Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!accuvax.nwu.edu!nucsrl!telecom-request From: Jim Breen Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: Labor Day, 1990 Message-ID: <11661@accuvax.nwu.edu> Date: 3 Sep 90 23:22:14 GMT Sender: news@accuvax.nwu.edu Organization: Monash_University Lines: 47 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 616, Message 8 of 8 In article <11635@accuvax.nwu.edu>, telecom@eecs.nwu.edu (TELECOM Moderator) writes: > Despite the several problems that have arisen since divestiture was > deemed to be what was good for the American public, the United States > still has the finest, and most technically complex phone system in the [1] [2] > world. For that, we can thank the telephone workers, and we should pay > tribute to them today, along with all workers, for their contributions > to our nation. [1] Come, Patrick. What is your evidence for this assertion? While not singing praises for my own country's network, I must say that my observations of the US network compared with others in the world lead me towards other less complimentary adjectives. It is a common observation that Americans always seem to shout on the telephone. The reason? [2] if you mean most technically advanced, I must ask again for the evidence. If you mean the most complicated mish-mash of vendors, companies, and switches, not to mention prices and operating standards, I must agree. Do you really want to pay tribute for this? Jim Breen (jwb@monu6.cc.monash.edu.au) Dept of Robotics & Digital Technology, Monash University PO Box 197 Caulfield East VIC 3145 Australia (ph) +61 3 573 2552 (fax) +61 3 573 2745 [Moderator's Note: I think many Americans shout on the telephone not from any failure of the telephone to convey their voice properly, but from some other cultural thing. I've experienced what you say, and I cannot explain it, but it has nothing to do with the clarity of the connection in most cases. Regards the technical mish-mash prevelant here, please note my message said *despite* divestiture -- not because of it -- we have an excellent system. And I for one *will* sing praises for your telephone system there. I spend about $1000 per month on international calling. I call about a dozen countries routinely, on both sides of the world. Most of my calls to Australia and New Zealand connect within seconds and sound like they were in the same phone exchange as myself. I still think the USA's network is best; but surely yours is in second or third place, along with New Zealand, the UK, and Hong Kong (loud and clear!). Most South American telephone systems are bad news, as is a lot of the middle east. PAT]