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From: hpubvwa!ssc!Tad.Cook@beaver.cs.washington.edu
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: MCI and Sprint Pitch 800 Service to Households
Message-ID: <13938@accuvax.nwu.edu>
Date: 22 Oct 90 22:41:49 GMT
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In article <13749@accuvax.nwu.edu>,  CAPEK%YKTVMT.BITNET
(Peter G. Capek) writes:

> {The Wall Street Journal} of October 16 has an article describing
> recent announcements by MCI and Sprint of new programs to market 800
> service to residences.  Highlights:

> Apparently in either case, MCI customers get will get a
> four-digit private security code to avoid the reception of unwanted
> calls.  

I think the REAL reason for the "security code" is in the next
paragraph:

> Observation: Isn't there a real potential for running out of numbers
> here?  There's really only one area code's worth of 800 numbers, and
> several hundred thousand of those have been assigned already.  If
> these services are successful in any serious sort of way, I see a real
> constraint.  Even if it were technically feasible to add another area
> code or two for "reverse bill" service, advertising it and getting
> people to know, as they do today, that "1-800" is free would certainly
> take a while.

If MCI uses a four digit security code, then that is another 10,000
customers that can use the same 800 number.  I am sure it will work
something like this: You dial the number, and get a voice-mail-like
prompt asking for the security code.  The security code actually
routes you to the correct party.


Tad Cook  Seattle, WA  Packet: KT7H @ N7HFZ.WA.USA.NA  Phone: 206/527-4089 
MCI Mail: 3288544      Telex: 6503288544 MCI UW  
USENET:...uw-beaver!sumax!amc-gw!ssc!tad    or, tad@ssc.UUCP