Software Vault: The Diamond Collection/The Diamond Collection (Software Vault)(Digital Impact).ISO/cdr16/tc15_118.zip/TC15-118.TXT

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TELECOM Digest     Thu, 23 Feb 95 22:04:30 CST    Volume 15 : Issue 118

Inside This Issue:                           Editor: Patrick A. Townson

    Call for Presentations - Summit '95 ([e-mail])
    Incoming Call Alert Needed (Robert Perlberg)
    Saying Hello in Other Languages (James F. Foerster)
    Anyone Heard of SMR - Specialized Mobile Radio? (Scott Murray)
    Information Requested on Video Conferencing (Andy Humberston)
    SaskTel Videogame Service (Dave Leibold)
    Unitel Operators Connected (Dave Leibold)
    Information Wanted on Hotel Telephone Billing (Stephen Cacclin)
    Explanation of Erlang B Formula (Steve Samler)
    Guernsey Bulletin Boards ([e-mail])
    N.T. M9516 Phone Wanted (Keith Knipschild)
    Nokia 121 Programming Help Needed (Alexander Cerna)
    Re: Area Code/Prefix Trivia (David O'Heare)
    Re: Bell Canada Stumped on 500 Service (David L. Oehring)
    Re: 500 Place-A-Call Working (Stan Schwartz)
    Re: Security of Cordless Phones? (Paul Robertson)
    Re: Security of Cordless Phones? (Stephen Denny)
    Re: Security of Cordless Phones? (Clarence Dold)
    Last Laugh! The Unintentional Date/Chat Line (David Leibold)

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

From: [e-mail] (Summit '94)
Subject: Call for Presentations
Date: 24 Feb 1995 00:28:23 GMT
Organization: Netcom


*** CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS ***

ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT SUMMIT 95
October 23-27, 1995   Infomart   Dallas, Texas
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

The deadline for submitting proposals for speaking at Summit  95 (to
be held at the Dallas InfoMart, October 23-27) is February 28.

** Topics

Summit 95 will focus on both real-world solutions and underlying
technology. Topics to be covered include the management of: Networks
(voice, video and data), Systems (mainframes, minis, workstations,
PCs), Applications, Databases, and Integrated management of the four
domains. Subjects of particular interest to Summit 95 participants
include (but are not necessarily limited to):

* Case studies/success stories
* Distributed object computing
* Managing NOSs
* Network management standards
* Managing/monitoring distributed applications/databases
* Data warehouses
* Network optimization
* Help Desk
* Desktop management standards
* Asset management/Software licensing/Software distribution
* Managing messaging networks
* Security * Personel management/Career development

Note to vendors: Presentations must be focused on technology and/or
solutions. Products may be discussed if integrated within case studies.

** Formats

Technical Sessions and Panels:  1 hour sessions
Tutorial Sessions:  Half-day, full-day and two day sessions

** Submissions

Please submit an abstract of 100-200 words by February 28, 1995

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

From: Robert Perlberg <dwrsun4![e-mail]>
Subject: Incoming Call Alert Needed
Date: 23 Feb 95 11:54:08 GMT


[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: The original message did not appear
in this Digest.  Excerpts are quoted here instead.  PAT]

[e-mail] wrote:

Quoting ktk9091 from a message in comp.sources.wanted

>> solution.  I need some software that will tell me that a call is
>> coming in, and ideally, what number the call is being placed from.
>> Does anything like this exist, or am I dreaming?
>> Thanks for your help!

> There is a service avaliable through the telephone company where
callers
> get to leave a message when you are busy.  I think it costs $5 per
month
> on your phone bill.  When you hang up then lift to hear a busy signal
and
> instead hear a special sound, that means you have messages and should
> enter your code to retrieve them.

That's what I was thinking, but it doesn't solve the problem of not
knowing that someone called.  I don't know whether the phone company
has this, but at my office we have a feature in our voice messaging
system called out-call notification.  You can program the system to
call you at another number whenever the system takes a message.  I
entered my beeper number as the out-call notification number, so
whenever anyone leaves me a message I get beeped. This way I always
know when someone is trying to reach me and I don't have to give out
my beeper number.  Does anyone know if the phone company's message
service has this feature?


Robert Perlberg   Dean Witter Reynolds Inc., New York
dwrsun4![e-mail] -or- [e-mail]

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

Date: Thu, 23 Feb 1995 15:52:43 CST
From: James F. Foerster <[e-mail]>
Subject: Saying Hello in Other Languages
Organization: University of Illinois at Chicago, ADN Computer Center


My uncle is 85 years old, and wants desperately to see a list of how
people in other countries answer the phone.  Hello, pronto (Italian, I
think) are the only ones he knows.  Can someone help or refer me
elsewhere?


Thanks.


[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: If people want to send me a list of
those they know I will compile and summarize it here.   PAT]

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

From: [e-mail] (Scott Murray)
Subject: Anyone Heard of SMR - Specialized Mobile Radio?
Date: 23 Feb 1995 19:32:11 GMT
Organization: Siemens Rolm Communications, Inc.
Reply-To: [e-mail]


Hi,

I was wondering if anyone had any info on SMR -- Specialized Mobile
Radio.  I have been approached by a company in Florida to buy an SMR
channel. The channel is in the 851-866Mhz range and is used by
companies to provided cellular like service at a cheaper rate. The
channels are supposedly given out by the government on a first come
first serve basis, but this company wants to charge by $3500 to file
all the paper work and guarantees me a channel or my money back.

Supposedly once you have a channel you can rent it out or sell it to
the regionaly operators and they are very anxious to get these extra
channels.  The have been able to convert these old style radio
dispatch towers into digital towers that provided phone, paging and
fax service at a fraction of the cellular cost and the towers cover a
larger range.

My questions are these:

Is this really a good investment?  Are these channels really in demand
by companies like Nextel, CenCall, DialPage etc.?  Is it worth going
through this company or are there cheaper ways to get a channel?

Any information would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks,

Scott

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

From: [e-mail] (Andy Humberston)
Subject: Information Requested on Video Conferencing
Date: 22 Feb 1995 17:39:16 GMT
Organization: De Montfort University, Leicester, UK


Is anybody aware of any mailing/news lists dedicated to discussing
video conferencing (eg. Hardware, Standards, New Products, etc)

I am interested in finding information regarding the (forthcoming)
T.120 standards set.

Any ideas will be appreciated.


Andy Humberston, Network Support, De Montfort University, UK
Tel: [phone] ext 8175  Fax: [phone]
                EMail: [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Dave Leibold)
Date: 22 Feb 95 22:00:06 -0500
Subject: SaskTel Videogame Service


[from Bell News (Bell Canada), 20 Feb 95]

SaskTel to deliver Nintendo games to hotel rooms

SaskTel, Saskatchewan leading phone company, has signed a deal with
Nintendo to market a new system that will deliver Nintendo's video
games to hotel rooms via phone lines.

The system will allow guests to use the phone even while playing games.

SaskTel developed the system in partnership with Hospitality Network
Canada of Regina.


Fidonet : Dave Leibold 1:250/730
Internet: [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Dave Leibold)
Date: 22 Feb 95 21:59:58 -0500
Subject: Unitel Operators Connected


[from Bell News (Bell Canada), 20 Feb 95]

Unitel, [Bell Canada's] AT&T-managed competitor, is conducting a
technology trial with a view to offering a range of operator services.

During the trial, which will last until April 1, Unitel has operators
providing such services as: station-to-station and person-to-person
collect and third- number calls; toll-call completion; call transfers
to the telephone company's directory assistance service; and credit
card billing options.

Depending on the results of the trial, Unitel might offer operator
services to other carriers and resellers.


Fidonet : Dave Leibold 1:250/730
Internet: [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Stephen Cacclin)
Subject: Information Wanted on Hotel Telephone Billing
Date: 22 Feb 1995 01:39:23 -0800
Organization: Wimsey Information Services


Hello all,

I am developing custom call-accounting software for a hotel. Their
PABX outputs each call's time/date, telephone number, duration and
room extension.

My question is: What is the best method to calculate the telephone
charge?

I guess I am looking for some sort of standardized rate table for
North American long-distance. Does such a thing exist, and if so, is
it available on the net? Someone please say yes, as I am not up to
entering these rates by hand ...

Any and all help will be greatly appreciated.


Stephen Cacclin   Echelon Computing


[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Just charge as much as you think you can
get away with; that's what the other hotels do.   <g>    PAT]

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

Date: Wed, 22 Feb 1995 09:47:10 EST
From: Steve Samler <[e-mail]>
Subject: Explanation of Erlang B Formula


assumptions are:
infinite sources
equal traffic density per source
lost calls cleared


P=((A**N)/N!)/(A**x)/x!  where the denominator is summed from x=0 to N

and
A = total traffic offered in Erlangs
N = number of servers in a full availability group
P = probability of loss

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

From: BE3_037 <[e-mail]>
Subject: Guernsey Bulletin Boards
Date: 23 Feb 1995 12:48:39 GMT
Organization: University of Portsmouth (UK)


Is there a list of people who offer bulletin board services in the
Channel Islands?

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

From: [e-mail]
Organization: America's Suggestion Box [phone]
Date: Thu, 23 Feb 95 00:39:51 GMT
Subject: N.T. M9516 Telephone Wanted


Does anyone know where I can get my hands on the NORTHERN TELECOM
"M9516" Telephone?

I have seen it in the "Hello Direct" Catalog, But I can't seem to find
a LOCAL Dealer ... I am located in the NYC Area, on Long Island.

Does anyone own the M9516? If so please post or send me a REVIEW.


Thanks,

Keith      [e-mail]

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

Reply-To: Alexander Cerna <[e-mail]>
Subject: Nokia 121 Programming Help Needed
Date: Thu, 23 Feb 1995 18:50:21 +0800
From: Alexander Cerna <[e-mail]>


I have a Nokia 121.  Is it possible to change the five-digit security
code by myself?  I've pored over the manual and fiddled with the phone
itself, but I can't seem to find a way to change it.  I was able to
set it the first time around.  But afterwards I couldn't find a way to
change it to another five-digit number.


·
I've asked the local service provider, and I was told that only they
could change it with, implicitly, some special equipment that they
only have.  Is this true?

Thanks in advance.


Regards,

Alexander Cerna      [e-mail]       VOX: +63 (32) 400-
451
NEC Technologies     MEPZ, Lapulapu, Phils 6015     FAX: [phone]-
457

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

Date: Thu, 23 Feb 1995 22:39:11 +0000
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: Area Code/Prefix Trivia
Organization: contractor at BNR


> [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note:

> And what area code covers the largest geographical area?

Well, Bell Canada's operators consider 872 to be an area code. I think
that wins.

(For those not in the know, 872 is the access code for Inmarsat
Pacific.)


David O'Heare [phone] (W) [phone] (H)
[e-mail]  (Don't reply to the address
in the header; I won't get the message.)

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

From: [e-mail] (David L Oehring)
Subject: Re: Bell Canada Stumped on 500 Service
Organization: AT&T
Date: Tue, 21 Feb 1995 23:25:00 GMT


In article <[e-mail]>, Montague Scott A
<4sam3@qlink.
queensu.ca> wrote:

> Well, it was bound to happen. What was, in myu opinion the best phone
> company in North America, has let me down.  The problem?  Bell Canada
has
> never heard of 500 service.  A quick call to Pat's number using both 1-
> and 0- gave me a "bad number" message.  So, I got online with a Bell
> Canada operator, and she told me "sorry, I don't know of the 500 area
> code.

> I called 1-800-CALLATT; they didn't know what 500 was about;
> until I persisted.  He can't connect me though.

Call AT&T Long Distance Repair at 1-800-222-3000.  I've encountered a
few Ameritech phones in the 312 and 313 area codes that did not
recognize
1+/0+ 500 calls and they fixed the problem within 24 hrs.


Dave Oehring   <[e-mail]>

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

From: [e-mail] (Stan Schwartz)
Subject: Re: 500 Place-A-Call Working
Date: 22 Feb 1995 23:35:47 -0500
Organization: PANIX Public Access Internet and Unix, NYC


[e-mail] wrote:

> I dialed my True Connections(sm) 500 Number to update my reach list
> this past Saturday, and noticed that the first-level prompt (following
> entry of the master PIN) had been changed.  Previously, option #2 was
> to "Call Home", but is now "To place a call".  I tried out the
> "Place-A-Call" feature and it worked (from the 312/708 area).  It
> looks like the post cards announcing the feature were only a little
(one
> week?) early.

It works here in 516 also!  (I just can't seem to get back to the True
Connections prompt if the called party does not answer)!

On a related note, I received a call yesterday from an AT&T Rep (the
nice
lady who programmed my Final Stop) who called to tell me that The
Navigator
service is now working in my area.  Apparently, AT&T overcame any tariff
problems that they were having.  Of course I _HAD_ to try it, and sure
enough,
it works!

On another related note, AT&T of New York, Inc filed with the NY State
PSC
to provide intra-state True500 service (it was in a legal notice in
today's
{Newsday}).  The filing also mentions changes in rates for CIID/891
cards.
What are they?


Stan


[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Since you mentioned 'Navigator', that is
one part of 500 service many users are not familiar with. Would you
please send in a short explanation of it?     PAT]

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

From: Robertson, Paul <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Security of Cordless Phones
Date: Thu, 23 Feb 95 09:30:00 PST


[e-mail] (Jeffrey A. Porten) wrote:

> Having just gotten a new cordless phone (BellSouth 46mHz), and living
> in the paranoid environs of Washington, DC, I find myself wondering
> just how likely it is that the world is listening to my calls.

> The phone has ten channels, and a security code feature which, so far
> as I understand, exists mainly to prevent another cordless handset
> from tapping into my base unit, but does nothing to scramble the
> signal from the handset.

> I live in an apartment building, with a few others nearby, so consider
> this a high-density area.  Should I go on the assumption that people
> are always listening in?  Sometimes?  Almost never?

> I have a corded set that I keep hooked up for confidential calls; as a
> stopgap, I sometimes scan channels on my cordless so any eavesdropper
> will at least have to fiddle to find me again.  Does this help, or am
> I kidding myself?

> [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Corded or cordless, the assumption
should
> be that your telephone calls are never secure. In actual practice, it
> may not matter to you; if you are just in idle chatter with someone
you
> aren't going to bother with the trouble of special precautions. My
personal
> belief is the use of scanners to listen to cordless phones is still a
> relatively rare thing; how many people do *you* know that own scanners
> who are within range of your cordless phone? And of those, how many
are
> sophisticated enough to know how to program the scanner for cordless?
> So my feeling is generally its not a big deal, and if you do have
something
> very important and personal to say, you might want to go to a payphone
> anyway.  PAT]

In this area (DC Metro), there are a _lot_ of people with scanners, a
great
majority of whom are "techies" working for various beltway bandits.
There
are a few Bulletin Boards dedicated to it, and a local USENET newsgroup.

Since cordless phones are about the second thing covered in most scanner
books (right after airplanes), I wouldn't call scanning the band
"sophisti-
cated".  Remember that when most scanner books were written cordless
moni-
toring was perfectly legal.

I'd say it's pretty much a given that in most areas of Northern VA,
Suburban
MD, and parts of DC, odds are that there are scanner owners listening
in.
In an apartment building, it doesn't even take a decent antenna, and
range
can be quite good if you have an apartment in a fairly tall building, a
dec-
ent antenna, antenna amplifier, etc. As for hopping channels, it won't
do
you any good, as anyone who wants to listen in will be scanning the
whole
cordless band, not just one frequency.

My advice would be to get a cordless that encrypts, and never use a
cordless
for something like ordering with a credit card, or talking about
something
you wouldn't tell the cashier at the local grocery store.


Paul D. Robertson     [e-mail]

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

From: [e-mail] (Stephen Denny)
Subject: Re: Security of Cordless Phones?
Date: 23 Feb 1995 18:55:49 GMT
Organization: DSC Communications Corporation, Plano, Texas USA


> In article <[e-mail]>, Jeffrey A. Porten <jporten@
> mail2.sas.upenn.edu> wrote:

>> Having just gotten a new cordless phone (BellSouth 46mHz), and living
>> in the paranoid environs of Washington, DC, I find myself wondering
>                              ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>> just how likely it is that the world is listening to my calls.

> [ stuff deleted ]

>> [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Corded or cordless, the assumption
should
>> be that your telephone calls are never secure.

While I am falling behind on this issue, until recent months, scanners,
both
hand-held and base station varieties were sold through legitimate
vendors
such as Radio Shack that can receive all cordless frequencies and with
minor
modifications, cellular frequencies.  I believe many models receiving
cord-
less are still available.

It has been my understanding that at sometime in 1994 it became illegal
for
manufacturers to sell scanners that were "easily" modified for cellular
(with an exception that allowed depletion of existing stock).  It has
also been illegal to listen to cellular for awhile.

It is my understanding that as of late 1994 a new act also made it
illegal to listen to cordless.

I do not believe it is yet illegal in the land of the free (except in
certain
local jurisdictions) to own equipment that receives these frequencies
even if
it is now illegal to listen to them.

For a complete thorough discussion of this topic on a daily basis,
please
refer to the usenet group: rec.radio.scanner

Let me point out that many laws seem to be broken regularly.  To the
best of my knowledge it is illegal to exceed the posted speed limit on
roads and highways, yet it appears that that law is broken by many.  I
would never encourage, assist or support anyone in an effort to
violate any law or regulation.  I only to note that from what I read
and see, and it appears that some communications laws are also being
broken regularly.

My general advise is that regardless of what protections the laws are
intended to provide, I concur with the Editor's advice above: if it is
transmitted you should assume it will be received.


Stephen Denny             [e-mail]
DSC Communications Corp.  Plano, TX, USA

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

From: Clarence Dold <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Security of Cordless Phones?
Date: 23 Feb 1995 04:32:34 GMT
Organization: a2i network


[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note:

> My personal belief is the use of scanners to listen to cordless
> phones is still a relatively rare thing; how many people do *you* know
> that own scanners who are within range of your cordless phone? And of
> those, how many are sophisticated enough to know how to program the
> scanner for cordless?

The range of a scanner to receive cordless transmissions of 46 mhz
phones is apparently several blocks.  With a common scanner, and about
a ten inch antenna, I am easily able to pick up clear conversations on
many cordless phones/baby monitors.  By random count, I am guessing
that the coverage is quite broad, since I assume that not every house
has a cordless phone.  The skill required is trivial.  If you can
program your scanner to receive your local police channel, you can
certainly receive 46 mhz telephone traffic.  The only bad part is that
by comparison to police/fire, it is long winded and boring.  You also
get to listen to background conversation in the room while the phone
is being dialed out, and ringing at the other end.

Of more concern is the skimmers who drive around with a cordless
phone, just hoping to catch a usable dialtone from your front yard.

You would be amazed at the phone bill my mother-in-law managed to
accumulate in about six weeks.  I suppose that someone discovered that
she leaves her phone off the base (some won't work with stray handsets,
if the true handset is in the cradle), and then probably sat in their
car in front of the house, and placed phone calls to several pricey
destinations.

My mother-in-law was astonished (a second time), when I set up my
scanner, cruised through the ten possible channels, and picked up her
conversation in mid-call.  I don't think she really believed it until
I showed her.


Clarence A Dold - [e-mail]   - Pope Valley & Napa CA.


[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Cruising for dialtone is something that
has gone on for several years. And the cruisers make a note of where
they found the dialtone (in front or behind of what addresses, etc) so
they don't have to drive around so long looking for the next time they
want to make a long distance call.   PAT]

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

Date: Thu, 23 Feb 1995 18:59:42 EST
From: David Leibold <[e-mail]>
Subject: The Unintentional Date/Chat Line


George Gamester's column in {The Toronto Star} of 22 Feb 95 makes
mention of what is believed to be Toronto's first date/chat line
~1960. The thing was, the service was actually supposed to be some
pastor's "dial-a-prayer" line.

When an apparent revival in the form of a flood of calls was
registered, Bell Canada decided to find out how to control the
overloading on the system. It was found that teenagers were doing a
conference bridge over a busy signal. Thus dates and chats were
arranged at the expense of an over-engaged prayer line.

After weeks of attempting to exorcise this demon in the network, Bell
was finally able to shut off the conference effect. The calls to the
line
dropped to a trickle, and it turned out there wasn't a big revival in
Toronto after all (an inconvenience for which Bell wound up crediting
the religious group running the line).


David Leibold     [e-mail]


[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Some time ago a little trivia item here
in the Digest discussed the first use of telephone recorded
announcements in other than a weather forecast/time of day context.
The first one was a dial-a-prayer service which started about 1955 on
Long Island, NY. I do recall when the Hoosier Theatre in Whiting,
Indiana had a recorded message giving movie titles and show times.
They were running that when Whiting had manual service. The recorded
message was on 'Whiting 1234'.

Taking advantage of the ease in remembering a number like that, when I
operated my recorded daily newsline messages for about five years from
1972-77 I had the number 312-HArrison-7-1234. But I had more than one
line. I had about twenty lines in a rotary hunt. i.e. 1234 hunted 1235
then 1236, etc. When I started, it was an old style stepper switch, so
I could not have all the numbers I needed since there were not that
many idle numbers in a row. When the CO changed to ESS in 1974, I did
an expansion with quite a few more lines since it did not matter what
numbers were involved any longer; 1234 stayed as the lead. I did not
give prayers or scripture readings on my line. The machines I used
were leased from Illinois Bell; they were *big*, *heavy* (75 pounds
each?)  machines used by Bell as for intercept type recordings. Inside
they had big round drums coated with mylar which spun around and
around as a finger dropped down and touched the surface. They held up
to three minutes of recorded information. For recording purposes, one
machine was a 'master' and the others were 'slaves'. Little mechanical
counters on each line kept track of the number of calls received. Bell
said when they set up the 'master/slave' arrangement for me they had
to write a special tariff for it; nothing like that had been done with
recorded messages previously.  I had a little closet-like office
downtown where all the machines sat stacked on shelves along the wall.
Because the machines all clacked and chattered as they would start and
stop the place was always quite noisy. In the early days, when the
HArrison exchange was a stepper, folks used the busy signal from my
lines to hold conferences on the side also.  PAT]

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

End of TELECOM Digest V15 #118
******************************