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From: wales@CS.UCLA.EDU.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Universal telephone network plug??
Message-ID: <870413.184007z.01112.wales@DIANA.CS.UCLA.EDU>
Date: Mon, 13-Apr-87 13:40:07 EST
Article-I.D.: DIANA.870413.184007z.01112.wales
Posted: Mon Apr 13 13:40:07 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 18-Apr-87 00:31:48 EST
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I received the following insert in my latest phone bill.  (My phone
company is General Telephone; I'm in western Los Angeles.)

    QUALITY AND CONVENIENCE . . . TELECOMMUNICATIONS IN THE 90'S

    Today about 90 percent of the information carried over telephone
    lines in the United States is through conversation, what we call
    voice communication.  But the demand for computerized data is
    growing tremendously.

    So we're working hard to make it as convenient for you to send
    and receive both voice and data over your existing telephone line
    as it is to use an electrical plug.

    To do that, we're going to transform the existing public telephone
    system.

    Very soon, all kinds of telecommunications equipment, such as
    telephones, alarm systems, computers and image facsimile machines,
    will use a universal plug to connect to the telephone network.  The
    connection will be as receptive to your communications equipment as
    electrical outlets are to appliances.

    And unlike now, where each type of service often requires its own
    telephone line, the future network will let you use a wide range of
    techniques on a single phone line.  For example, if you're install-
    ing a burglar alarm, you won't have to install an additional tele-
    phone line.

    Services such as telecommuting (working by computer at home), elec-
    tronic catalog shopping, electronic banking, electronic mail and
    electronic libraries will be offered by businesses, financial insti-
    tutions and merchandisers.  Utilities will be able to read your gas,
    water and electric meters remotely.

    The potential of our telephone network is tremendous.  And the con-
    venience of having several services provided to you on a single
    phone line will give you the flexibility to grow and change your
    telephone service as the need arises.

Can anyone out there shed more light on what my local GTE people are
talking about here?

In particular, when they talk about "transforming" the existing system
so that everything will connect to it via a "universal plug", are they
thinking of the existing RJ11/RJ14 modular system, or something else?

-- Rich Wales // UCLA Computer Science Department // +1 213-825-5683
	3531 Boelter Hall // Los Angeles, California 90024-1600 // USA
	wales@CS.UCLA.EDU   ...!(ucbvax,rutgers)!ucla-cs!wales
"Sir, there is a multilegged creature crawling on your shoulder."