From telecom-request@delta.eecs.nwu.edu Fri Sep 8 00:10:01 1995 by 1995 00:10:01 -0400 telecomlist-outbound; Thu, 7 Sep 1995 20:58:37 -0500 1995 20:58:35 -0500 To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu TELECOM Digest Thu, 7 Sep 95 20:58:00 CDT Volume 15 : Issue 374 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson Split of Area Code 305 (Toby Nixon) New Data/Fax Phone - Cellular (aircom1@aol.com) Re: War on Payphones (Wes Leatherock) Re: War on Payphones (Steven Lichter) Re: War on Payphones (Henry Mensch) Re: War on Payphones (Gordon D. Woods) Re: War on Payphones (Stan Schwartz) Pay Phones in Poor Neighborhoods (Bob Schwartz) Re: Boston Area Telephone Exchange Name History (Garrett A. Wollman) 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: 500-677-1616 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. 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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. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The North American Numbering Plan Administration has announced the impending split of the 305 NPA (South Florida). The following information is quoted from Bellcore letter IL-95/08-011, dated 23 August 1995: We have been advised by BellSouth Telecommunications that substantial telephone number growth in southeastern Florida necessitates splitting the existing 305 NPA and the simultaneous introduction of a new 954 NPA. Dade and Monroe Counties, which include the Miami metropolitan area, will retain the 305 NPA. The Broward County portion of the current 305 NPA, including Fort Lauderdale, will change to the new 954 area code. The split of the 305 NPA, and the beginning of a permissive dialing period, is scheduled for 12:01 AM EDT on September 11, 1995. During the permissive dialing period, either 305 or 954 will be acceptable in a dialed number terminating in the new 954 NPA. The end of permission dialing and the beginning of mandatory dialing is scheduled for different services as follows: 12:01 AM EDT on April 13, 1996 for PAGERS; 12:01 AM EDT on June 1, 1996 for WIRELINE (POTS); and 12:01 AM EST on January 1, 1997 for CELLULAR. After each permissive period expires, calls dialed with incorrect NPA codes, as defined in the NPA split information published in the Local Exchange Routing Guide (LERG), will be routed to intercept. The 954 NPA prefix codes (NXXs) appear in the current version of the LERG. Central offices in the area to be served by the 954 NPA will be modified on a progressive basis to transmit "954" in the calling number Automatic Number Identification (ANI). BellSouth will convert all pertinent records to 954 the weekend of September 8, 1995. This includes customer service records and associated NPA information in other systems. After September 11, 1995, all inquiries must refer to the correct NPA code. The attached map [not included in this message] illustrates the 305 and the 954 NPA configuration after the split. A listing of the communities and exchange prefixes to be included in each area code after the split is also attached. Test calls to verify routing to the new 954 interchangable NPA code may be made by dialing 954-236-4242, effective immediately. A recorded announcement will indicate that the test call has been successfully completed. The following dialing procedures will exist for the 305 and 954 NPAs: * All intra-NPA "local" calls will be dialed on a 7 digit basis with no prefix; i.e., NXX+XXXX (7 digits). * All intra-NPA direct dialed "toll" calls (generally calls that incur an additional charge) will be dialed with a prefix "1" and 10 digits; i.e., 1+NPA+NXX+XXXX (1 + 10 digits). * All inter-NPA direct dialed local calls will be dialed with 10 digits and no prefix; i.e., NPA+NXX+XXXX (10 digits). * All inter-NPA direct dialed toll calls will be dialed with a prefix "1" and 10 digits; i.e., 1+NPA+NXX+XXXX (1 + 10 digits). * All operator-assisted calls (both intra- and inter-NPA) including credit card, collect, and third-party calls will be dialed with either a "0" or a "10XXX+0" prefix and 10 digits; i.e., 0+NPA+NXX+XXXX; or, 10XXX+0+NPA+NXX+XXXX. Questions concerning this NPA relief project may be directed either to John Serenci, BellSouth Telecommunications, on (305) 492-1037, or to Stan Washer, BellSouth Telecommunications, on (205) 977-2668. Copies of this letter are being forwarded to achieve the widest possible industry distribution and may be reproduced for further distribution as needed. Questions concerning the contents of this letter may be referred to Jim Deak, Bellcore, at (908) 699-6612. /signed/ J. N. Deak North American Numbering Plan Administration 954 Exchanges: Coral Springs, Deerfield Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pompano Beach. 305 Exchanges: Big Pine Key, Homestead, Miami, North Dade, Islamorada, Key Largo, Key West, Marathon, North Key Largo, Perrine, Sugar Loaf Key. [No time today to transcribe all the exchange codes; sorry!] ------------------------------ Air Communications Introduces Next Generation Cellular Data Fax Phone. Revolutionary, industry-first product delivers all-in-one connectivity, convenience in a pocket-sized device, the new AirCommunicator. SUNNYVALE, Calif., September 5, 1995 -- Air Communications Inc., a pioneer of cellular data technology and communications devices, today introduced the new AirCommunicatorx, an innovative hand-held cellular data fax phone that forges a new category of wireless devices. This small, value-driven product offers convenience in an all in one solution that acts as an extension of the user's desktop. It delivers unmatched, integrated wireless connectivity and functionality, bringing the flexibility of fax, voice mail and voice communications to users without the need for a computer. It also uses a serial port connection to any PC, Macintosh, notebook or PDA to complete e-mail and remote access operations. AirCommunicator answers the needs of a broad range of users who require remote access to information. While there are an estimated one million mobile data subscribers in the United States today, that number is expected to grow to 9.9 million subscribers by the year 2000. Today's mobile professionals are juggling an unwieldy assortment of devices aimed at keeping them in touch with their businesses and families. The new AirCommunicator is targeted at this market segment, which makes up approximately 47 percent of the growing market for mobile data users. In addition, many of today's 28 million cellular voice subscribers will be looking to upgrade to add data communications capabilities over the next five years. "The new AirCommunicator ushers in a new level of convenience for people on the move," said Dan Seale, president and CEO of Air Communications. "We've pioneered a product that works as a fully-featured data communications tool -- in essence, replicating the user's desktop environment. It is the first wireless product to reliably send, receive and store faxes, all without attaching to a computing device, so it is ideal for the large number of mobile professionals who don't carry a portable computer." Features: The new AirCommunicator will be offered in two different versions, the Lite and the Executive. The two models offer users different levels of message and fax storage capacity. Talk, data transmission and standby time also vary, and the two versions feature different types of rechargeable batteries -- Ni-Cad, Nickel Metal Hydride and Lithium Ion -- each providing a technical match to the varying usage patterns of Air's target markets. In addition, the Executive comes with the AirDock, a state-of-the-art charging station, complete with speaker and microphone for hands-free operation of the AirCommunicator. For example, the user can simply hook up the unit to the vehicle's cigarette lighter to conserve battery power and recharge while driving, or utilize the RJ-11 jack for landline capability in a hotel room. A key differentiator for the product is its ability to both send and receive faxes without the need for a computer. Current products on the market don't offer the same functionality or flexibility. Users can store frequently used faxes, such as directions or inventory forms, on their AirCommunicator and send them directly from the device without plugging in to a computer. Another advantage is that users can receive and store faxes while on the road, and later view or print them either by sending the fax to a nearby fax machine or using standard fax software on a computer. "The ability to receive faxes is what sets this product apart from competitive solutions," said Andy Seybold, publisher of Andy Seybold's Outlook on Mobile Communications and Computing. "The most frequently used type of data transmission is facsimile, with e-mail, file transfer and dial-up connections making up the remainder. The need to access these forms of data don't change just because a person is on the road. With AirCommunicator, users have that access and can count on it to work reliably." Features include: Feature AirCommunicator Lite - AirCommunicator Executive; Digital Answering Machine 2.7 minutes message storage - 16 minutes message storage; Fax Storage 6 pages - 37 pages; Talk Time 90 minutes - 100 minutes; Data Transmission Time 50 minutes - 60 minutes; Standby Time 8 hours - 9 hours; Battery Type (rechargeable) Nickel-Cadmium - (NiCad) Lithium Ion; Phone Weight 11.9 ounces - 9.9 ounces; AirDock Not included - Included Data and Fax Performance 14.4K Baud - 14.4K Baud Software The new AirCommunicator includes bundled software that enables users to better monitor and manage their communications: x AirController reports continuous on-line status such as connection rate, throughput and cellular event status. It also allows users to set advanced preferences such as minimum signal conditions and maximum error levels, achieving the most efficient use of cellular airtime. A user-friendly interface on the device or on the computer screen helps users manage their mobile data communications. x Auto Phone Updater provides users with easy remote wireless access to software upgrades, including the latest in modem firmware, to add new features and functionality to the AirCommunicator. The device never becomes obsolete. Users simply call in to a specified number to download the upgrade wirelessly -- there's no need for a computer or to visit a service center. Underlying Technology AirCommunicator's unmatched performance and reliability is derived from its state-of-the-art underlying technology, AirTrue. AirTrue leverages the existing AMPS cellular network to provide ubiquitous access, high throughput rates for data (14.4K and higher), and ease of use. In addition, because AirTrue integrates radio frequency (RF) and modem technologies, it achieves significantly higher first time connect rates of 94 percent -- far exceeding those of its nearest competitors. It also allows users to connect to any modem at any time without the need for special host-end technology, dramatically reducing or eliminating implementation costs. Pricing and Availability The AirCommunicator Lite and Executive models will be available in September 1995 with street pricing expected to start at $695. About Air Communications Air Communications Inc., headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif., was founded in 1992 to be the global leader in providing innovative mobile connectivity solutions that meet the needs of today's users. To achieve its vision, the company has pioneered its AirTrue cellular data technology, and has integrated the technology into its family of AirCommunicator products. Air Communications' products are sold through cellular carriers and mobile communications dealers nationwide. For further information on the company, call 1-800-AIR DATA. Air Communications, AirCommunicator, AirController and AirTrue are trademarks of Air Communications Inc. ------------------------------ Jack.Winslade@f1.n30102.z1.omahug.org (Jack Winslade) wrote: [ ... text deleted ... ] > Funny thing I've found out about pay phones in LV, at least a few > years back, is that the real ones tended to be non-Bell and those that > looked like genuine ones were almost always cocots. Has the Las Vegas exchange been sold? It used to be owned by a firm called, I believe, Centel, and was one of the largest non-Bell exchanges in the country. So the "real ones" in Las Vegas *are* non-Bell. jimmy@denwa.info.com (Jim Gottlieb) wrote: > I was in Los Angeles the other day and attempted to use the Pacific > Bell payphone located inside the restaurant where I was eating lunch. > My pager had just gone off, telling me I had a voice mail message > waiting. > However, after I dialed any number on this phone, the touch-tone pad > was shut off. I expect this kind of behavior from COCOTs, but not > from P*B phones. > I called the telco to complain and they explained to me that this was > done purposely because that telephone is in "a high-crime area". So > what am I supposed to do? Hit the streets in this "high-crime area" > to find a COCOT that will let me check my voice mail? And how many > crimes do you think the disabling of those touch-tone pads has averted? In Southwestern Bell territory, many telephones in such areas have been changed to rotary dial. Curiously, if you want to make a credit card call, you can dial the calling card number using the rotary dial, at least for intraLATA calls. The only case I've found where you can dial your calling card number with a rotary dial. Wes Leatherock wes.leatherock@hotelcal.com wes.leatherock@oubbs.telecom.uoknor.edu wes.leatherock@f2001.n147.z1.fidonet.org ------------------------------ I sure don't know where they come up with the idea that shunting the pad after connect will help fight crime. For less then $20.00 you can get a portable Touch Tone generator about the size of a small calculator and for a little more one with lots of memory. I'm sure the drug dealers have the best. I was forced to get one because of the COT's. The above are my ideas and have nothing to do with whoever my employer is. SysOp Apple Elite II and OggNet Hub (909)359-5338 2400/14.4 24 hours, Home of GBBS/LLUCE Support for the Apple II. slichte@cello.gina.calstate.edu ------------------------------ > I called the telco to complain and they explained to me that this was > done purposely because that telephone is in "a high-crime area". So ·_ > what am I supposed to do? Hit the streets in this "high-crime area" to > find a COCOT that will let me check my voice mail? And how many crimes > do you think the disabling of those touch-tone pads has averted? Gee ... if this is a high-crime area, how am I supposed to call 911? # henry mensch / / pob 14592; sf, ca 94114-0592; usa # http://www.q.com/henry/ [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Uh, no backtalk from you please! Let's not have any consistency here; it adds too many problems. If you were in Chicago, you could always go downtown to the Board of Trade Building and use their payphones; regardless of how much cocaine gets passed around in the men's restrooms there each day, no changes will ever be made in the way their payphones operate. Or you could go over and use the phones at the Cook County Criminal Courts Building, 26th and Cali- fornia Avenue. They stand in the hallways there -- right outside of 'Drug Court' mind you! -- and peddle their wares, and the payphones there -- although not in the jail next door -- are still working fine. I guess it all depends on who you know; hasn't it always been that way? PAT] ------------------------------ In article , Dave Levenson wrote: > In Boonton Township, New Jersey, a new municipal ordinance advances > courageously in the ongoing battle. Under this ordinance, all outdoor > payphones must be removed by October 1, 1995. Bell Atlantic and > [TELEOCM Digest Editor's Note: If ignorance was bliss, some Chicago > aldermen would be the happiest people in the world. We have some snip, snip... > anywhere. PAT] But Boonton is a nice town! [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: How many the City Fathers there have been sent to the penetentiary in the past couple decades? In the past twenty years or so, we have had *48* aldermen, judges, commissioners, etc sent up the river. The most recent of course to be convicted was Congressman Reynolds on the sex charges. PAT] ------------------------------ SBBS@SBBS.NET wrote: > Ameritech has recently changed all of its payphones to no longer allow > customers to call pager/voice mail boxes for FREE anymore. It now > requires a 35 cent deposit. Ameritech did this with no forewarning what- > soever, even to the resellers to re-sell the pager products. You had it pretty good for some time and now you're just coming into line with the rest of us. In NYNEX/NY land and BellSouth/NC, calling into the CO-based e-mail service is a local call, and charged as such. If you're at a payphone, then it's whatever the cost of the call would be regardless of whether you were calling a pager, voice mail, or your mother. For these kinds of calls, I use a TotalTel card, which has some very competitive rates. What annoys me more, though, is that the City of Charlotte has genuine- Bell- looking COCOTs imbedded into the city bus shelters along Tryon Street (the main drag through town). They have red inserts boasting .25/minute to call anywhere in the USA. However, they also charge .25 for an 800 call. When I dialed 211 to ask if this was a mistake, the representative (who had probably heard this question more than once before) told me that the North Carolina commission that controls such things approved this charge in December 1993. I scurried into an office building that had a BellSouth payphone to make my call. Geez, what a hassle! Stan ------------------------------ Pat, It occured to me that pay phones could be getting removed from poor neighborhoods in order to stimulate the new instalation of LIFELINE service! Wasn't there some dialogue about the low penetration of Service to poor, minority, and immigrant neighborhoods late last year? I believe that regulators decreed something *encouraging* LECs to promote Lifeline service in such areas. Regards, *BOB* [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Could be, but Lifeline service is not a big profit center. IBT had to be 'encouraged' by the Illinois Commerce Commission before they would do much with it. Seems like a hard way to earn a profit if you ask me. You could be right though. PAT] ------------------------------ On Wed, 6 Sep 1995 22:46:07 -0400 (EDT), fybush@world.std.com (Scott D Fybush) said: >>BRIGHTON / ALLSTON > >> ALgonquin 4 Name origin unknown ALGonquin >> STadium 2 Harvard Stadium STAdium > 254 and 782 still exist...in fact I have a couple of 254 lines on my > office telephone. >> BROOKLINE >> BEacon 2 Beacon Street BEAcon >> ASpinwall 7 Aspinwall Avenue ASPinwall >> LOngwood 6 Longwood Avenue LONgwood >> REgent 4 Not a local name Created in 1950s > 232, 277, 566, and 734 are all still around. Interesting that the 27 in 277 did not stand for BRookline... (People in my part of Brighton are served out of the 277 exchange, which results in a continuing inability on the part of NYNEX to print my address correctly. Many people in my neighborhood probably consider this a good thing.) >> ELiot 4 Eliot Street ELIot >> KIrkland 7 Kirkland Street KIRkland >> Trowbridge 6 Trowbridge Street TROwbridge >> UNiversity 4 Harvard University UNIversity >> UNiversity 8 Harvard University UNIversity > 354, 547, 876, 864, and 868 are all still there, accompanied nowadays > by a slew of 49X exchanges, most belonging to Harvard, and several > MIT exchanges as well. There is also an extensive network of tie lines. My MIT phone system guide lists the following places I can call internally: American Academy of Arts & Sciences (3D) Bates Linear Accelerator (3D) Draper Labs (5D) Harvard (5D) Lincoln (4D) Mass. General (4D) [might be good for B&W now, too?] MASCO (5D) Mt. Auburn Hospital (4D) Tech Coop (3D) Wellesley (4D) Woods Hole (4D) >> MILTON / MATTAPAN >> BLuehills 8 Blue Hills Reservation Split in 1959 >> CUnningham 6 Cunningham Park Split in 1959 >> CYpress 6 Not a local name Mattapan customers prev. on CU6 >> CYpress 8 Not a local name Mattapan customers prev. on BL8 >> OXford 6 Not a local name Milton customers prev. on CU6 >> OXford 8 Not a local name Milton cistomers prev. on BL8 > The BL8 and CU6 exchanges both returned much later -- 258 as an MIT > exchange in Cambridge, 286 in Revere. 296/298 still serves Mattapan, > 696/698 still serves Milton. 258 is not exclusively MIT; Draper has numbers in the bottom half, and there may be others (One Kendall Square?). 253 and 258 are served out of the Bent St. CO in East Cambridge, which occasionally causes problems due to a bad trunk between Bent St. and Ware St. I occasionally get calls from people who should have dialed 8-xxxx rather than 3-xxxx. (Not to mention all the people who want to dial 369-94zz and forget to dial 9 first.) >> SOMERVILLE > >MOnument 6 Name origin unknown Replaced manual office in 1950's > >PRospect 6 Name origin unknown Replaced manual office in 1950's > 666 and 776 remain in existence, along with several newer exchanges. And, of course, the origin of the name PROspect should be fairly obvious to anyone who lives nearby as referring to Prospect Hill (the Somerville one, not the Waltham one!). Garrett A. Wollman wollman@lcs.mit.edu [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Regards forgetting to dial '9' ... in the early 1970's I was working at the Amoco/Diners Club credit card office when it was here in Chicago. All the phones were 312-856-xxxx. My extension was (if i remember correctly) 7262. I could set my watch by it: everyday at 11:30 AM, the start of the first lunch hour my phone would ring. I would answer to be greeted with someone on the other end saying '$%%@#' and hanging up. I finally found out it was some dimbo in the mail room trying to call the bar and grill on the first floor to put in their lunch take out order. The phone number down there? RAndolph-6-2-something. PAT] ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest V15 #374 ******************************