Path: utzoo!telecom-request Date: Wed, 29 May 91 17:43:22 -0700 From: David Gast Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: 900 Numbers and Privacy Message-ID: Organization: TELECOM Digest Sender: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu 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 413, Message 2 of 13 Lines: 35 Someone wrote yesterday: > At the end it reports that 900 numbers increasingly capture the > callers' numbers and translate them to addresses. According to Sprint > Gateways, the US Sprint 900 department, they are able "to identify the > names and addresses of the nine closest neighbors of the original 900 > caller. With this information, additional qualified prospects can be > identified for database marketing efforts." This service goes to show that even if one protects his/her privacy, others are there to invade it. What this service seems to imply is that you are like your neighbors. If one of them calls 1-900-KINKY-SEX (yes, I realize the X does not count as part of the phone number), then you can receive promotional literature or phone calls. If one of them calls, 1-900-4SPORTS, you too, can receive promotional literature. I am so happy to hear that I have the same interests as my neighbors. I expect to get a lot of material I can't read because I don't read all of languages they speak. Finally, I am curious about the nine closest neighbors. My guess is that it is nine numbers close by, probably arranged by address. I doubt that US Sprint actually has detailed maps indicating the location and configuration of every apartment and house on every plot of land. It would be interesting to know who my nine closest neighbors are or even the nine closest neighbors of my parents. Where do they measure from? Where the phone enters the building? The center of the property? All in all, I would estimate that Sprint is exaggerating its claims again. At least, I hope they do not have these detailed maps. David