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From: jfowler@ucsd.edu (John C. Fowler)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Flashing Got an AT&T Operator
Message-ID: <16411@accuvax.nwu.edu>
Date: 24 Jan 91 22:40:15 GMT
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X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 11, Issue 66, Message 11 of 16


An interesting experience happened to me today.  I was dialing a long
distance call from a pay phone (true Pacific Bell) via AT&T.  After
dialing my card number, the call went through as usual, but there was
no answer.  I decided to try calling another number, so I pressed the
switchhook for about half a second and released it, expecting a dial
tone.  (Using "#" hadn't occured to me at the time.)  Instead, an AT&T
operator came on the line.  I asked how she got there, and she said
she didn't know; my call had just come through as usual.  After I
explained what had happened, she just advised me to hold down the
switchhook longer in the future.

Now I wonder, on phones with no three-way calling, is flashing the
switchhook designed so that rotary users can place additional calls
in the same way tone users can press "#"?


John C. Fowler, jfowler@ucsd.edu