Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!rpi!bu.edu!telecom-request From: zygot!john@apple.com (John Higdon) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: COCOT *LOCAL* Toll Charges Message-ID: Date: 4 Mar 91 21:23:53 GMT Sender: news@bu.edu.bu.edu Reply-To: John Higdon Organization: Green Hills and Cows Lines: 42 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 182, Message 4 of 10 On Mar 4 at 1:22, TELECOM Moderator writes: > [Moderator's Note: Actually, the more clever COCOT operators use > phones which very closely resemble the 'genuine Bell' style. This is so true. In an effort to make its phones truly distinctive, Pac*Bell changed the color of the little square by the slot, changed the color of the instruction card, embossed the puckered*asshole logo on the coinbox cover, and plastered PACIFIC*BELL all over the sidewalk phone stands. Not three months later so had a company called "PUBLIC*PHONE". They changed the red square to blue, changed the card, embossed an actionably similar to Pac*Bell logo on the coinbox cover, and put its phones in enclosures that must come from the same company that supplies Pac*Bell. These things are so close to the appearance of a Pac*Bell payphone that I cannot spot one at a distance greater than ten feet (with my glasses on!). > Once they get your coin deposit in the phone, or your calling card number, > well then that is another matter. PAT] John Higdon | P. O. Box 7648 | +1 408 723 1395 john@zygot.ati.com | San Jose, CA 95150 | M o o ! Moderator's Note: Something else you can always depend on -- and the thing I examine first -- is the instruction card on the phone. Genuine Bell will *always* make some reference to Bell on the card. Read how it says to dial local and long distance calls. Read what it says about repair service and directory, etc. In fact I would say the instruction card is a sure way of telling one from the other. Become familiar with the instruction card on the phone. John Higdon | P. O. Box 7648 | +1 408 723 1395 john@zygot.ati.com | San Jose, CA 95150 | M o o !