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From: gay@venice.sedd.trw.com (Lance Gay)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: What Ever Happened to ZENITH Numbers?
Message-ID: <13926@accuvax.nwu.edu>
Date: 22 Oct 90 16:36:07 GMT
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Reply-To: gay@venice.sedd.trw.com (Lance Gay)
Organization: TRW Systems Engineering & Development Division, Redondo Beach, CA
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X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 755, Message 7 of 11


When I was younger growing up in Southern California, there existed
ZENITH phone numbers.  A typical one might be "ZENITH 1234".  You
accessed this number by dialing the operator and asking for ZENITH
1234.  The operator would then manually connect you to the appropriate
party.  I think they might have been an early form of local toll-free
number.  Do these still exist?


Lance J. Gay (N6BKQ)                         Internet: gay@venice.sedd.trw.com
TRW Systems Engineering & Development Div.   Phone: 213-764-9292
Redondo Beach, CA  90278


[Moderator's Note: In some parts of the country, like Chicago, they
were known as 'Enterprise numbers', and yes, they were an early form
of 800 service. Some Enterprise/Zenith numbers were for local calling
only, while others were national in scope. They were no longer offered
once 800 service became universal, but they were grandfathered to
existing customers who wanted to keep them. I guess there are still a
few -- very few -- operating. I did see one or two in the last issue
of the Chicago alpha directory.  The recipient of the call paid for
the call itself and if memory serves me, a 25 cent surcharge.  PAT]