------------------------------ From: jerryw@abode.ccd.bnl.gov (Jerry Whelan) Subject: Re: Its Here Again! FCC/Modem Tax Date: 3 Jan 1995 18:47:41 GMT Organization: Brookhaven National Lab, CCD > [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Well, he did not mark it 'not for > publication' and in any event, I think it does us good to air out > this thing once in awhile and re-emphasize the nonsense of it all. PAT] 'Not for publication' ... Take a look at Brock Meeks's `CyberWire Dispatch' at: http://cyberwerks.com:70/0h/cyberwire/cwd/cwd.94.12.09a.html The root of the dispatch tree is at: http://cyberwerks.com:70/1/cyberwire ------------------------------ From: chazworth@aol.com (Chazworth) Subject: Re: Information Wanted on NEC 2000 Switch Date: 3 Jan 1995 00:35:03 -0500 Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364) In article , Jason Davis writes: > I just installed one, nice system. This one was equiped with 256 > ports and three T1 interfaces. SMDR and voice Mail also. Great looking > rack mounted with patch panels. In the interest of keeping this string going: Have you or anyone installed the Ethernet card on the 2000IVS yet? Let me know, I am curious as to how it works, or may work. ------------------------------ From: Lynne Gregg Subject: Re: GSM in U.S. Date: Tue, 03 Jan 1995 09:46:00 PST jjfai@alertnet.com recently inquired about GSM support in the U.S. Recently McCaw's New York operation, Cellular One began an International Roaming service involving GSM phones. One TD responder to the original post pointed out that there are NO cellular carriers supporting GSM on their U.S. systems. This is absolutely correct. However, if you choose local service with Cellular One in New York, you can retain your GSM unit and can have your GSM calls (if you roam back in Europe) billed back to a single account -- your Cellular One account. If you have questions about this service you can talk to cathy.oshea@ mccaw.com, reply to me, or contact the Cellular One office near you. Best regards, Lynne Gregg ------------------------------ From: gtompk@teleport.com (Greg Tompkins) Subject: Re: How to Find Your Number Date: Tue, 3 Jan 1995 19:31:18 GMT Organization: Teleport What is a number beside the 1-800 thing that I can dial? I thought there was one from the local exchange. I can dial 311 and it gives me my phone number. GREG [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: It varies from one community to the next. It even varies from one central office to the next in the community. When one gets published or widely known, it gets changed soon thereafter. From time to time here in the Digest we have had lists of these things that had been collected from all over the USA, but time and again about half the numbers on the list were incorrect by the time the list got printed. Really, the only way to find out about this is to ask locally in your own community. The one I gave earlier of 1-800-MY-ANI-IS seems to be the only one that works from anywhere and has been in service for awhile. Our old faithful 1-577-your last four for ringback does not even work here in Skokie any longer as of a month ago. PAT] ------------------------------ From: Mark Huang Subject: Looking for Pager Operators for Tampa/Ft. Myers Area Reply-To: Organization: National Institutes of Health Date: Tue, 03 Jan 1995 15:04:30 GMT Hi, all: I'm looking for paging system operators interested in 929MHz licenses for Tampa/Fort Myers area. Please call (301) 770-6417 or e-mail: mhuang@capaccess.org. Thx! Mark L. Huang, Ph.D. E-mail: mhuang@capacess.org E-mail: rin0mxw@bumed30.med.navy.mil (expire: 31 January, 1995) ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 03 Jan 1995 10:53:31 EDT From: Keith Jason Uber <942576@edna.cc.swin.edu.au> Subject: Phone Card Reader Wanted Pat, Firstly - thank-you for your newsgroup/archives/digest - fantastic reading! I am looking for an article on building a Phone Card Reader that connects to a pc. I saw it two or three days ago when browsing gopher or WWW (I can't remember) and thought "That's cool ... but Australia doesn't use Smart-cards for their phones". The very next day, I met a German exchange student who gave me a German phonecard! Subsequently I've spent about four hours searching through veronica, wwww etc with no luck. Any help or direction would be great ... I intend to modify it to use it as an electronic key to start my car! Thanks again, keith [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Well, it sounds like an interesting application if it can be done. Let us know how it progresses. PAT] ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 03 Jan 95 11:02:51 MST From: John Shaver Subject: Last Laugh! IBM Buys Episcopal Church For Immediate Release The Chairman of IBM announced today that, in response to Microsoft Corp.'s acquisition of the Roman Catholic Church, IBM has bid for and acquired the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America for $1 billion. "We are the oldest and most prestigious computer company in the world," he said, "and we cannot be seen to be lagging behind in the race for preeminence in the religious software and hardware markets. We have tendered an offer to the Most. Rev. Edmund Browning, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church and Pamela Chinnis, President of the House of Deputies of General Convention, and they have recommended acceptance to the shareholders / communicants." The Episcopal Church is one of the oldest and most respected denominations in the United States. Many current and former officeholders, including many Presidents, have been communicants. Although its membership was declining in recent years, the latest figures show a slight increase in membership. A combination with IBM will probably be beneficial in terms of putting "fannies in the seats" in Episcopal Churches across the United States. There will also be great benefits to IBM in terms of international connections through the Episcopal Church. The Church is one of the most senior members of the international Anglican communion by way of its separation from the Church of England after the Revolutionary War and the consecration in 1784 of its first Bishop, Samuel Seabury. IBM hopes to gain a foothold in the international religious business through these connections, and perhaps tender a bid for the entire Anglican Communion by the time of the next meeting of the world Anglican bishops in London in 1998 (Lambeth Conference). The Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Reverend George Carey, could not be reached for comment. IBM and Episcopal Church are "good fit" IBM has had the distinction of being the first and, up until several years ago, the most successful computer company in the world. It was founded by Herman Hollerith, the inventor of the computer card, in the late 1800, and concentrated on business machines such as adding machines and typewriters until the invention of the computer in the 1940. They invested heavily in this new technology, and became rich from selling and maintaining them in the 1950's through 1980's. However, IBM's stodgy corporate culture prevented it from taking advantage of newer technology. It almost entirely missed the value of personal computer technology in the late 1970's, allowing other companies to use processes it developed to make so-called "clone" personal computers. It therefore lost out on the billions of dollars spent on this technology over the past 15 years. IBM has recently spun off its typewriter and printer businesses and concentrated on PC building and software, and has even resorted to layoffs for the first time in its history. The slogan, "No one was ever fired for buying IBM" has become a bitter joke in the business world. The Episcopal Church was, for a long time, considered the most successful of the Protestant Churches in terms of wealth and power. Many of the rich and famous swelled its numbers, and its liturgy was noted for its archaic beauty as much as its treasury was noted for its gilt-edged bonds. However, in recent years, with the dying-off of the elderly rich and the fall in the birth rate among the bluebloods who remained, the Episcopal Church has suffered both a decline in numbers and in influence and wealth. Notwithstanding the slogan, "The Episcopal Church Welcomes You," numbers have only recently begun to increase again as the Church begins to be seen as a place where outcasts can take part in its life. Along with IBM, the Episcopal Church has had to resort to layoffs to balance its budget, and the merger will allow both organizations to trim even further their personnel costs. IBM's chairman said today, "We have been known as the place where the white-coated mystics take charge of computers in sealed rooms. As a direct result of this merger, our white-coated mystic roster will be cut by half and merged with the ordained ministry of the Episcopal Church. After all, they also wear white garments when celebrating their mysteries. The similarities outweigh the differences, and we think that we can bring their white-suited mystics up to speed in JCL and C++ within a few months." The Presiding Bishop and Ms. Chinnis issued a joint statement saying: "We welcome this merger as a meshing of two great but sometimes old-fashioned institutions. The merger will allow us to cut our technical staff by half again, and concentrate our resources on becoming the largest and most successful Protestant Church in the United States. Our first IBM mainframe is already being installed in the basement of 815 Second Avenue, the Episcopal Church Center in New York." They continued: "So that we can assure ourselves that the Apostolic Succession will be continued, the Bishops of the Episcopal Church will lay hands on the Board of IBM in a ceremony at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City. Then, the entire House of Bishops will travel up to Armonk, where they will be instructed in the use of the personal computer." The business writers of most US newspapers will join the religion correspondents in recording this momentous occasion. Both the business and the religious communities are awaiting the new developments that this historic merger will make possible. His Eminence Bill Gates, had no comment. ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest V15 #4 ****************************