Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!spool.mu.edu!uunet!bu.edu!telecom-request From: gast@cs.ucla.edu (David Gast) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: How do Businesses Get ANI? And a 911 (711) Story Message-ID: Date: 5 Mar 91 07:29:18 GMT Sender: news@bu.edu.bu.edu Organization: TELECOM Digest Lines: 22 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 181, Message 4 of 9 > [Moderator's Note: They [AMEX] get inter-LATA ANI for the same reason I get > it: They have an 800 number. When you are paying for the calls you get > told who you are paying for. If you accept a collect call, the > operator will tell you what number is calling also, if you ask. PAT] With the price of the AMEX card, it's hard to argue that the customer is not paying for the call; regardless, the topic of ANI for 800 numbers is open to some disagreement. It is possible, however, that the poster was refering to some large organizations that have ISDN and that get ANI information as part of that feature. Several PUCs, I think Washington's among them, have ruled this service illegal -- at least at the present time. I don't know if ISDN ANI is available in GTE land, but I called the local branch of a national organization that has been reported in the digest to have ISDN and about 10 days later I got an application to join. (As part of the application, I agree to abide by all by-laws and regulations although none of these is specifically mentioned. Obviously, I did not sign up). Of course, the junk mail have just been a coincidence.