Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!accuvax.nwu.edu!nucsrl!telecom-request
From: Gabe Wiener <gabe@sirius.ctr.columbia.edu>
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: The Operator's Beep
Message-ID: <2514@accuvax.nwu.edu>
Date: 1 Jan 90 02:04:54 GMT
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Reply-To: Gabe Wiener <gabe@sirius.ctr.columbia.edu>
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X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 1, message 4 of 10

Occasionally I'll call some AT&T number or directory assistance line
and hear that "beep" sounded by the operator before they get on the
line.  I used to hear it on all operator calls pre-breakup, but it has
pretty much gone by the wayside for 0 and 00 calls.

Can anyone tell me its purpose?  Moreover, why did they stop using it?


Gabe Wiener - Columbia Univ.     "This 'telephone' has too many shortcomings 
gabe@ctr.columbia.edu             to be seriously considered as a means of 
gmw1@cunixd.cc.columbia.edu       communication. The device is inherently of
72355.1226@compuserve.com         no value to us."  -Western Union memo, 1877