Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!accuvax.nwu.edu!nucsrl!telecom-request From: Todd Day Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: How Does Changing of Prefix by Telco Improve Service? (U Message-ID: <9993@accuvax.nwu.edu> Date: 21 Jul 90 23:38:03 GMT Sender: news@accuvax.nwu.edu Organization: QuickSilver Rallye Team, Santa Barbara, CA Lines: 63 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 504, Message 5 of 6 Here is an interesting bit of information packed in with my latest GTE bill here in Santa Barbara, CA: UCSB Telephone Prefix Changes to 893 Beginning at 8 a.m. on August 4, you'll need to dial a new prefix when calling University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) telephone numbers. To meet increasing University telephone service needs, all 3,800 UCSB telephone numbers will change from the 961 to the 893 prefix at that time. The last four digits will remain the same. GTE is assisting UCSB in notifying you of the change to help make the transition a smooth one and lessen its impact on GTE's telephone number referral service, which also serves many other customers. Starting August 4, calls to UCSB's old 961 prefix will be intercepted by a message informing callers of the new prefix. UCSB is also publicizing the new prefix on campus, in the community and will notify students of the change prior to the start of classes on Sept. 20. GTE California Now, my questions for the net are: (1) Why did GTE feel it necessary to change UCSB at all when it appears that there were many numbers left in the current prefix? 9999 - 3800 = 6199 extensions left, right? (2) What does changing prefixes buy GTE? As far as I know, UCSB was the sole "owner" of the 961 prefix, although I had heard rumours that Delco GM and Santa Barbara Research Center had a couple of 961 phone lines that had something or other to do with the university. (3) If there is some kind of new magic box that GTE is installing to handle special needs of the univeristy, why couldn't they keep the 961 prefix and swap the lines from the old box to the new box on August 4? (4) If I call the university at 7:59am on August 4 using the 961 prefix, what will happen to my call at 8:00am? If we had caller ID out here, what would happen to an outgoing call? (5) Finally, a general question about intercepts. Why does it seem that the intercepts know exactly what you're trying to do, but just chastise you about dialing in the future and don't complete your call? Kinda reminds me of the parent who tells the child, "Now, go close the door again, and this time, do it GENTLY!" I've had this happen here where I forget to dial "1" to get out of the 805 area code. GTE knows I'm trying to dial long distance, 'cause they tell me that "calls to this number must be preceded by a '1'". But do they complete the call? NOOOO... Now, in the case of UCSB, instead of intercepting the 961, why don't they just tell the dialer about the change and complete his/her call to the 893 prefix anyway? Todd Day | temp@ ivucsb!todd@radius.com | soon@ ivucsb!todd@hub.ucsb.edu