Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!ucsd!casbah.acns.nwu.edu!accuvax.nwu.edu!nucsrl!telecom-request From: john@bovine.ati.com (John Higdon) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: Telecom*USA 800 Service NOT Available Message-ID: <16617@accuvax.nwu.edu> Date: 1 Feb 91 18:10:47 GMT Sender: news@accuvax.nwu.edu Reply-To: John Higdon Organization: Green Hills and Cows Lines: 34 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 86, Message 1 of 11 "Eddy J. Gurney" writes: > So I called MCI, and as I suspected, the so-called 800 number you are > issued is basically just a shared number among a large number of > customers. (Anyone know how many?) They say it is much like a > "calling card", where you dial an 800 number, and after the "bongggg", > enter a four digit code. (This would allow at least 8000 people to use > the same number, even if they didn't offer codes like "0000", "1111", > etc.) This is what I was trying to avoid by going with Telecom*USA. You might just want to bite the bullet and get a REAL 800 number (and forget the "residence" garbage). I have had a REAL 800 number (with its own pair, etc.) that covers the state of California for about five years now. It has saved me thousands of dollars over standard rates and that doesn't include all the "alternative billing" arrangements that would have otherwise had to be made to call home. I realize you are not in CA, but there might be a similar arrangement available where you are. You are limiting yourself considerably when you shop for "residence" services. Remember, residences can have business service, but not the other way around. Sometimes for a particular application, a "business" service might be more suitable for one's needs. You must also evaluate YOUR real needs. If you want an 800 number for toy purposes, it is possible that there would be no plan that would be "cost-effective". In my case, I put 30 to 40 hours on the line per month that would just have to be carried some other way if the line did not exist. There is a real need; therefore it is cost-effective. John Higdon | P. O. Box 7648 | +1 408 723 1395 john@bovine.ati.com | San Jose, CA 95150 | M o o !