Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!netsys!vector!telecom-gateway
From: smk@attunix.att.com (S M Krieger)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: How Exactly Do Private Pay Phones Work?
Message-ID: <telecom-v09i0220m02@vector.dallas.tx.us>
Date: 1 Jul 89 03:01:30 GMT
Sender: news@vector.Dallas.TX.US
Organization: Summit NJ
Lines: 32
Approved: telecom-request@vector.dallas.tx.us
X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@vector.dallas.tx.us
X-TELECOM-Digest: volume 9, issue 220, message 2 of 10

I recently needed to make a long distance call, and the only public
telephone available was one of those new private pay phones.  It
did not support 10xxx LD carrier selection, but my coinless call
to '0' got me the local telco operator, who then, at my request,
connected me to an AT&T operator.

Now, I'd like a little education on exactly how these private
phones work; for example,

	1.  If I am going to deposit coins to pay for the call,
	    what is computing how much I pay?   Is it the
	    central office, or is it some computer in the phone
	    itself?

	2.  Will these phones connect me free of charge to a
	    local telco operator,  or could even a single '0'
	    connect me to some pre-selected LD operator?

	3.  If I make a call from these phones without ever deposting
	    any coins, does the phone owner get any revenue from
	    the call (e.g., in my case, '0' got me to a telco
	    operator, she connected me to an AT&T operator, and the
	    call was billed to my AT&T Calling Card.  I wasn't misled
	    by anyone; the call did show up on my AT&T bill a few
	    days ago)?

	4.  Am I entitled to 10xxx LD carrier selection if I use
	    one of these phones?
--
Stan Krieger
Summit, NJ
 ...!att!attunix!smk