve 
Chinatti)
    Help Needed With Procomm (kbsherm@holonet.net)
    PC Telcom Equipment Wanted (Tom Lempicke)
    Re: Where to Find Nice-Looking Phones? (Alan Boritz)
    Re: Where to Find Nice-Looking Phones? (Wes Leatherock)
    Re: US <> Purto Rico: Options? (Julio Frondeur)
    Re: CO/Boston Added to NACN (John R. Covert)

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 America
On Line. It is also gatewayed to Usenet where it appears as the 
moderated
newsgroup 'comp.dcom.telecom'. 

Subscriptions are available to qualified organizations and individual
readers. Write and tell us how you qualify:

                 * telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu *

The Digest is edited, published and compilation-copyrighted by Patrick
Townson of Skokie, Illinois USA. You can reach us by postal mail, fax 
or phone at:
                    9457-D Niles Center Road
                     Skokie, IL USA   60076
                       Phone: 708-329-0571
                        Fax: 708-329-0572
  ** 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 partially funded by a grant from the              
*
* International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Geneva, Switzerland    
* 
* under the aegis of its Telecom Information Exchange Services (TIES)   
* 
* project.  Views expressed herein should not be construed as 
represent-*
* ing views of the ITU.                                                 
*
**********************************************************************
***

Additionally, the Digest is funded by gifts from generous readers such
as yourself who provide funding in amounts deemed appropriate. Your 
help 
is important and appreciated. A suggested donation of twenty dollars 
per
year per reader is considered appropriate. See our address above.

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.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Tue, 24 Jan 1995 03:35:21 -0500
Subject: Changes to 411 Directory Assistance Service in Atlanta
From: ndallen@io.org (Nigel Allen)
Organization: Internex Online (io.org)


Southern Bell says it is introducing a more-automated directory
assistance service which will reduce the amount of speaking a
directory assistance operator has to do. The company didn't say
whether the resulting savings in operator time will lead to layoffs.
And it seems as if the company is reducing operator time at the
expense of making customers wait on the phone longer while a shortened
recorded version of their request is played back to an operator. It is
not clear whether the service will also be used for long distance
directory assistance requests from outside the Atlanta area.
 
A Southern Bell press release says: "With the company's new DA*Plus
service, customers dialing 411 are greeted by the system and then are
asked for the name of the city and the person or business whose phone
number they need. The system will then record the customer's response.
After the information is recorded, DA*Plus automatically trims the
silence at the beginning and end of the customer responses and places
the call in queue for the next available operator. By eliminating the
pauses and silence on each call, the operator hears only the
customer's responses, not any hesitation or pauses. The operator then
checks for the listing and provides the number requested to the caller
just as it is done today. At any time, a caller who wishes to bypass
the service can press zero and is immediately connected to an
operator." (The press release does not explain how someone with a
rotary dial can be connected to an operator.)
 
The company says that customers who have questions or comments about
this new service may call 404-780-2323. Attendants will be available
to answer questions Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Journalists can call Lynn Bress of Southern Bell at 404-391-2484.
 
 
Nigel Allen, Toronto, Ontario, Canada      ndallen@io.org

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

From: edg@ocn.com (Ed Goldgehn) Subject: BellSouth ISDN Rates (Was
ISDN in Florida) Date: 22 Jan 1995 16:01:31 GMT Organization: The
INTERNET Connection, LLC Reply-To: isdn@ocn.com


In article <telecom15.46.14@eecs.nwu.edu>, xu@gate.net says:

> I was wondering if anyone has heard anything about Southern > Bell
implementing ISDN in Florida? I've been considering it to get a > link
to the net and a business line as well. I was also wondering if >
anyone could give me an idea of the rates I might get charged. If no >
one knows or isn't sure how about a number I might call to get this >
info?  Barring that I was wondering if anyone was currently using ISDN
> in Florida and what their experiences with it were.

The rates for BellSouth ISDN in all areas are:

   BELLSOUTH RESIDENCE
   --------- ---------
       ISDN RATES

  (2B+D)     Flat Rate
   Monthly*
State  Minimum  Maximum   Installation

Alabama  $63.85  $68.60   $210.00
Florida  52.80  56.15   226.00
Georgia  60.05  66.40   184.50
Kentucky 54.67  60.05   213.00
Lousiana# 70.50  70.50   259.80
Mississippi 61.29  65.51   196.00 North
Carolina 72.44  75.01   197.50 South
Carolina 57.70  60.40   212.50
Tennessee 24.50  29.50    N/C**
 
*Minimum & Maximum Rates are due to different rate groups. (The rate
will not be more than the maximum or less than the minimum.)

#Louisiana rates are not rate group sensitive

**Residence service order charge and line connection charge for
initial installations will be waived for a period of one year
beginning October 29,1993. (Tenn. Only)


   BELLSOUTH BUSINESS
   --------- ^^^^^^^^
       ISDN RATES
  
     (2B+D)  Flat Rate
   

STATE   MONTHLY  INSTALLATION
----   -------  ------------
Alabama   $93.50 $219.00##
Florida   93.50  206.00##
Georgia   93.50  208.25##
Kentucky  91.00  230.00##
Louisiana  95.50  254.19##
Mississippi  94.50  236.00## North
Carolina  93.50  212.50## South
Carolina  91.00  232.50##
Tennessee  93.50   58.50##

These rates do not include any features or packet services.

Rates Subject to change.  Rates Subject to all applicable taxes
======================================================================
====
##Before firm rates can be confirmed, loop qualification and
facilities availability request must be processed for each address.

This request is to determine if the local facilities meet distance and
provisioning requirements.  This will determine if ISDN can be
provided to that address without additional charges.

To have the above request performed for your location, send your name,
the name telephone service is listed to, the address and existing
telephone number to:

                  isdn@ocn.com
======================================================================
====
Open Communication Networks, Inc. (OCN) provides turnkey ISDN
implementation services which includes the ordering and coordination
of ISDN installation with BellSouth (and other telcos) as well as
coordination with ISP's (we'll check what customer equipment
requirements they have).  OCN also provides a "dial-in" test site for
all forms of ISDN data connections including terminal emulation, SLIP,
and PPP (sync and async).

OCN provides the above services *at no additional charge* when the
customer's ISDN equipment is purchased at LIST PRICE.

For more information, send e-mail to isdn@ocn.com


Ed Goldgehn E-Mail: edg@ocn.com Sr. Vice President Voice: (404)
919-1561 Open Communication Networks, Inc.  Fax: (404) 919-1568

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

Subject: Re: Belgacom and Greek Panaphone 
From: juha.veijalainen@pcb.compart.fi (Juha Veijalainen) 
Date: Mon, 23 Jan 95 22:33:00 +0200 
Organization: ComPart BBS - Helsinki, Finland


References: <telecom15.34.3@eecs.nwu.edu>

> I send this letter to protest for the services of Belgacom Proximus
> Cellular Telephone service and that of the Greek Panaphone.  I am an
> owner of a Panaphone number and I am visiting Belgium since 10 >
December 1994.  My telephone is not working in a certain area of >
Belgium even the Proximus signal is very stong. This area is

This sounds familiar. Let me guess, you are using a handheld phone,
right? I visited Belgium and Holland last autumn and had similar
problems.

IMHO the problem is that GSM networks in those countries are not built
for handheld phones. Cells are too widely apart and use maximum power
allowed for a cell site (20 W?). Your phone sees the cell transmitter
and may even show maximum field strength. When you try to _use_ your
phone, you'll see that field strength indicator rapidly goes to zero
and net connection is lost (that is what happens with Nokia 2110).

Handheld phones' 2 W maximum transmitting power is not enough, when
cell transmitter is shouting at 20 W!

The only decent GSM nets (for handheld phones) are in my opinion in
Finland and Sweden (I've used my phone also in UK, the Netherlands,
Belgium and Switzerland).  Lots of low power cell sites make it work.


Juha Veijalainen Helsinki, Finland

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

From: jtleavens@aol.com (JT Leavens) 
Subject: LD Provider Juggling
Date: 23 Jan 1995 13:35:15 -0500 
Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364) 
Reply-To: jtleavens@aol.com (JT Leavens)


I had my LD service provided to me by AddTel, a LDDS reseller until
October 94, when I switched it all to LDDS directly, except for a
lonely 800 number that I was hanging on to, but not really using. So I
was still getting bills from AddTel for this 800 number with just a
few wrong numbers that called the line; no big deal.

In December, I took a closer look at my bill and noticed that AddTel
was still charging me for the monthly rates for the 800 number they
were no longer carrying, and I got suspicious. I then combed through
bills since I had switched my service, and found that there were calls
that were still being billed by them on that 800 number, even though
LDDS was supposedly my provider. Not a lot of calls, mind you, but
just a few. Checking my AddTel bills against my LDDS bills I found:

*Most of the service was provided by LDDS, as it should have been.

*There was an entire week in November when AdTel billed my service and
LDDS did not. It was a Monday through Friday, for no explanation I can
provide.

*There were some days when LDDS and AdTel seemed to fight for my
calls, some calls in a day going to one carrier and others going to
the other, right after each other with no pattern.

*Most upsetting were calls I found on BOTH bills, billed by both
companies. There is no doubt that these were the exact same calls.

How exactly can this happen? I got a partial explanation from a tech
at LDDS who said a "send resporg command to the SDS database" would
take care of the routing to LDDS (I assume that's the central 800
database that ensures the proper call routing), but how exactly could
the two companies both bill for a single call? And do I have any
responsibility to pay AdTel for providing service when I expressly did
*not* want them to? Especially since being able to compare identical
calls billed side by side proved that I had saved a good bit of money
by switching to LDDS.

Any ideas from anyone?


Thanks in advance!

Justin Leavens

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

From: cscott@Starbase.NeoSoft.COM (Clint Scott) Subject: Sub-Lease 900
Number Possible?  Date: 22 Jan 1995 16:02:37 -0600 Organization:
NeoSoft Internet Services +1 713 684 5969


I am in need of 'renting' a 900 number for a one month trail period.
I don't want to have to pay the whole down money, etc just for this
brief time.  Is it possible to sort of sub-lease a 900 number with a
particular extension?  E-mail is preferable to news post.


cscott@starbase.neosoft.com

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

From: mjdolak@access3.digex.net (Mike Dolak) Subject: GAO's
Information Superhighway Report Date: 23 Jan 1995 00:00:40 GMT
Organization: Digex Net


The United States General Accounting Office (GAO) has released a
report entitled Information Superhighway: An Overview of Technology
Challenges (GAO/AIMD-95-23).

The 84 page report provides an overview of pivotal technical issues --
security and privacy, interoperability, and reliability -- facing the
industry and federal regulators in planning and implementing the
information superhighway.

Orders for a single free copy of this report may be placed by calling
(202) 512-6000, by using fax number (301) 258-4066, or by mailing a
request to the U.S. General Accounting Office, P.O. Box 6015,
Gaithersburg, MD 20884-6015, USA.

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

From: dino@crl.com (Dino Sims) Subject: Voice Over Frame Relay and
ISDN Date: 23 Jan 1995 14:02:53 -0800 Organization: CRL Dialup
Internet Access


Hello all,

My company is in the process of installing a WAN between our locations
here in Atlanta, Hong Kong and Holland.  And I was wondering is it
possible or even practical to do voice over frame relay or isdn to
extend our digital PBX system (Executone 432) so users here can just
punch in an extension and get someone over seas.  Also has anyone done
video conferencing over frame relay?  I know that all of this is
possible by using 56k leased lines but I would like to try and save
some money :-)


Dino Sims Systems Administrator Atlanta, GA email1 dino@crl.com email2
DSims_+a_AJC_+lDino_Sims+r%AJC_International@mcimail.com

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

From: rjones@rjones.oz.net (Ry Jones) 
Subject: Spokane Service Outage
Date: 23 Jan 1995 19:55:50 GMT
Organization: The SenseMedia Network, http://sensemedia.net/


Saturday morning on KIRO (710 AM, Seattle) they said that USWest was
trucking in hundreds on service persons from Idaho and Western
Washington to "Dry out lines on the south hill of Spokane", where
apparently several thousand people are without service at this hour.
Does anyone have the 411 on this outage? What happened?

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

From: smaki@teleport.com (Shaun) 
Subject: Jobs Available in San Diego: ATM/SONET/OC48 
Date: 23 Jan 1995 20:27:51 GMT 
Organization: Teleport - Portland's Public Access (503) 220-1016


ATM/SONET/DS3/T1/FAX/modem in moderate sunny San Diego: Pay can be
over 100K/year depending on experience!

If you have the above skills please read to the bottom.  More than ten
jobs are being filled right now.  From Component Engineer to Hardware
Manager.  From Software Engineer to Software Manager.  With the right
background you may find yourself working as a technology scientist
planning the next generation.

HARDWARE DEVELOPMENT MANAGER:



Overall responsibility for board level hardware development including
initial high level definition, detailed design,
simulation/verification building and debugging of prototypes, and
successful introduction into production.  In addition to extensive
hands-on detailed design experience (uP, ASIC's, FPGA's, ...), a
minimum of three years of management experience is required along with
a BSEE /MSEE.  Must be comfortable working in a team oriented high
energy environment, T1/DS3/SONET telecom experience is a plus.
 
SOFTWARE MANAGER TELECOMMUNICATIONS:

BSEE/BSCS (Masters desired): Eight + years experience with a minimum
of three years experience in managing software development for
multiprocessing embedded systems; strong C/C++ programming skills in
UNIX development environment; experience with real-time kernels (PSOS,
VRTX, OS-9, must also have experience with systems oriented towards
fault tolerant software architecture and software associated with
Digital Telephony switching systems.

TECHNOLOGY SCIENTISTS (multiple jobs):

Requires masters degree or higher with extensive ATM/SONET real world
experience.  Develop the next generation in a laboratory environment
with all the toys you want.  Within reason you will be given whatever
you need.

LEAD SOFTWARE ENGINEER: TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS:

BS/MS, EE/CS and eight+ years of experience in multiprocessor embedded
system software development.  Strong C/C++ programming experience in
UNIX development required.  Experience in software architectures
typified by digital telephony switching systems, telephony network
access servers/routers, etc. a plus.  Candidates will lead design team
in the architecting and development of real-time, fault tolerant,
multiprocessor software.  Must posses strong technical leadership
skills and proven ability to be a self-starter in the ground-level
architecting and development of new products.

LEAD SOFTWARE ENGINEER: DSP PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT:

BS/MS/PhD in EE or a related discipline and five + years DSP software
development experience.  Qualified candidates will lead design team in
the development of real-time DSP engine for high speed analog and
digital protocol analysis, Must Posess strong technical knowledge in
the area of DSP algorithms used in the transmission and discrimination
of FAX and modem protocols, associated training sequences, signal
constellations, and compression (Group III FAX, V.32, V.32bis,
V.42bis, MNP, etc.).  Strong technical leadership/decision making
skills and proven ability to deliver products from conception to
production also required.

SOFTWARE ENGINEERS: TELECOMMUNICATIONS (multiple jobs):

Candidates must posses BSEE/BSCS (masters desired); strong C/C++
programming skills; five + years experience in the development of
real-time embedded systems; basic knowledge of assemble language
(particularly the Motorolla 68K family); strong debugging skills using
native debugger and associated emulators.  Experience with products
interfacing to the digital telephone network a plus.

PHYSICAL DESIGN MANAGER:

Overall responsibility for Mechanical Engineering and Document Control
including mechanical/OEM issues, managing the engineering change
control process, and successfully transitioning new designs from
engineering into production.  BSME/MSME is required along with
experience in introducing complex multi-level products into volume
production in an ISO/Bellcore quality environment.  Hands on
experience is beneficial along with a minimum of four years of
management experience.

COMPONENT ENGINEER:

BSEE Required.  Work with design engineers selecting components and
perform functional/performance analysis of components.

Do not reply to this message.

EMail direct to smaki@teleport.com with a phone number and reasume (if
easy).  Otherwise just your phone number will do.  I will call you on
my nickel.  Or you may call me if you wish at the number below.

    -- Shaun Maki
        smaki@teleport.com
        503 614 9627.

Must be legal to work in the US (no H1/F1 visa!).  If you are a
student without experience please do not respond.

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

From: vocaltec@datasrv.co.il 
Subject: FAX Group 3 and Group 4 Standard Information Wanted 
Date: Tue, 24 Jan 95 07:02:11 GMT 
Organization: Elron Adar


Where can I find the CCITT standard for fax group 3 and group 4
transmission?


Thanks.

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

From: chinatti@SRTC.COM (Steve Chinatti)
Date: Mon, 23 Jan 1995 16:45:27 -0500
Subject: Help Needed Locating Retailer for MicroTac Ultralite


Hi,

  I'm looking for information on purchasing a Motorola MicroTac
Ultralite flip phone.  I'm in the central NJ area and I am interested
in activating with Bell Atlantic mobile, as one of their plans seem to
best fit my travel area and calling patterns.  My problem is that I
cannot find a discounter in the area that activates with Bell Atlantic
and carries the Ultralite.  I've called Bell Atlantic but I have been
unable to get a list of discount retailers that activate with BAMS,
probably because Bell Atlantic would like to have me buy the phone
through them (at list price!).  The coverage area I'm looking for is
Central NJ - Philly.  I was wondering if anyone has any tips on how to
find a discount retailer in this area that I can buy from, or possibly
some mail order house that has good prices.  Since this is a pretty
specific question, it would probably be best to e-mail responses to
me, and if I come up with any leads I'll post a summary.
 

Thanks in advance,

Steve Chinatti   <chinatti@srtc.com>

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

From: kbsherm@holonet.net (tacnav)
Subject: Help Needed With Procomm
Date: 23 Jan 1995 23:27:50 GMT
Organization: HoloNet National Internet Access System: 510-704-
1058/modem


I am having trouble using PROCOMM. Can anyone offer me some help?


Thanks,

ken   kbsherm@holonet.net

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

Date: Tue, 24 Jan 1995 04:43:27 GMT
From: tlempicke@sunbelt.net
Subject: PC Telcom Equipment Wanted
Organization: SunBelt.Net


Does anyone know of a drop in board for a PC which would allow it to
handle an office phone system?  I have three incoming lines and eight
extensions, and it seems like a perfect project for a dedicated PC.
The open architechture and programming would allow future expansion, 
etc>.


Thanks,

Tom Lempicke    Tlempicke@sunblet.net

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

Subject: Re: Where to Find Nice-Looking Phones?
From: drharry!aboritz@uunet.uu.net (Alan Boritz)
Date: Mon, 23 Jan 95 20:59:55 EST
Organization: Harry's Place - Mahwah NJ - +1 201 934 0861


ophidian59@aol.com (Ophidian59) writes:

> If you want an inexpensive high quailty phone, try buy a plain
> telephone at the parts counter of your local Greybar, a telephony
> supply house.

Figure into the cost of picking up that phone, window or car repair.
The last time I parked down the street from Graybar, in Long Island
City, someone broke off a new padlock from the back of my truck
(within about 15 minutes).  It's much safer to deal with them via mail
order. <g>

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

From: wes.leatherock@oubbs.telecom.uoknor.edu
Date: Mon, 23 Jan 95 19:14:36 
Subject: Re: Where to Find Nice-Looking Phones?


Quoting ophidian59@aol.com (Ophidian59)

> While on the subject of phones, I'd really like to find one of
> those old yet very mod (e.g. 60's) British phones with the dial
> and the hook-switch on the bottom. Anyone?

Do you mean the Ericofon?  That was Swedish, made by L.M.  Ericsson
Company.


Wes Leatherock                                            
wes.leatherock@oubbs.telecom.uoknor.edu                       
wes.leatherock@f2001.n147.z1.fidonet.org                              


[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: I knew someone with an Ericofon back in
1967; they were really considered very avante-guard back then. Of 
course
he had *no permission* whatsoever from telco to have it on his line.  
PAT]

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

From: Julio Frondeur <juliof@pipeline.com>
Date: Mon, 23 Jan 1995 16:13:42 -0500
Subject: Re: US <> Purto Rico: Options?
Organization: InfiNet


You may try asking Puerto Rico Telephone Co. for their Switched-56
offering which is much less expensive than the 4K monthly figure you
actually have.  The C.O. serving the Carolina area is a DMS-100
equipped with the TCM-based SW-56 feature called DATAPATH by Northern
Telecom.  If you are within 15K feet from the C.O., it will be piece 
of
cake for PRTC to give you the service.


Julio Fondeur

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

Date: Mon, 23 Jan 95 11:42:23 EST
From: John R. Covert  21-Jan-1995 1125 <covert@covert.enet.dec.com>
Subject: Re: CO/Boston Added to NACN


NACN in Boston does not appear to be working very well.

Sitting here in Boston, I just turned on my Montreal CanTel number;
the first thing I tried was to call in via the Montreal number.
Usually (e.g. in Pittsburg) calls are properly routed to the phone
within five seconds of power-on.

Calls continued to no-answer transfer at the Montreal end until I
actually attempted to originate a call with the Montreal number here
in Boston.

Then call delivery started working some but not all of the time.
Frequently there was just a fast-busy.

None of the feature codes work -- I've tried to use the Ericsson codes
(*21* to forward, #21# to cancel) which work when roaming using the
CanTel number in Albany, Rochester, Pittsburg, Florida, and San 
Francisco 
but not in Utica or Dallas/Fort Worth.  I also tried the Cellular 
One/SWBell 
feature numbers for Boston, but nothing.

At the moment I have turned the phone back off, and calls are no
longer going to the no-answer transfer location.  That works properly
when the phone is turned off in most other places (such as Florida),
without the need for any timeout period.  It even worked on failed
pages; in South Florida I could leave my CanTel number forwarded on
no-answer to my NYNEX number; if I got a failed page on the CanTel
number I had time to switch to the other NAM and would receive the
call on the NYNEX number via BellSouth.

But none of this works in Boston; it looks like Boston's NACN 
connection 
is either AFU or not completed.


/john

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

End of TELECOM Digest V15 #56
*****************************

                                                                                                    
