Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!ncar!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!casbah.acns.nwu.edu!nucsrl!telecom-request From: gast@cs.ucla.edu (David Gast) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: Many Software Designers of Caller ID Also Disliked it Message-ID: Date: 21 Feb 91 13:24:52 GMT Sender: news@casbah.acns.nwu.edu Organization: TELECOM Digest Lines: 28 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 148, Message 2 of 8 Originator: telecom@delta.eecs.nwu.edu Carl M. Kadie writes: > At the same time, you will be able to block your number when you call > a business, and so you will be able to avoid being automatically > placed on their mailing list. [Except Radio Shack, which will probably > not accept blocked calls :-)] > It seems like a perfect solution; it provides people with the most > service; and yet, the phone companies are against it. Why? The phone company is not interested in privacy or customer service, they are interested in selling (unneeded) junk/services. Who will be the big buyers of CID info? Businesses to sell the information. Naturally, TPC does not want you to block it, that would diminish the demand by busineses for CID. They want everybody to be forced to buy it. If X has it and you do not, you will be at a disadvantage, so you will be forced to buy it. The arguments they make on TV about how CID will protect your privacy is just propaganda, designed by their marketing staffs to affect the biggest emotional appeal. Do you really think they would sell service that will allow you block telemarketing calls? Those people are some of their best customers. David