Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!casbah.acns.nwu.edu!accuvax.nwu.edu!nucsrl!telecom-request From: jimmy@icjapan.info.com (Jim Gottlieb) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: More on BBSs and Phone Rates Message-ID: <16000@accuvax.nwu.edu> Date: 11 Jan 91 04:41:09 GMT Sender: news@accuvax.nwu.edu Reply-To: Jim Gottlieb Organization: Info Connections, Tokyo, Japan Lines: 31 Approved: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 11, Issue 28, Message 3 of 12 In article <15867@accuvax.nwu.edu> ceb@csli.stanford.edu (Charles Buckley) writes: >charged callers, say, $.40/hour plus any toll, would permit closing >this hole in the rate structure >In fact, I bet it's even possible to get 976 numbers at these per-call >rates now, and the only thing keeping sysops from doing this (apart >from lack of knowledge that they can) is a high subscription (fixed) >charge, No. Unfortunately, a 976 number with that type of rate structure is not currently possible. I wish it were. It would make a whole range of 976 data numbers possible. But under the current rate structure, using 900 or 976 results in charges much higher than the existing services that provide their services over the packet networks. The charge to the owner of a (900) number is in the range of thirty to forty cents a minute. So even if the owner provided the service at cost (as UUNET does), the charge to the consumer is still about $24 an hour and this is much too high. The charge for telco 900 and 976 numbers is usually less, but again the telco's cut means that the rate to the consumer can not be in the afforable range and compete with the likes of Compu$erve. Jim Gottlieb Info Connections, Tokyo, Japan E-Mail: or Fax: +81 3 3237 5867 Voice Mail: +81 3 3222 8429