Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!mnetor!seismo!rutgers!ames!ucbcad!ucbvax!WESLEYAN.BITNET!S.D-REUBEN%KLA.WESLYN From: S.D-REUBEN%KLA.WESLYN@WESLEYAN.BITNET (Doug Reuben) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Pac*Bell /ATT Calling Cards Message-ID: <8704240355.AA01860@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU> Date: Sat, 18-Apr-87 04:49:40 EST Article-I.D.: ucbvax.8704240355.AA01860 Posted: Sat Apr 18 04:49:40 1987 Date-Received: Sat, 25-Apr-87 13:14:28 EST Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU Distribution: world Organization: The ARPA Internet Lines: 76 Approved: telecom@xx.lcs.mit.edu Message-ID: <12295447378.35.S.D-REUBEN@KLA.WESLYN> The question dealing with the similarities of AT&T calling cards and Bell Operating Company calling cards is pretty complicated. Basically, in most areas, there is no difference between Inter-LATA and Intra-Lata calls placed using 0+ dialing with a credit card. All calls are handled by the same equipment. Some areas, like 415, 408, and some other areas in CA, and 516 on Long Island in New York, have separated the Intra-Lata Calling Card Equipment from the Inter-lata equipment, as per federal regulation. In these "newer" areas, when you make a local (Intra-Lata) call, you will get routed over the Bell Operating companies equipment. Instead of the usual voice saying "Please dial your card number or 0 for an operator now", you will hear a stranger, less well pronounced voice. This is the local (Pac*Bell or NY Tel) equipment which handles your call. When you place a long-distance (inter-lata) call, you get the usual AT&T equipment. The problem with this is that if you make a local (intra-lata) call over the local Bell company, you can't press the "#" sign to make a new call, IF THE CALL IS INTER-LATA (LONG DISTANCE). If you want to make multiple intra-lata calls, you CAN sequence call, but the moment you make an inter-lata call, you will get a message saying "Please hang up and dial your call again. Your call can not be completed as a sequence call" (in a British accent, no less...) If you FIRST make an inter-lata call, (long distance), and then try to make a local call, it will work fine. (My local company SAYS AT&T will be changing this soon, but I don't think they know what they are talking about as usual...) Briefly then, in areas 415,408,516 and probably others in the near future, inter-lata and intra-lata calls ARE handled by different equipment. Moreover, this creates problems because you can not sequence-call to an inter-lata call after you have initially made an intra-lata call over either Pac*Bell's or NY Tel's equipments. This, however, is the only change to calling card service that I have heard of. New York Tel, in their calling card literature, says that you can use the NY Tel calling card to call locally, nationally, or around the world. Obviously, they intend for you to use your calling card for more than just local calls. The Pac*Bell (the clear ones) calling cards also have similar literature. So I don't think that the local operating companies will change their PIN numbers from that of AT&T's, or even if they have the capability to do so. (AT&T and the Bell Operating companies have a pretty good system to eliminate card fraud, and all the system have to be tied together for it to work. In most areas, if you dial more than 36 calling card calls in 3 hours, a person at your local security department will be notified, and they will try to contact you to see if the calls are valid. If they do not get in touch with you, they will temporarily cancel the card until they do get in touch with you...) Therefore, it seems unlikely that there will be separate PIN numbers for AT&T cards and local cards. The real problem is this nonsense with separate calling card equipment, which is just a waste of money. I think this is just another good example of what a mess the Bell System Divestiture was and is...Hopefully, some day, some one in charge with these people will realize this and put the Bell System back together again...Wishful thinking, I know, but its better than getting upset with this idiocy...:-) !!! -Doug REUBEN@WESLYN.BITNET REUBEN%WESLYN.BITNET@WISCVM.ARPA ...(rutgers!) seismo!weslyn.bitnet!reuben (UUCP) -------