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From: CAPEK%YKTVMT.BITNET@cunyvm.cuny.edu (Peter G. Capek)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Use of Phones to Give Theatre Schedule Information
Message-ID: <13914@accuvax.nwu.edu>
Date: 22 Oct 90 06:59:11 GMT
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X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 755, Message 1 of 11


While trying to get the schedule from a local octoplex movie theatre
recently, it occurred to me that it would be to the advantage of both
the theatre operator and the local exchange carrier to allow multiple
incoming calls "get through" to the theatre's recording at the same
time.  I believe that there are services which allow this on a
nationwide basis, or even on a local basis through a special exchange,
but it seems as though, by proper programming in the switch (assuming
it is a digital switch, which should have no problem "replicating" a
half speaking path to many listeners), one could have many callers
listen to a single recording.  All that would seem to be needed is for
the owner of the line to designate that this should happen, and
perhaps to designate a maximum time that any single caller should be
allowed to listen.  This latter wouldn't even really be necessary, I
guess; the caller is paying for the call as usual.  I can't believe
this is a new idea, but I've heard of it being offered as a service by
the phone company.  Is it?


Peter Capek


[Moderator's Note: Actually, the theatre could use voice mail from a
commercial voice mail service with DID ports. For example, I use
Centel Voice Mail. It has about 30 ports, and up to that many callers
can be on at one time, via any combination of mailboxes. The theatre
could, as an example, have 29 callers at once, leaving one port for
everyone else! It works like an accordion at partioning the boxes and
the ports. Plus, most voice mail systems can have more than one box
linked via a 'front end box' like mine is. A caller would be told to
press 1 through 7 for the various theatres or 8 for future
attractions. Voice mail is easy to use and easy to update at any time.
The cost is quite inexpensive. At Centel mine costs $7 per month. PAT]