Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!uwm.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!pacbell.com!pacbell!att!cbnewsi!rmz
From: rmz@cbnewsi.att.com (robert.m.zachok)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.modems
Subject: Re: Modem dialing and telephone credit cards
Message-ID: <1990Aug3.062037.11286@cbnewsi.att.com>
Date: 3 Aug 90 06:20:37 GMT
References: <5239@thebes.Thalatta.COM>
Distribution: usa
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 42

From article <5239@thebes.Thalatta.COM>, by campbell@Thalatta.COM (Bill Campbell):
> In article <5547@darkstar.ucsc.edu> hugo@ucscb.UCSC.EDU (Hugo Calendar) writes:
> :
> :-| problem:  Calling long distance through a modem and
> : |           needing to use a telephone credit card.
> : |
> : | When traveling, I need to charge a computer-to-computer
> : | call.
> : |
> : | How can this be done?  The credit card number has
> : | to be entered after dialing the number, (0 xxx xxxx)
> : | and the modem does not like the tone that indicates the
> :-| credit card number should be entered.
> :
> The method I have used on a number of occassions is:
>     ATDT10288012312345,,,,,,,206123123451234
>         ^^|^^
>           |  ^^^^|^^^^
>           |      |    ^^^|^^^
>           |      |       |   ^^^^^^^|^^^^^^^
>           |      |       |   Credit Card Number
>           |      |     Pause for a while (number of , must be found)
>           |  Phone Number
>         Get onto AT&T and off of other long distance manglers!

I'd like to propose a twist on Bill's method.  Instead of inserting the
pause characters into the dial string, I terminate the original phone
number with a semicolon, which causes the modem to dial the number, and
then return to the command prompt (OK).  If you have ssaved your credit
card number in one of the stored dial registers (at&zn=xxxxxxx), you
type atds=n (where n=1,4 is the register where your credit card number
is stored), and hit the return key when you hear the credit card request
tone, the modem will dial the credit card number, and the connection
will be made.  The only risk here is if you lose your modem, its almost
the same as losing your credit card.

> ....microsoft--\                    Bill Campbell; Celestial Software
> ...uw-entropy----!thebes!camco!bill 6641 East Mercer Way
> ....fluke------/                    Mercer Island, Wa 98040
> ....hplsla----/                     (206) 232-4164

Bob Zachok