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From: rich@pro-exchange.cts.com (Rich Sims)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: Need Info on Motorola Portable Cellular
Message-ID: <10212@accuvax.nwu.edu>
Date: 28 Jul 90 10:23:47 GMT
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In-Reply-To: message from dave%westmark@uunet.uu.net

> Your cellular service provider may offer to include two telephone
> numbers on the same bill, if that's what you meant by 'account number'

No, I was referring to having two separate units using the same
number, in the same way an "extension phone" works in your home.

> These 'widgets' are identified by an electronic serial number
> (ESN), a home system identifier, and a mobile telephone number.  All
> but the ESN are field changeable -- on some models it requires burning
> a PROM, others allow keyboard-entry administration of the same data.

Several conversations with people at both BellSouth Mobility and
Cellular One have resulted in an interesting pattern.  Although I am
not getting any information from them, it's the *way* I'm not getting
it that is odd.  The stock answer to this question is "we do not offer
this service", but at no time has anyone said "it can't be done" or
"you can't do that".

Although I'm unfamiliar with the exact process that is used when a
cellular phone "connects", it seems to me that the only problem would
be calls coming _TO_ the cellular, since both might (would?) attempt
to receive the call.

Why is the ESN not "field changeable"?  Is it burned into a PROM, or
what?

Can anyone point me at a reference (or group of them) which would
provide a good starting place for me to get up to speed on cellular
technology and operation?  That would be more helpful than trying to
tap the vast levels of knowledge represented by the
readers/contributors of this group, when what I am looking for appears
to be very basic and trivial information.

BTW - in my previous message, I note I used the word "transportable" ...
sigh!  Proof that my fingers are not necessarily connected to my mind
at all times, since the particular phone in question is a "portable"
Motorola model.


[Moderator's Note: The ESN is really about the only protection the
cellular telcos have against fraud. Yes, people tamper with the ESN on
cellular phones for fraudulent reasons. Nothing is perfect, but the
ESN is deliberatly made difficult to change for that reason.  PT]