TELECOM Digest Thu, 10 Nov 94 00:21:00 CST Volume 14 : Issue 406 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson A Word of Thanks and Other Notes (TELECOM Digest Editor) IEEE Southeastcon 95: Call for Papers, Invitation to Exhibit (Benningfield) Enterprise Management Summit (emiinc@mcimail.com) ISLIP 94 Proceedings via WWW (R. Jagannathan) Burning Questions - AT&T, MCI, or Other? (Candice Bergman) Description of Pinout on Moto Flip Phone Wanted (Russ Latham) International Calling-Cards - Any Suggestions? (Bill Blum) How Do RBOCs Train Their Customers? (patrajones@aol.com) Canadian/US Hospital Telecom Contacts Wanted (David Payne) Caller ID and Privacy (Bill Wen) 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 at no charge 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. 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: Wed, 9 Nov 94 22:46:02 CST From: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu (TELECOM Digest Editor) Subject: A Word of Thanks and Other Notes This is just a quick word of thanks to everyone who sent cards, letters and flowers to me over the past week. There is no way a personal response can be given due to the high volume received. I have to go back to the hospital Friday for more testing and it is possible another short stay in the hospital may be required, but I hope not. Please recall that the Digest is funded in large part by the generosity of readers like yourself who send 'subscription donations' from time to time as they see fit. There is absolutely no obligation to do so, but the financial help received means a great deal and frankly has been the one reason this Digest has continued publication the past two or three years. Some of you did in fact send donations as you felt appropriate with your notes this past week, and to you, my special heartfelt thanks go out. If your company or organization would like to be a sponsor of the Digest, then your name will be included as such in the masthead of each issue if you wish. There is a HUGE backlog of subscription requests waiting to be processed and I will get to these as soon as possible. Right now I want to try and catch up on some of the telecom news items waiting for publication. Enough about me for now ... let's have a few letters from the readers and get back down to business. Patrick Townson ------------------------------ From: benningf@aur.alcatel.com (R. F. Benningfield) Subject: IEEE Southeastcon 1995: Call for Papers, Invitation to Exhibit Date: 10 Nov 1994 03:57:03 GMT Organization: Alcatel Network Systems, Raleigh, NC. Reply-To: benningf@aur.alcatel.com IEEE Southeastcon '95 Visualizing the Future March 26-29, 1995, Raleigh, North Carolina Sponsored by Region 3 and the Eastern North Carolina Section Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers If your company is interested in being an exhibitor at Southeastcon '95 then please contact me. As Chair of the Southeastcon Exhibits Committee, I can fax you an Invitation to Exhibit flyer, or I can mail you a full exhibitor's kit (which includes registration, contract, booth layout in the Hilton's Grand Ballroom, etc.). Robert F. Benningfield Jr. {benningf@aur.alcatel.com} TSM Engineer, R&D Hardware Design & Development Engineering Alcatel Network Systems, 2912 Wake Forest Road, Raleigh, North Carolina 27609, USA {NCSU Alumnus: MSEE '90, BSEE '89} Phone: 919/850-5569 (work) or 919/851-5562 (play), Fax: (919) 850- 6590 ********************************************************************** ******* Announcement and Call for Papers - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Southeastcon is the yearly IEEE Region 3 Technical Conference established to bring regional Electrical Engineering professionals, faculty and students together to share information, primarily by presentation of technical papers. It is the most influential outlet in Region 3 for promoting awareness of technical contributions made by our profession to the advancement of engineering science and society. Original papers, not previously published or presented elsewhere, are invited. Attendance and professional program paper presentation from areas outside IEEE Region 3 are encouraged and welcomed. Southeastcon '95 will be held in Raleigh, North Carolina. This year special emphasis will be given to a number of topics that have flourished in the Region. Computer Graphics, Visualization and Telecommunications, core technologies of the Research Triangle Park, have converged to produce Multimedia, Interactive Television and Virtual Reality. The program committee especially invites papers and tutorials exploring these and related topics of interest to Region 3 IEEE members. In addition to visualizing the future of technology, the program committee intends to give special attention to papers and presentations which explore social issues related to the use of technology. It is hoped that in this way we can better understand the impact of technology on our society and the role and responsibilities of engineers which shape the future. An abbreviated list of other suggested topics is given below; authors are invited to submit papers on all topics of interest to the IEEE Region 3 membership. Suggested Topics for Southeastcon '95: Visualization Interactive Television Acoustics ISDN Aerospace systems Lasers/Photonics Analog Systems Magnetics Artificial Intelligence Medical Electronics Audio Systems Microelectronics Bioengineering Microprocessors Biomedical Microwaves Cellular Radio Modeling and Simulation Circuits and Systems Multimedia Cogeneration Network Theory Communications Neural Networks Components Nuclear and Plasmas Computer Graphics Optical Computing Computers Pattern Recognition Consumer Electronics Power Electronics Control Systems Power Systems Design Automation Professional Activities Dielectrics/Insulation Radar Systems Digital Systems Reliability Education Robotics Electromagnetic Fields Sensors and Transducers Electro-Optics Signal Processing EMC/EMI Sonet/ATM Engineering and Society Superconductivity Engineering Ethics Systems Theory Expert Systems Telecommunications Fiber Optics Telemetry GaAs/SiGe Ultrasonics Image Processing Vehicular Technology Industrial Applications Virtual Reality Industrial Electronics VLSI/ULSI Information Systems Concise Papers Abstract & Summary DEADLINE - NOVEMBER 9, 1994 Full-Length Papers DEADLINE - NOVEMBER 15, 1994 Technical Program Chair: General Chair: Ralph Begun Charles Lord 9904 Darnell Ct. 108 Huntington Circle Raleigh, NC 27615-1514 Cary, NC 27513-3805 rbegun@vnet.ibm.com c.j.lord@ieee.org 919-558-6147 Vice Chair: Student Program Chair: Greg Old George Abbott Dept. of Electrical Engr. North Carloina State University North Carloina State University P.O Box 7914 P.O Box 7911 Raleigh, NC 27695-7914 Raleigh, NC 27695-7911 abbott @ecesis.ncsu.edu ghold@eos.ncsu.edu Instructions for Paper Submission 1. Full-length Papers (Refereed): Submit four copies of a paper not to exceed twenty (20) double- spaced, typewritten pages (including references and figures) to the Technical Program Chairman by November 15, 1994. these papers will be fully refereed. Author notification will be mailed by December 5, 1994 and the final camera-ready papers will be due on January 6, 1995. 2. Concise Papers (May be presented in oral or poster sessions): Submit four copies of a paper summary and separate abstract to the Technical Program Chairman by November 9, 1994. The abstract must be on a separated sheet and limited to one page. The summary should not exceed 500 words. The summary should be complete and should include (a) statement of problems or questions addressed, (b) objective of work with regards to the problem, (c) approach employed to achieve objective, (d) progress, work performed and (e) important results or conclusions. Since the summary will be the basis for selection, care should be taken in its preparation so that it is representative of the work to be reported. As an aid to the Papers Review Committee, please indicate which conference topic from the list above which most closely represents the subject area of your paper. Concise papers, not exceeding four (4) camera-ready Proceedings pages (including references and figures) will be published subject to acceptance by the Papers Review Committee and the author's fulfillment of additional requirements contained in the author's kit. Notification of acceptance and mailing of author's kit will be on or before December 5, 1994, and the camera-ready papers will be due on January 6, 1995. 3. Student Papers: Students should consult their Student Branch counselor for information on the Student Paper Contest. Student papers may be a separate program with a submission deadline of February 14, 1995. The Southeastcon '95 Student Conference Chairman will answer student program inquiries when local information is not available. Poster Sessions: Poster sessions will provide an alternative format for paper presentation that allows for greater flexibility and expanded audience interaction. Publication - All papers accepted for Southeastcon '95 will be published in the Proceedings provided they comply with the above deadline dates and requirements from the author's kit are fulfilled. The length of concise papers is restricted to four (4) Proceedings pages; a full-length paper is restricted to eight (8) pages; however more pages can be provided at an added cost that is explained in the author's kit. Tutorial/Workshop Program - Proposals for tutorial/workshop topics and organizers are invited. A Workshop/Tutorial description of 300-500 words should be submitted to the Technical Program Chairman no later than November 15, 1994. Include instructor biographies, etc. as relevant. Registration - Advance registration and hotel reservation forms will be mailed with the Advance Program described below. The Conference site is the North Raleigh Hilton and Convention Center, Raleigh, NC. Advance Program Mailing - The Advance Program will be mailed only to authors, co-authors and others (not associated with a technical paper) who make known to the Technical Program Chairman their wish to receive the Advance Program when published. It is anticipated that the advance Program will be mailed in early February 1995. Mr. Ralph M. Begun Southeastcon '95 Technical Chair 9904 Darnell Court Raleigh, NC 27615-1514 rbegun@vnet.ibm.com IEEE Southeastcon '95 Preliminary Announcement and Call for Papers ------------------------------ From: summit@ix.netcom.com (Summit '94) Subject: Enterprise Management Summit Date: 10 Nov 1994 02:05:42 GMT Organization: Netcom Enterprise Management Summit Phone 415.512.0801 or 800-340-2111 Fax 415.512.1325 E-Mail emiinc@mcimail.com Summit '94 November 14-18 Summit '94 is right around the corner! A Panel of Experts has been appointed for the Enterprise Management Summit '94. This panel will evaluate the vendor shoot-out in the Enterprise Management Center, located on the second floor of the Santa Clara Convention Center. The panel includes Warren Williams (Pacific Bell), Steve Waldbusser (Carnegie-Mellon), John McConnell (McConnell Consulting) and Randy Smith (UPS). The panel's evaluation will be made available at the end of the conference. Theater particpants include Computer Associates, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, DEC,and Bull. The Conference Starts Next Week! Don't miss out on this exciting event! Register today. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 8 Nov 94 10:49:08 PST From: R. Jagannathan Reply-To: jagan@csl.sri.com Subject: ISLIP 94 Proceedings via WWW See http://www.csl.sri.com/lucid/ISLIP94/electronic-proceedings.html for an electronic version of ISLIP 94 which was held at SRI in Menlo Park in September of this year. (It can also be accessed via http://www.csl.sri.com/Lucid.html). Jaggan ------------------------------ From: dchou@acs2.bu.edu (Candice Bergman) Subject: Burning Questions - AT&T, MCI, or Other Date: 8 Nov 1994 18:26:00 GMT Organization: Boston University, Boston, MA, USA In the good old U.S. of A., capitalist media capital of the world that it is, we are constantly blitzed with commercial advertising from all angles- TV, telephone, periodicals, and of course, the old-fashioned personal solicitations. The influx of immigrant populations to the United States within the past generation has piqued the interest of advertising pundits, who have broadened their marketing focus to target what they PERCEIVE as "ethnic" advertising - READ: NOT White Middle Class Americans. This term is obviously a bit too broad to be useful, but it serves to paint a picture of what most definitely deserves further inquiry; thus, I ask for YOUR help in collecting as much relevant data in the hopes of extending this into a more comprehensive research project. More specifically, the question I have in mind is the relationship between LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE COMPANIES and the non-profit or for-profit ETHNIC organizations/businesses they focus on. As a related example, I was sitting home and tooling around the house one day and got a call (big deal for me; happens a few times a year). Anyway, I sprint to my phone (no pun intended), and am greeted by this Chinese-speaking lady, asking me whether or not I have considered switching to..."Blah Blah Blah." Note - she automatically assumed that because my last name sounds Chinese, I would prefer to speak in that language, and broached the subject of switching to her long-distance carrier with what I would label the "common countryman" approach. She didn't consider that I could have been adopted in a London orphanage by a couple of Chinese emigres studying there at the time and be this English speaking Caucasian. Which I'm not, but I diverge. Now, obviously, I have my perceptions of such relationships based upon my own experiences but they're not sufficient for making any kind of real quantitative analyses. Therefore, I ask you ... the ever expansive and experienced net: ====================================================================== ===== úÿ 1. WHAT WAS THE NAME OF THE LONG DISTANCE CARRIER INVOLVED? 2. WHAT IS THE NAME OF YOUR NON-PROFIT OR FOR-PROFIT COMPANY/ORGANIZATION/ AFFILIATION? (ie. Jewish National Fund, Asiani Airlines, etc.) 3. WHAT WAS THE NATURE OF THE OFFER TO YOU? (ie. sign up for "blah blah blah" and we will donate 5% of your long distance bill for the next 3 months to the Jewish National Fund.) 4. HOW WAS THE OFFER PUBLICIZED TO YOU? (ie. were you called up, were you bombed with junk mail, did some representative come knocking @ your door?) 5. HOW LONG AGO, APPROXIMATELY, DID THIS SOLICITATION OCCUR? ================================================================== The above, in essense, is the nature of my questionaire. I am not looking to use the above data in any statistical sampling or other analyses at this stage ... I'm just looking for as much raw, relevant data. Thus, if you have friends, co-workers, etc. in addition to yourself who might be able to help me out, I would greatly appreciate any information you could volunteer. My GREAT PREFERENCE (hint, hint :)) would be for you to e-mail your responses to me in private, since I don't always have access to the newsreader. If I can convince the Powers That Be that this is a worthwhile and feasible topic of pursuit, you would have my sincere gratitude :) Or maybe some cold hard cash :) Just kidding. Anyway, I look forward to your responses, and thanks very much for reading my circumlocutory posting. David Chou dchou@acs2.bu.edu ------------------------------ Subject: Description of Pinout on Moto flip Phone? Date: Thu, 10 Nov 1994 11:34:02 CST From: rlatham@mcdmail1.fwrdc.rtsg.mot.com (Russ Latham) Can anyone tell me what the various lines are in the connector on the bottom of one of the Motorola flip phones? (not the three pin connector for the battery, but the one used with some chargers and used to connect a hands-free unit, etc.) What I'm interested in is finding the Audio Transmit and Receive connections. Thanks for any info.... Russ Latham rlatham@ftw.mot.com or latham@rtsg.mot.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Nov 94 01:21:44 GMT From: Bill Blum Subject: International Calling-Cards -- Any Suggestions? We have a researcher at this location that is visiting the Griffin, GA (U.S.) from Nigeria. He would like to be able to make cost-effective calls to Nigeria (we have a POTS number that is commonly used in the visitor housing here on our campus that this person can receive calls to). Are there cards that cater to International Dialing exclusively? My biggest problem may be in assuring the provider that this person, who is here for a short time, is responsible for possible debt. Any other foibles to watch out for? Is it possible to use something like TelePassport in reverse to access Nigeria? Any help is appreciated. ------------------------------ From: patrajones@aol.com (PatraJones) Subject: How Do RBOCs Train Their Customers? Date: 10 Nov 1994 00:44:02 GMT Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364) Please help!! I'm doing research on how RBOCs train their customers on network services that they have purchased (ie Centrex, voice mail). I need info on whether training is an additional cost on top of the price of installation. Who does it? Is it conducted at the customer site, or are customers whisked to the nearest RBOC office? Are brochures and computer disks utilized as "professors"? What products/services have you as the customer been trained on by an RBOC employee? Answers to any of these questions would be greatly appreciated. Please e-mail your response to me. Thanks for your help. ------------------------------ Subject: Canadian/US Hospital Telecom Contacts Wanted From: DPAYNE@vicwc01.is.vichosp.london.on.ca (DAVID PAYNE) Date: 10 Nov 94 00:28:20 EST I am interested in establishing some contacts with other Telecommunication and/or Information Departments in Canadian or American hospitals. I would like to start a "information exchange" on applications, problems and solutions specific to hospitals. Thank you, David Payne Analyst Telecommunications Victoria Hospital Box 5375 London, Ontario Canada, N6A 4G5 (519)685-8300 x5107. (519)685-8305 (fax) Internet: dpayne@vicwc01.is.vichosp.london.on.ca ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Nov 94 00:44:40 GMT From: Bill=Wen%OS=Quality%Sys=Hou@bangate.compaq.com Subject: Caller ID and Privacy The recent discussion on Caller ID and privacy (Ref: Ross E. Mitchell in "Dynamic Negotiation in the Privacy Wars", Telecom Vol 14, Issue 402) gave me a rather simple idea: Why not just add a feature on programmable phones so that it generates tones when the phone goes off-hook? Programmable phones already give you the ability to store phone numbers, accessible either through a dedicated set of buttons or through certain combinations of buttons. Why not add a another programming option on the phone that gets "dialed" each time you pick up the phone, like "*67"? The option would only kick in and "dial" this number if it detects dial tone, which would eliminate the problem of the phone dialing *67 if you're picking up to answer a call. Any phone gurus out there see a problem with this solution? I know, I know, this will mean you have to replace ALL the phones in your house/residence, but I would think that's even better incentive for phone-makers to include the feature. BillW [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Actually, someone has experimeted with that, and I forget who it is. He sent me a prototype of his work about a year ago. It was a little box you plug in the phone line in series with the phone itself and when the phone goes off hook this little box blurts out *67 to the network as the first order of business. By the time you actually get the receiver to your ear and start dialing your number the *67 part has already been passed. It was smart enough to not sent the code when you answered an incoming call, and in the event you did want to pass your caller-ID information, there was a way to do it, I think by going off hook, flashing for a second then going off hook again and dialing the usual way. I don't know whatever happened to him and his project. It seemed like an interesting idea at the time and one that might make some money for its inventor. PAT] ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest V14 #406 ******************************