Phoenix Rising BBS/phoenixrising.zip/phoenixrising/tele-dig/td14-020.txt

Text File | 1994-01-10 | 25KB | 595 lines

TELECOM Digest     Sun, 9 Jan 94 23:45:00 CST    Volume 14 : Issue 20

Inside This Issue:                         Editor: Patrick A. Townson

    Press Release re MCI Expansion ([e-mail])
    Phone Phreakers Down South (Charlotte Observer via [e-mail])
    Dial 511 For Info (Atlanta Journal and Constitution via [e-mail])
    Console Products (S. Wayne Lockhart)
    Telecom Service in Guam (Steve Kass)
    Source Wanted For Mini-PBXs (Tom Metro)
    All Wire Isn't The Same (John Warne)
    GSM Network Operators (Lars Kalsen)
    Unique Idea: Error Message for TDDs (Paul Robinson)
    Computer-Telephony Integration (Ray Mc Guigan)
    Network Sources of Telephony (Richard Weisinger)
    Long Distance CLID is Here! (Jack Winslade)

TELECOM Digest is an electronic journal devoted mostly but not
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----------------------------------------------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Subject: Press Release re MCI Expansion
Date: Sun,  9 Jan 94 13:54:04 PST


(From the MCI Mail News "Bulletin Board" comes this press release:)

Date:     Tue Jan 04, 1994 12:02 pm  CST
Subject:  MCI UNVEILS LONG-RANGE VISION: networkMCI

  Opens Nation's First Transcontinental Information Superhighway;
          Announces $20 Billion in Strategic Initiatives

    Washington, D.C., January 4, 1994--MCI today unveiled a sweeping
strategic vision under which MCI and associated partners are expected
to invest more than $20 billion to create and deliver a wide array of
new branded services to teleconsumers, businesses, research facilities
and government customers.

    "Our notion of the future of telecommunications and MCI is going
to have a brand name: networkMCI," said Bert C. Roberts, MCI chairman
and CEO.  "This strategic vision is the sum of all our plans and
opportunities in the new emerging markets with services that
consumers, businesses and governments will want at their fingertips as
we move into the 21st Century.  As a core strategy, it leverages the
tremendous opportunities brought on by the convergence of telephony,
entertainment and the computer."

             Transcontinental Information Superhighway

    Today the company announced, as an initial element of the
networkMCI vision, the inauguration of the nation's first trans-
continental information superhighway.  Often talked about as a key
ingredient to keeping America competitive in tomorrow's world economy,
the MCI superhighway's roadbed uses SONET fiber optic technology at
speeds 15 times faster than any SONET network available today.

    MCI said that the National Science Foundation Network (NSFNET) is
the first user of its New York to Los Angeles SONET fiber system.  The
NSFNET Backbone Service is the fastest and most powerful of the
university, government and commercial networks known collectively as
the Internet.  "Some people may be surprised to learn that MCI
developed these intercity links for the Internet six years ago," said
Roberts.  "The NSFNET service today reaches nearly 15,000 networks
around the world that participate in the Internet."

    "The Internet doubles in size annually and now links over two
million computers serving some six million users," said Vinton Cerf,
President of the Internet Society.  "When electronic mail
interconnects are taken into account, nearly 20 million users conduct
their business from labs, homes and offices over the Internet.  MCI
and its partners, IBM, Merit and ANS, pioneered the use of 45 megabit
per second technology for the NSFNET Backbone Service.  NSFNET now
carries a volume of information that approximately equals the holdings
of the Library of Congress EACH MONTH, and MCI's announcement
indicates the potential to carry more than 50 times that much
traffic."

    SONET, which stands for Synchronous Optical Network, is a
high-speed transmission technology that MCI is using to hasten the
widespread availability of broadcast quality videophones, electronic
data interchange (EDI), long distance medical imaging, multimedia
education, movies on demand, and a single-number Personal
Communications Service (PCS) that will use the same pocket-sized
telephone anywhere in the world.

    High-speed SONET technology was deployed in half of MCI's network
at year-end 1993, far outpacing its long distance rivals.  Under the
development program announced today, SONET will be available
throughout MCI's domestic network by the end of 1994 and on
international routes across the Atlantic and the Pacific by 1995.  The
company said it will further increase carrying speeds on existing
fiber from 2.5 gigabits (billion bits) per second to more than 10
gigabits per second by 1995.

                          MCI Metro

    As another element of its long-range vision, the company announced
the creation of MCI Metro, a wholly owned subsidiary that is expected
to invest $2 billion in fiber rings and local switching infrastructure
in major U.S. metropolitan markets.  Through its metropolitan area
facilities, MCI will connect directly to customers and begin providing
alternative local telecommunications services.  Referring to these
connections as "digital on/off ramps" to the nationwide information
superhighway, Roberts noted that they would be a vital addition to
America's economic infrastructure for the 21st Century.  Construction
has already begun in Atlanta, with completion expected there by mid-
year.

    Roberts announced the appointment of two key executives to lead
this subsidiary.  Executive vice president Gary M. Parsons will be
chief executive officer of MCI Metro, and senior vice president Nate
A. Davis will become its chief operating officer.  The subsidiary owns
properties and rights-of-way in several hundred cities.

    "MCI Metro will ensure the availability of superior local access
facilities at reasonable cost," said Roberts.  "During the last
decade, MCI was instrumental in bringing the benefits of competition
to the long distance marketplace.  During the next decade, we must
secure those same benefits for customers of local telephone service.
In addition, these digital backbone facilities will strongly position
MCI in the emerging markets of interactive multimedia and wireless
PCS."

                           networkMCI

    Roberts said that networkMCI is being introduced to the public via
a national advertising campaign utilizing television, magazines and
newspapers to explain the company's vision to consumers, businesses,
investors and potential partners.

    "When we announced our global alliance with BT (British Telecom)
last year, we said that the added financial flexibility would allow us
to invest in America's infrastructure, economy and future," said
Roberts.  "With networkMCI, we have cast a strategy to deliver on that
promise, and then some."

    MCI expects that other partner companies with complementary skills
and resources will participate in projects within the overall
networkMCI vision, through equity stakes, joint ventures or other
business arrangements.

    "As telecommunications, computing and television converge, no one
company will have the infrastructure and the skills to do everything
alone," said Roberts.  "Partnering is smart strategy for the 1990's,
and MCI has proven repeatedly that it doesn't have to own and control
another party in order to work together effectively."

    MCI cited a number of customer usage trends underlying the
decision to make the additional multibillion dollar investments.  The
company has been growing more than twice as fast as the long distance
industry as a whole, and is winning the lion's share of growth in the
booming market for international calls to and from the U.S.  Data
traffic is another major growth factor, with business customers' usage
of data communications expected to surpass voice by 1998.  In wireless
communications, the superior performance of the emerging PCS
technology is expected to help drive the total number of wireless
devices in the U.S. to 70 million by the turn of the century, which
will increase network usage.

    "Beyond the long-term vision," Roberts continued, "there are a
number of immediate benefits that networkMCI brings to the everyday,
workaday MCI network.  We have created this long-term strategy to meet
the demands of a nation of teleconsumers who use telecommunications
more frequently and in more ways than ever before.  American
businesses of all sizes want competitive advantage from their
communications.  And potential partners in this arena want to create
new opportunities.  With networkMCI, there will be a clear path to
follow."

    MCI, headquartered in Washington, D.C., offers a full range of
domestic and global telecommunications services through one of the
world's largest state-of-the-art networks.  With annual revenue of
more than $12 billion, the company is the second largest long distance
provider in the U.S. and has more than 65 offices in 55 countries and
places.

------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Date: Sat, 08 Jan 94 21:09:02 EST
Subject: Phone Phreakers Down South


Thought I'd pass this little story along ...

Charlotte Observer, N.C.
Knight-Ridder/Tribune Business News

Jan. 7 -- Another Charlotte company has fallen victim to telephone
hackers. Pic 'N Pay Stores Inc., the Charlotte-based shoe retailer,
says it got stung for $17,000 by high-tech hijackers who got into the
company's voice- mail and dialed anywhere they pleased.

Pic 'N Pay filed suit last week against BellSouth Telecommunications
Inc., parent of Southern Bell, which made and serviced the phone
system in question.

The suit in Mecklenburg Superior Court seeks reimbursement for phone
bills the retailer had to pay to AT&T, Alltel and Sprint.

Southern Bell spokesman Clifton Metcalf declined comment on the case
Thursday but said the company works hard on security issues.

The suit says BellSouth specifically told Pic 'N Pay its voice-mail
system, installed in January 1991, was not vulnerable to fraud.

A few months later, Pic 'N Pay noticed strange goings-on. One night,
13 of its 17 local trunk lines were busy, even though only four
employees were in the building. Securing the system took a technician
five minutes, the suit says.

Pic 'N Pay attorney Larry Hewitt said some of the fraudulent calls
were made from New Yorkers to the Caribbean.

Unauthorized access through voice-mail systems is one common variety
of telephone fraud. Altogether, the problem is estimated to cost U.S.
businesses and individuals more than $1 billion a year.

Pic 'N Pay Vice President Phil Myers said staffers caught the problem
before it became severe.

Others have been less fortunate. For a week in 1989, drug dealers
using computers penetrated Piedmont Natural Gas Co.'s phone system and
made hundreds of calls to such places as Colombia, Bolivia and
Pakistan, costing the company nearly $70,000.

When Piedmont refused to pay AT&T for the charges, AT&T sued. The case
was settled for an undisclosed amount.
r#QFP
------------------------------

From: [e-mail]
Reply-To: <[e-mail]>
Date: Sat, 08 Jan 94 21:09:31 EST
Su
]qQbject: Dial 511 for Info


Another news article to pass along ...

The Atlanta Journal and Constitution
Knight-Ridder/Tribune Business News
9z
ATLANTA -- Jan. 7--Within three months, consumers will be able to dial
511 to get information from an operator about classified ads and the
Yellow Pages.

The new service -- a joint venture between Atlanta-based Cox
Enterprises Inc. and BellSouth Corp. -- was approved Thursday by the
Georgia Public Service Commission.

Want to buy a used pickup? Dial 511 and an operator will read any ads
that help, or fax the information to you. You'll also be able to have
the operator contact you as ads come in.

"The simplicity of this is the great thing, and you have the added
advantage of having an operator to help you," said Kristie Madara, a
spokeswoman for BellSouth. "The plan is to not only be able to access
this by phone, but eventually by personal computer."

The venture, called Infoventures of Atlanta, will use the 511
telephone number the PSC awarded to Cox Enterprises in May. It's
currently used to provide a range of information from sports scores to
stock quotes for 50 cents a call. The new services will carry the same
fee.

The new services, which also would allow you to place electronic ads
using 511, would be available to all consumers in Atlanta's local
dialing area. If that dialing area is expanded -- as the PSC is
considering -- the services likely would be expanded as well.

"A lot of things are still in the planning stage right now, but I
assume this to be the case," said James T. McKnight, vice president of
information services for Cox Enterprises, which owns {The Atlanta
Journal-Constitution}.

Thursday's 4-to- 1 approval followed a sometimes heated public hearing
and came over strong opposition from Williams Communications Inc.,
which was awarded a 711 number last month.

Williams Communications, which is owned by Gov. Zell Miller's chief of
staff, Virgil R. Williams, argued that:

- If BellSouth financially subsidizes Cox Enterprises, then Cox has an
unfair advantage over competitors in its use of the three-digit
number.

- The joint venture would restrain competition between Cox and
BellSouth, eliminating service innovation.

- BellSouth hasn't gone through the same application process for a
three- digit number that Cox and others have.

"We feel the objections are just an attempt to delay this," sai
attorney Peter Canfield, who represented Cox Enterprises. "We believe
that Williams, as a competitor, is trying to delay us from going
forward."

------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (S. Wayne Lockhart)
Subject: Console Products
Organization: nbnet
Date: Sun, 9 Jan 1994 23:37:30 GMT


I am looking for products (hw/sw) that would run on a intelligent
workstation (PC) and replicate the functionality of a Centrex or
Meridian 1 Attendant Console.

Please mail me direct so I don't miss any responses.


Thanks,

S. Wayne Lockhart    [e-mail]

------------------------------

Subject: Telecom Service on Guam
From: [e-mail] (Steve Kass)
Date: 9 Jan 94 21:43:43 EST
Organization: Drew Univ Academic Computing


A friend of mine is moving to Guam soon, and I am looking for
information for him.  Does anyone know anything about
telecommunications there?  Information on Internet, phone service,
television, radio, etc., on Guam and throughout the Marianas would be
welcome.  He will be coordinating many aspects of media at the
University of Guam, and the information will help him with
preparations here before moving.  How to call Guam cheaply would also
be nice to know (AT&T gives 70c/min through Reach Out Guam or
something).

Information about life on Guam in general is welcome, but should be
send directly to my address, not posted here.

Thanks!


Steve Kass/Math & CS/Drew U/Madison NJ 07940/
201-408-3614/[e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 08 Jan 1994 23:38:27 EST
Reply-To: [e-mail]
From: [e-mail] (Tom Metro)
Subject: Source Wanted For Mini-PBXs


On a few occasions I have browsed through magazines such as
"Electronic Components & Test Instruments" (which are intended to
provide a way for Taiwan and other Asian manufactures to reach an
American, European, etc. audience) and I have ran across products
called Mini-PBXs. These devices typically handle a few incoming lines
and 4 to 6 extension phones. They sound ideal for a home or small
business installation. They also look like something that would be
priced in the $200 to $300 range.

What I'd like to know is, are there American sources for these
products -- either from US manufactures or imported? If not, why?

I know that there are a variety of companies that make small PBX
systems, but from what I have seen they haven't been that cheap and
they also typically require special phones.

I would also be interested to know about PBX cards for PCs that fall
into this price range. Last time I looked there weren't any.

Please respond by mail. I will summarize if there is interest.


Thanks,

Tom Metro        [e-mail]
Venture Logic    [e-mail]
Newton, MA, USA

------------------------------

Date: Sat, 08 Jan 94 19:42:49 EST
From: John Warne <[e-mail]>
Organization: School Board of Alachua County, FL.
Subject: All Wire Isn't The Same


There has been discussion recently regarding crosstalk between pairs
of wires in two-pair cable ("Two Phone Lines to One Phone Jack").

A recent BELLCORE bulletin pointed out that two-pair inside wire (AKA
station wire or JKT) can be found to have been made in two quite
different ways.

The cross-sectional view of one wire reveals the plastic outer sheath
is formed around the conductors in a cloverleaf-like pattern, holding
a certain relationship between the conductors for the length of the
cable (AT&T *used* to make their two-pair stuff this way), resulting
in less crosstalk between pairs.

The sheath of the other type (which AT&T is using now) does not hold
the conductors in any particular alignment, but is a loose outer
covering. This wire exhibits greater crosstalk when used for two
telephone lines.

You can detect the second type of cable easily -- it's smaller in
overall diameter, the conductors slide within the jacket, and it
simply *feels* cheap (editorial comment).  In my opinion, the new
stuff is junk, and, probably, at a higher cost to the purchaser.

I have a roll of General Wire at the shop that is constructed in the
"good old way," but several of our suppliers can't seem to find any
more of it in their warehouses.

I'd recommend the second pair in the new stuff be used only for backup
in case the first pair is damaged in some way, and not used for a
second service.

Such is progress.


John Warne                      Voice: 904-336-3522  FAX: [phone]
Telecommunications Manager      I-NET: [e-mail]
School Board of Alachua County  CIS: 76424,2220
Fred C. Sivia, Jr. Support Center
3700-B NE 53rd Avenue           Gainesville, Florida 32609

------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Lars Kalsen)
Subject: GSM Network Operators
Date: 9 Jan 94 21:30:59 GMT


Hi,

Does anyone have a mailing-list with all the addresses of the
GSM-network operators in Europe -- or maybe some of them. I would like
to have the complete mailing-address and/or the fax-numbers.

Please E-mail me the information if you have it -- or a copy by
ordinary mail.

Greetings from Denmark.


Lars Kalsen   Kingosvej 5 D   9490 Pandrup   Denmark

------------------------------

Date: Fri, 7 Jan 1994 22:46:19 EST
From: Paul Robinson <[e-mail]>
Reply-To: Paul Robinson <[e-mail]>
Subject: Unique Idea: Error Message for TDDs
Organization: Tansin A. Darcos & Company, Silver Spring, MD USA


By accident I found something new and unusual.

Someone suggested that one of the things being done was to not use as
prefixes any number that matches an area code touching the one in
question, e.g. in the 301 area code there should not be a 302 or any
of the prefixes from Pennsylvania that touch it (since before it was
split, 301 touched Delaware).

Well, to test it I tried the other area code in Virginia.  The one
touching 301 is Northern Virginia -- 703.  The one in Richmond is 804.
The system will not allow me to dial a number with 804 (from a 301
area-code number) unless I dial ten digits, in which case I get the
"You must first dial a 1" recording.

But I can dial the local area code, so I dialed 301-804 and then picked a
random number -- 5000. 1234 and 1000 also give the same recording:

<SIT TONE> "We're sorry, because of an area code change, your call
cannot be completed as dialed.  Dial again using area code 410. Please
make a note of this change.  The following tones are for TDD users: "
<Long touch tone, # I think> Then, on a TDD device we have in our
office, the message comes across "PLS USE 410 AREA".

Unique idea -- putting a TDD message into an error recording -- and
I'm surprised that I've never heard it done before.

------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Ray Mc Guigan)
Subject: Computer-Telephony Integration
Organization: Trinity College Dublin
Date: Sat, 8 Jan 1994 14:31:03 GMT


A friend has a number of queries relating to computer-telephone
integration.

Specifically: Were IBM the first company to link a computer to a
switch when in 1969 they linked their PABX 2750 to mainframes?

Does anyone have the technical details of these links and any information
on the types of applications which used them?

Any general references to Computer-Telephony Integration would be greatly
appreciated. Please reply to email if possible.


Thanks,

Ray Mc Guigan               [e-mail]
Dept of Computer Science    Tel: (+ 353 1) 702 2361
Trinity College, Dublin.    Fax: (+ 353 1) 677 2204
Republic of Ireland

------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Richard Weisinger)
Subject: Network Sources of Telephony
Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest)
Date: Sat, 8 Jan 1994 14:55:22 GMT


I'm looking for more information about Computer Telephony.  Although a
lot of the topics which show up in this group are related, I was
wondering if someone could point me towards other sources.


Thanks,

Dick Weisinger   [e-mail]

------------------------------

From: [e-mail] (Jack Winslade)
Subject: Long Distance CLID is Here
Date: Sat, 8 Jan 1994 00:12:54 CST


I had quite a surprise today when I was looking over the CLID log.  I
saw an entry of 513-247-xxxx.  This is, of course, here in Omaha on
the 402-896 prefix.

I recognized the caller's name and number as being correct, so I can
assume that LD CLID is now working in some cases over some LD carriers.

About nine months ago on a CO tour, the CO tech said that this feature
would be coming shortly.  This is the first time I have actually seen
this in action.


Good day,

JSW


[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: In Chicago we have had inter-LATA
Caller-ID on an intermittent basis for about a year. It is sent here
by some exchanges in other cities, but not by all or even a majority
yet. Minneapolis comes to mind as one place where I've seen it a lot.
Area code 612 numbers show up here when I get those calls.   PAT]

------------------------------

End of TELECOM Digest V14 #20
*****************************