Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!accuvax.nwu.edu!nucsrl!telecom-request From: Dave Lockwood Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: Mercury in the UK: A Question Message-ID: <6105@accuvax.nwu.edu> Date: 6 Apr 90 10:24:50 GMT Sender: news@accuvax.nwu.edu Reply-To: Dave Lockwood Organization: VisionWare Ltd., Leeds, UK Lines: 54 Approved: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 235, Message 1 of 11 In article <5997@accuvax.nwu.edu> contact!djcl@uunet.uu.net (woody) writes: >X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 229, Message 7 of 10 >I have heard about this Mercury service in the UK, which is something >like a competing phone company. Originally, I believe they were into >public telephone service (like COCOTs or something like that). >Are they into long distance, also, in the manner that Sprint or MCI >would be in the US? If so, how would calls be dialed through (ie. what >is the UK equivalent of 10XXX+ or 950 service, if any?). Mercury provide several services in the telecommunications area. Each service has a four digit number (most of which I can't remember) but the services are basically: 1. A dial-up (10XXX+ like) service. Here, you get a PIN (like a bank card PIN 10 digits) from Mercury for about nine pounds ($13) per year. To use the service, you dial "131" from a conventional (British Telecom) phone, wait for the tone, enter your PIN followed by the required DN. The advantages are mainly on costs. Mercury charge each call on duration (at different levels for different destinations) to 1/100th second, then round up to the nearest penny. British Telecom charge everything in "units" which cost around 5p - in other words, if a unit for a particular distance is 60sec in length, and you make a 61sec call, you'll be charged for two units. Also, Mercury rates are cheaper than BT in most cases (including International and Cellular). It's actually slightly cheaper to call 0898 numbers (same as 900 numbers) via Mercury, too! 2. A Mercury "line" service. Actually this is a digital 2Mb/sec private microwave link into the Mercury dial network. Costs around 32000 pounds to setup I understand and gives 32 64kb/s channels. (Yes they do come and stick a microwave dish on your roof). 3. Mercury local service. Only available in a very small part of the UK. Get a phone line (and phone) from Mercury! 4. Mercury private circuits. National and International. 5. Mercury X.25 network. Sorry, fairly new, know nothing about it. Disclaimer: We are a user of service (1) above, and reduce our phone call charges by 15 to 39% :-). Other than that, no connection. Dave Lockwood These opinions are shareware. Technical Consultant If you like them, send $10... davel@vision.UUCP VisionWare Ltd, ...!uunet!mcsun!ukc!vision!davel 57 Cardigan Lane, Leeds, LS4 2LE +44-532-788858 X224 United Kingdom VISIONWARE DOS/UNIX Integration