Path: utzoo!telecom-request Date: Sun, 2 Jun 91 23:40:00 PST From: dleibold@attmail.com Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: 950 Carrier Access From Canada Reply-to: dleibold@attmail.com 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 422, Message 10 of 11 Lines: 44 Brian Crawford asks: > Is "950" carrier access available FROM Canada (B.C. specifically)? The straight 950 prefix (or 10xxx for that matter) doesn't operate in Canada ... yet. However, that prefix seems to be reserved for eventual carrier access. Some payphones and switches have been found to treat the 10xxx syntax properly (though only a recording comes on at this point). In the meantime, MCI can be reached from Canada via their 1 800 950.1022 number, while Sprint's 1 800 877.8000 number worked from Toronto in recent times. These are available only to those who have active billing with these carriers (such as US residents, or Canadians who move to Florida :->). Information about other carriers (Allnet, Metromedia/ITT, etc) is unknown as I didn't have their 800 access numbers. U.S.-bound calls seem to default to AT&T when dialing 1+ out of Canada. At least directory assistance calls to California are greeted with thanks for using AT&T. Also, payphones that take cards (which are not too common) will accept AT&T's card, along with Canadian telco cards, Visa, MC, and Amex. It's a good bet that dialing the card number (ie. 0 + area code + number card #) will accept the AT&T cards. Now if the CRTC (Canadian regulator) can open up 10xxx at least for the U.S.- bound calls from Canada. It shouldn't matter to the Telecom Canada folks once the call crosses the border. The concern seems to be use of U.S. carriers to make calls from one Canadian point to another, cutting Bell Canada, Unitel, etc out. BTW ... does anyone know if the calling number is passed along when a 950 is dialed, or does the carrier completely rely on the called number and the card number with this? David Leibold dleibold@attmail.com Uucp - via IMEx node 89:681/1 Uucp@f135.n82.z89.onebdos.UUCP