Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!lll-tis!helios.ee.lbl.gov!pasteur!ucbvax!hplabs!hpda!hptsug2!taylor
From: BBUXEIPD@UIAMVS.BITNET (Robert Pearson)
Newsgroups: comp.society
Subject: Touch tone interfaces
Message-ID: <446@hptsug2.HP.COM>
Date: 22 Aug 88 20:17:03 GMT
Sender: taylor@hptsug2.HP.COM
Lines: 24
Approved: taylor@hplabs

> During December of 1987, we started working in our Educational Computer
> Voice Mail  System.  Basically  this is a  Bulletin Board  System.  The
> difference is that instead of having to use a computer, all you need is
> a regular touch tone  phone.  This allows most of the  students to have
    ^^^^^^^
> Once the student proceeds, v.g. 6520 the host computer says:
>
>     "Enter your message after the tone and press the asterisk to
>      end"                                            ^^^^^^^^

Why is it that almost all of these 'neat' services require the two
'extra' touch tone keys?  ('#' and '*') As an end user, I have avoided
several of these services because it would require me to purchase
additional phone equipment.  I realize you cannot set these services up
to use pulse, but do you have to use the extra keys?  Many pulse/tone
switchable phones (mine included) only provide the ten basic digits.
From what I have seen, the only companies that limit themselves to the
ten basic keys are alternate long distance servers.  (I was a subscriber
to Teleconnect years befor equal access....)

To everyone who is developing 'touch tone' interfaces; PLEASE consider
your market and make the '#' and '*' keys OPTIONAL, if you use them at
all.

Robert