216 lines
10 KiB
Plaintext
216 lines
10 KiB
Plaintext
¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦
|
||
ƒ Shucky daRns and slap the fOssil Pigs, guess what.. . . |îxcerpt # 1
|
||
ƒ .-=ù. THE `--------. 2
|
||
ƒ / / //|| //|| ãÍÍÍÍ // ãÍÍÍÍ //|| _..._ ` o3
|
||
ƒ/ / //_||_ || \\___ // \\___ || / _ \ 4
|
||
ƒ³ \_ .,_``-||- || ____/\ // ____/\ || ( (_) ) -Virtual 5
|
||
ƒ \ \__/³`<60>- "" "" -----' // -----' "" `-----' REality 6
|
||
ƒ \_____/ ^ Sc‘nClub .. take a peek 7
|
||
ƒ Hang on Alice!!! presents... 8
|
||
ƒ An îxcerpt from the Book of Crescent... 9
|
||
ƒ TheÃÅollow's ’lliance * 415-236-2371 * MONDO h/ph/c g-files and discussion 0
|
||
ƒ "Kï•WœŠDGä ‹ Pø(/\)<29>R", so that's what we're trying to bring you.. . . ¦
|
||
¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦
|
||
|
||
Article 556 of comp.dcom.telecom:
|
||
Path: noe!pacbell!ames!netsys!vector!nobody
|
||
From: scotts@bu-it.BU.EDU
|
||
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
|
||
Subject: Another lesson on 700/800/900 service
|
||
Message-ID: <telecom-v09i0008m03@vector.UUCP>
|
||
Date: 3 Jan 90 06:57:48 GMT
|
||
Sender: chip@vector.UUCP
|
||
Lines: 174
|
||
Approved: telecom-request@vector.uucp
|
||
X-Submissions-To: telecom@bu-cs.bu.edu
|
||
X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@vector.uucp
|
||
X-TELECOM-Digest: volume 9, issue 8, message 3
|
||
|
||
I have compiled some more information about the SACs for your
|
||
edification.
|
||
|
||
These include 700, 800, and 900.
|
||
|
||
Most telephone users from the United States are quite familiar with
|
||
800 service. A number that they dial and incur NO charge (not even
|
||
message units in most [all?] areas).
|
||
|
||
Then there is 900 service, which is most people perceive as 'value
|
||
added', i.e. you pay more for the information than for the transport
|
||
of the call. These vary typically from 35 cents to a few dollars for
|
||
either a timed service, or a 'as long as you like' duration-sensitive
|
||
service. There are two sub-species of 900 service, AT&T and
|
||
"everybody else".
|
||
|
||
Finally there is 700 service, which many people remember as Alliance
|
||
Teleconferencing. This is the third "canonical" SAC. With few
|
||
limitations, this SAC is given over to the IEC entirely.
|
||
|
||
Let's look at these in more detail:
|
||
|
||
800 service is offered by various IECs. Each NXX in the 800 SAC is
|
||
assigned to a given carrier, who is responsible for assigning numbers
|
||
from that block to customers, and providing 10 digit translation.
|
||
When you as Joe Customer dial 1-800-222-1234 (made up number, please
|
||
don't bother them) it will initiate the following sequence:
|
||
|
||
1. If you are in an Electronic Office (DMS-100, DMS-200, 1A ESS, #5
|
||
ESS) the 800-222 will be translated to "AT&T" and search for an
|
||
opening in a trunk group marked for 800 origination. Should none be
|
||
found, bump to step 3
|
||
|
||
2. If you are in a non-electronic office (SXS, XB, and some flavors
|
||
of ESS), it will go to the access tandem that you're office 'homes'
|
||
on, where 800-222 will be translated to "AT&T"
|
||
|
||
[note that if at this point, the number doesn't have a translation,
|
||
you will get a "lose" recording from the CO]
|
||
|
||
3. Find a trunk in a trunk group marked for 800 origination. Should
|
||
none be found, give the customer a recording "Due to network
|
||
congestion, your 800 call could not be completed" or die, or whatever.
|
||
(Depends on phase of moon, etc.)
|
||
|
||
4. The end office will the send the following pulse-strea (in MF):
|
||
|
||
KP + II + 3/10D + ST + KP + 800 222 1234 + ST
|
||
|
||
(note that this is a simplification, there are some fine points of
|
||
ANI spills that are beyond the scope of this article)
|
||
|
||
II = 2 information digits ... typical values are:
|
||
00 normal ANI .. 10 digits follow
|
||
01 ONI line ... NPA follows
|
||
02 ANI failure ... NPA follows
|
||
3/10D = 3 or 10 digits. Either the NPA, or the entire 10
|
||
digit number.
|
||
KP and ST are control tones
|
||
|
||
5. The carrier receives all of this (and probably throws the ANI into
|
||
the bit bucket) and translates the 800 number to what's called a PTN,
|
||
or Plant Test Number. For Example, 617-555-9111. Then, the call is
|
||
routed AS IF the customer had dialed that 10 digit number. Of course,
|
||
the billing data is marked as an 800 call, so the subscriber receiving
|
||
the call pays the appropriate amount.
|
||
|
||
|
||
900 Service. As I mentioned earlier there are two flavors of 900
|
||
service, AT&T, and "Everybody Else". Everybody else is handled
|
||
exactly as 800 service above, except the IEC will probably use the ANI
|
||
information to send you a bill. (Either directly, or through your
|
||
BOC, each situation governed by applicable tarrifs and contractual
|
||
arrangements between the IEC and the BOC)
|
||
|
||
AT&T 900 is a curious monster indeed. It was designed as a "mass
|
||
termination" service. When you dial a 900 # by AT&T (such as the
|
||
"hear space shuttle mission audio" number) you get routed to one of
|
||
twelve "nodes" strewn throughout the country. These nodes are each
|
||
capable of terminating 9,000 calls >PER SECOND<. There are several
|
||
options available, where the customer and/or the IP pay for all/part
|
||
of the call. The big difference between 800 and AT&T 900 is >NOT<
|
||
"who pays for the call" (there are free 900 numbers) but "how many
|
||
people can it handle at once". The IP is responsible for providing
|
||
program audio. AT&T is prohibited from providing audio-program
|
||
services (i.e. tape recorded messages) [As with any rule, there are
|
||
exceptions to these as well]
|
||
|
||
The last SAC we'll deal with is 700. I've seen ads on late-nite
|
||
television for Group Access Bridging service (GAB) under 700 numbers,
|
||
with a elephantine dialing sequence. The one that comes to mind is
|
||
10041-1-700-777-7777. [I make no guarantee about the quality or
|
||
availability of this service. I don't even know if it still exists.]
|
||
If you were to dial 1-700-555-4141 you will hear a recording
|
||
announcing your Equal-Access carrier. (Some carriers ignore the last
|
||
four digits, and any 700-555 number will give the announcement).
|
||
|
||
This is signalled the same as 800 service, and may or may not be
|
||
billed ENTIRELY at the discretion of the IEC. In New York, under PSC
|
||
tarrif you can order 900 and/or 700 blocking as well as 976, 970, 550,
|
||
and 540 blocking in various (but not entirely orthoganal)
|
||
combinations.
|
||
|
||
What in ONE carrier might be a customer service hotline (Dial 1-700-I
|
||
AM LOST) might for another be a revenue product. There is LITTLE
|
||
standardization of 700 usage from IEC to IEC.
|
||
|
||
The one last dialing pattern that is worth mentioning is what's
|
||
called, "cut through dialing". Try dialing 10220#. If Western Union
|
||
comes to your town, you'll get a FG-A style dial tone. Presumably if
|
||
you had a Western Union "Calling Card" [I don't know their term for
|
||
it] you could dial a call. (If someone DOES have WU service, could
|
||
they please check this out for me?)
|
||
|
||
Glossary:
|
||
|
||
ANI - Automatic Number Identification. An MF sequence that identifies
|
||
your line for toll billing information. Often confused with ANAC
|
||
(Automatic Number Announcemnt Circuit) which reads your number back in
|
||
a synthesised voice.
|
||
|
||
BOC - Bell Operating Company. A often misused term (even in this very
|
||
article :-) that in general usage means, "Your local exchange
|
||
carrier." Since most of the telephones in the country are served by
|
||
what used to be the Bell system, we tend to use the term. The proper
|
||
term in this case, however IS "Exchange Carrier [EC]" They provide
|
||
service within your LATA.
|
||
|
||
FG-A - Feature Group A. Line Side termination for Long Distance
|
||
carriers. The old 555-1234 for Widget Telephone Company then dial an
|
||
access code and the number style dialing is called FG-A.
|
||
|
||
FG-B - Feature Group B. Trunk Side termination for Long Distance
|
||
carriers. (aka ENFIA B). 950 service. This is LATA wide service,
|
||
and doesn't cost the customer message units. ANI is only provided
|
||
when the trunks terinate in the End Office (as opposed to an access
|
||
tandem).
|
||
|
||
FG-D - Feature Group D. Trunk Side termination. Provides 10xxx
|
||
dialing, 1+ pre-subscription dialing, and Equal Access 800/900
|
||
service. Only available in electronic offices and some 5XB offices
|
||
(through a beastie called an Adjunct Frame.)
|
||
|
||
GAB - Group Audio Bridging. Where several people call the same
|
||
number, to talk to other people calling the same number. "Party" or
|
||
"Chat" lines.
|
||
|
||
IEC - Inter-Exchange Carrier. Someone who actually carries calls from
|
||
place to place. AT&T, Sprint, MCI are all IECs.
|
||
|
||
IP - Information Provider. Someone who sells a value-added service
|
||
over the telephone. Where you pay for the INFORMATION you're
|
||
receiving, as well as the cost of TRANSPORT of the call.
|
||
|
||
NXX - Notation convention for what used to be called a "prefix". N
|
||
represents the digits 2 through 9, and X represents the digits 0
|
||
through 9. There are 800 valid NXX combinations, but some are
|
||
reserved for local use. (411 for Directory, 611 for Repair Bureau,
|
||
911 for emergency, etc.)
|
||
|
||
ONI - Operator Number Identification. In areas with some styles of
|
||
party-line service, the CO cannot tell who you are, and the operator
|
||
will come on and say, "What number are you calling from?". You can
|
||
lie, they have to trust you. They MAY know which PREFIX you're coming
|
||
from, though.
|
||
|
||
PTN - Plant Test Number. A regular 10 digit number assigned with your
|
||
inward WATS line. This may NOT be a 'dialable' number from the local
|
||
CO. (A friend has a WATS line in Amherst, MA [413-549, #5 ESS] and
|
||
you cannot dial the PTN locally, but you can if you come in on a toll
|
||
trunk.)
|
||
|
||
SAC - Special Area Code. Bellcore speak for area codes that aren't
|
||
really places, but classes of service.
|
||
|
||
|
||
¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ¦ƒ
|
||
|
||
Great article. If you have any informative, interesting h/ph/c related
|
||
articles you'd like to submit, ask around SDBP or the *Hollow's Alliance* for
|
||
the 415/510 ScanClub... .. . .
|
||
|
||
.. and so the fellow walks off into the... nawww, how bout.. .
|
||
The moonPhello(/\) hacks off into the SprintNet... .
|
||
|
||
Till-next-issue!!
|
||
415/510 ScanClub (c) 2003
|