TELECOM Digest     Fri, 25 Nov 2005 19:45:00 EST    Volume 24 : Issue 534

Inside This Issue:                             Editor: Patrick A. Townson

    US Moves Forward on Data Privacy (Monty Solomon)
    Lycos Loses Dutch ID Disclosure Case (Monty Solomon)
    Amazon Triumphs in 1-Click Patent Defense (Monty Solomon)
    EFFector 18.39: Are You Infected with Sony-BMG's Rootkit? (Monty Solomon)
    EFFector 18.40: Announcement Monday on EFF's Plans re: Sony BMG (M Solomon)
    Telecom Update #507, November 25, 2005 (Angus TeleManagement Group)
    Our New Classified Advertisements Area (TELECOM Digest Editor)
    Auto Call Forward (asdf)
    Cellular-News for Friday 25th November 2005 (Cellular-News)
    Bidfraud Website "Grand Opening" - Read For Capabilities (Stop Fraud)
    Re: Showdown with USA Over Internet Control (jmeissen@aracnet.com)
    Re: Showdown with USA Over Internet Control (asok101@hotmail.com)
    Re: Voicepulse Owns Your Number (DevilsPGD)
    Re: Voicepulse Owns Your Number (harold@hallikainen.com)
    Re: GAIT vrs. GSM and Other Cell Phones (John Levine)
    Re: Los Angeles Numbering, 1940s (Chris Williams)
    Re: Old Teletype Machine (Dan Lanciani)

Telecom and VOIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) Digest for the
Internet.  All contents here are copyrighted by Patrick Townson and
the individual writers/correspondents. Articles may be used in other
journals or newsgroups, provided the writer's name and the Digest are
included in the fair use quote.  By using -any name or email address-
included herein for -any- reason other than responding to an article
herein, you agree to pay a hundred dollars to the recipients of the
email.

               ===========================

Addresses herein are not to be added to any mailing list, nor to be
sold or given away without explicit written consent.  Chain letters,
viruses, porn, spam, and miscellaneous junk are definitely unwelcome.

We must fight spam for the same reason we fight crime: not because we
are naive enough to believe that we will ever stamp it out, but because
we do not want the kind of world that results when no one stands
against crime.   Geoffrey Welsh

               ===========================

See the bottom of this issue for subscription and archive details
and the name of our lawyer; other stuff of interest.  

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

Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2005 10:19:19 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: US Moves Forward on Data Privacy


Draft law heads for full Senate hearing

By OUT-LAW.COM
Published Friday 25th November 2005 14:43 GMT

A draft US law to increase the security and privacy of personal
information held by companies took a step forward last week, when it
was approved by the influential Senate Judiciary Committee. The bill
includes a duty to disclose security breaches.

The draft Personal Data Privacy and Security Act of 2005 will now move
forward to a full Senate hearing.

The bill, sponsored by Senators Arlen Specter and Patrick Leahy, will
ensure that companies with databases containing personal information
on more than 10,000 US citizens establish and implement data privacy
and security programs and vet third-party contractors hired to process
data.

Under the bill, data brokers will generally be required to let
individuals know what information is held about them and, where
appropriate, allow individuals to correct demonstrated inaccuracies.
They will also be obliged to notify law enforcement agencies,
consumers and credit reporting agencies when digitised sensitive
personal data has been compromised.

http://www.theregister.com/2005/11/25/us_data_privacy/

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

Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2005 10:11:24 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: Lycos loses Dutch ID disclosure case


Bad day for whistleblowers too?

By Jan Libbenga

After almost three years of long-lasting legal procedures, the Dutch
Supreme Court ruled today that Dutch ISP Lycos must reveal the name of
an anonymous website owner who ridiculed a part-time stamp trader.
However, there is little Lycos can disclose other than a fake address
that the website owner once provided.

Dutch citizen Bernard Pessers traded postage stamps through eBay and
was accused of fraud by an anonymous Lycos member on his home page.
Pessers demanded the closure of the site and told Lycos that he also
wanted to know the identity of its member. When Lycos refused, Pessers
took the ISP to court.

After the initial verdict, Lycos handed over the data, but when the
address turned out to be wrong, Pessers started another procedure to
force Lycos to find the correct information. That demand was turned
down in court, but this was in turn overruled by the Dutch Appeals
Court. Lycos then took the case to the Dutch Supreme Court. The
so-called Lycos-Pessers defence, which has dragged on for years, has
attracted attention from legal experts worldwide.

The Supreme Court today for the most part followed the opinion of the
Dutch Advocate General, who earlier this year argued that ISPs in some
cases can indeed be sued over the identity of their members to pursue
a civil action against someone who's anonymous.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/11/25/lycos_lose_iddisclosure/

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

Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2005 10:22:53 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: Amazon Triumphs in 1-Click Patent Defense


IPXL appeal rejected

By OUT-LAW.COM
Published Friday 25th November 2005 14:51 GMT

Amazon.com has successfully defended a claim that its famous 1-Click
payment feature infringed another company's patent for an electronic
fund transfer or transaction system. IPXL Holdings had been seeking
around $50 million in damages.

http://www.theregister.com/2005/11/25/amazon_patent_triumph/

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

Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2005 16:06:20 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: EFFector 18.39: Are You Infected with Sony-BMG's Rootkit?


EFFector Vol. 18, No. 39  November 11, 2005  editor@eff.org

A Publication of the Electronic Frontier Foundation
ISSN 1062-9424

In the 355th Issue of EFFector:

 * Are You Infected with Sony-BMG's Rootkit?
 * Sony-BMG Rootkit: EFF Collecting Stories, Considering Litigation
 * News Website Can Keep Domain Name After Trademark Fight
 * PATRIOT Alert: A Battle Won, but Urgent Action Still Needed
 * Passing the Buck: or, the Printer as a Fine French Wine
 * Anti-Cell Phone Tracking Judicial Revolution Spreads to NYC
 * Non-Profit Coalition Wins Challenge to Federal Watch-List Policy
 * miniLinks (9): DRM This, Sony!
 * Administrivia

http://www.eff.org/effector/18/39.php

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

Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2005 16:06:26 -0500
From: Monty Solomon <monty@roscom.com>
Subject: EFFector 18.40: Announcement Monday on EFF's Plans re: Sony BMG


EFFector Vol. 18, No. 40  November 18, 2005  editor@eff.org

A Publication of the Electronic Frontier Foundation
ISSN 1062-9424

In the 356th Issue of EFFector:

 * Announcement Monday on EFF's Plans re: Sony BMG
 * Revolt in Congress Against PATRIOT "Compromise"
 * Diebold Attempts to Evade Election Transparency Laws
 * Guide for Student Bloggers Helps Kids Speak Out
 * Join Our Bloggers' Campaign - Help EFF Help You
 * Help Us Bust the Clear Channel Patent
 * CopyNight Reminder - Tuesday, November 22
 * miniLinks (10): TV Networks say Digital Recorders Raise Viewership
 * Administrivia

http://www.eff.org/effector/18/40.php 

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

Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2005 11:06:15 -0800
Subject: Telecom Update #507, November 25, 2005
From: Angus TeleManagement Group <jriddell@angustel.ca>
Reply-To: Angus TeleManagement Group <jriddell@angustel.ca>


************************************************************
TELECOM UPDATE 
************************************************************
published weekly by Angus TeleManagement Group 
http://www.angustel.ca

Number 507: November 25, 2005

Publication of Telecom Update is made possible by generous 
financial support from: 
** AVAYA: www.avaya.ca/
** BELL CANADA: www.bell.ca 
** CISCO SYSTEMS CANADA: www.cisco.com/ca/ 
** ERICSSON: www.ericsson.ca
** MICROSOFT CANADA: www.microsoft.com/canada/telecom/
** MITEL NETWORKS: www.mitel.com/
** NEC UNIFIED SOLUTIONS: www.necunifiedsolutions.com
** ROGERS TELECOM: www.rogers.com/solutions 
** VONAGE CANADA: www.vonage.ca

************************************************************

IN THIS ISSUE: 

** Telus to Merge Wireline and Wireless 
** TWU Members Accept Telus Contract 
** Ottawa Funds Four Broadband Projects 
** CRTC Calls Cellcos on Carpet Over Privacy 
** Telecom Legislation Doomed 
** Kingston Hospital Installs Integrated Wireless 
** Aliant Mobility Offers Push-to-Talk 
** New COO at Telecom Ottawa 
** CRTC Turns Down Telus-Videotron Fibre Swap 
** Quebec ISPs Challenge Bell DSL Rates 
** Bell & Rogers Exceed Spectrum Limits 
** RIM Plans Support Centre in Halifax 
** Mitel Opens B.C. Sales Centre 
** Yet Another Teleglobe Suit Against BCE 
** Bell to Retail Virgin Mobile's Phones 
** Yak Promises Unlimited Long Distance 
** Videotron Extends Telephone Service 
** Cisco Buys Toronto IP-Provisioning Assets 
** MDA, Com Dev Divide Up Space Technology Unit 
** Telecom Update's Newest Sponsor 

============================================================

TELUS TO MERGE WIRELINE AND WIRELESS: Telus Mobility and Telus
Communications are being merged into a single operating structure. The
company says this will help to "leverage the ongoing convergence
between wireless and wireline technology." Telus will continue to
release separate financial reports for wireless.

** Hughes St. Pierre, head of Telus Quebec, is retiring. 

** Wade Oosterman, expected by many to take over Telus 
   Mobility following George Cope's departure (see Telecom 
   Update #502), is "in discussions" with CEO Darren 
   Entwistle about his future.

TWU MEMBERS ACCEPT TELUS CONTRACT: Members of the Telecommunications
Workers Union have voted to accept a new five-year contract with
Telus. Of 10,566 members who cast ballots, 64.1% voted in favor.

OTTAWA FUNDS FOUR BROADBAND PROJECTS: The federal government this week
announced funding for four projects that will extend high-speed
Internet access to rural and remote communities in various parts of
Canada.

** $9.72 million from the National Satellite Initiative to 
   Falcon Communications, which is owned by six indigenous 
   peoples' organizations, to extend service to 31 aboriginal 
   communities in the Northwest Territories.

** $735,527 from the Broadband for Rural and Northern 
   Development (BRAND) Pilot Program to extend service to 21 
   communities in the Portneuf area of Quebec.

** $973,592 from the BRAND Pilot Program to the Matawa First 
   Nations Management organization, located in Thunder Bay, 
   to extend service to eight communities in the Nishnawbe 
   Aski Nation territory.

** $591,677 from the BRAND Pilot Program to the Community 
   Futures Development Corporation of Boundary Area to extend 
   service to 23 communities in south-central British 
   Columbia.

CRTC CALLS CELLCOS ON CARPET OVER PRIVACY: The November 21 issue of
Maclean's reported that a U.S. data broker was able to obtain
telephone call records of Canada's privacy commissioner, among
others. The CRTC has ordered Bell, Telus, and Rogers to investigate
this incident, and to report by November 28 on what privacy safeguards
were in place at the time, as well as any additional safeguards that
they are implementing.

http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Letters/2005/lt051118.htm

TELECOM LEGISLATION DOOMED: It seems very likely that a new federal
election will be called next week. That will kill all pending
legislation, including C-37, which would have established Do-Not-Call
rules for telemarketers; C-73, which would have given the CRTC the
power to impose fines; and C-74, which would have established rules
for Internet wiretaps (see Telecom Update #503 and #506).

TELECOM LEGISLATION DOOMED: It seems very likely that a new federal
election will be called next week. That will kill all pending
legislation, including C-37, which would have established Do-Not-Call
rules for telemarketers (see Telecom Update #503) and C-73, which
would have given the CRTC the power to impose fines (see Telecom
Update #506).

KINGSTON HOSPITAL INSTALLS INTEGRATED WIRELESS: Kingston General
Hospital has launched a Wi-Fi system that integrates wireless devices
with point-of-care computers and provides mobile patient data access
and data entry. The system, installed by Bell Canada, also provides
wireless phone and Internet access in patient-care areas.

ALIANT MOBILITY OFFERS PUSH-TO-TALK: Aliant now offers a push-to-talk
mobile service, using the brand name 10-4. The service, which requires
special handsets, costs $15/month in addition to a regular rate
plan. (See Telecom Update #473)

NEW COO AT TELECOM OTTAWA: Tom Moss, who previously held positions at
AT&T Canada, Bell Canada, and Rogers Telecom, has been named Chief
Operating Officer of Telecom Ottawa, a subsidiary of Ottawa Hydro. He
replaces Dave Dobbin, who left to join Toronto Hydro Telecom in
August. (see Telecom Update #491)

CRTC TURNS DOWN TELUS-VIDEOTRON FIBRE SWAP: The CRTC has refused to
approve fibre-swap and fibre-lease agreements between Telus and
Videotron.  The CRTC says that any provision of dark fibre by Telus
must comply with its optical fibre tariffs.

http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Orders/2005/o2005-387.htm

QUEBEC ISPs CHALLENGE BELL DSL RATES: A coalition of 15 Quebec ISPs
has complained to the CRTC that Bell Canada's retail DSL rates
undercut the wholesale rates they must pay in order to provide an
equivalent service, and that other Bell practices are causing them
harm.

http://www.crtc.gc.ca/PartVII/eng/2005/8622/q18_200513566.htm

BELL & ROGERS EXCEED SPECTRUM LIMITS: Industry Canada has informed
Rogers and Bell Canada that, by pooling wireless broadband spectrum
holdings in their Inukshuk joint venture (see Telecom Update #497),
they exceed the 100 MHz spectrum limit in 27 instances. They have
until December 15 to tell the Ministry how they will comply with their
licence conditions.

http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/internet/insmt-gst.nsf/en/sf06076e.html

RIM PLANS SUPPORT CENTRE IN HALIFAX: Research In Motion plans to
establish a technical support operations centre in Halifax next
year. The company says the centre will eventually employ up to 1,200
full-time IT people.

** Nova Scotia will provide a performance-based payroll 
   rebate of up to $14 million plus $5 million in recruitment 
   and training incentives.
 
MITEL OPENS B.C. SALES CENTRE: Mitel Networks has opened a "solutions
showcase" and support centre for its Western Canada operations in
Burnaby, B.C.

YET ANOTHER TELEGLOBE SUIT AGAINST BCE: The Plan Administrator of
Teleglobe Inc. is suing BCE and seven former Teleglobe directors for
$3 billion, alleging that they "oppressed" Teleglobe when it was a BCE
subsidiary. BCE, which faces other Teleglobe-related suits, said the
lawsuit is "without merit." (See Telecom Update #372, 435)

BELL TO RETAIL VIRGIN MOBILE'S PHONES: Bell Canada is now offering
Virgin Mobile cellphones and accessories in its retail stores across
Canada. (See Telecom Update #471)

YAK PROMISES UNLIMITED LONG DISTANCE: Yak Communications says that in
January it will launch a new service offering unlimited long distance
calling in Canada and the U.S. for $24.99 a month. The service will
use VoIP network facilities provided by Las Vegas-based CommPartners
Inc.

VIDEOTRON EXTENDS TELEPHONE SERVICE: Videotron has begun offering
local telephone service to residents of the North Shore of Montreal.

CISCO BUYS TORONTO IP-PROVISIONING ASSETS: Toronto-based Digital
Fairway Corp. has sold its IP Telephony Provisioner product and
development team and other assets to Cisco Systems for US$15.25
million.

MDA, COM DEV DIVIDE UP SPACE TECHNOLOGY UNIT: MacDonald, Dettwiler and
Associates of Richmond B.C. is buying the Montreal division of EMS
Technologies, and selling the unit's space-related assets to Com Dev
International for $5 million.

TELECOM UPDATE'S NEWEST SPONSOR: We're very pleased to welcome
Microsoft Canada as a sponsor of Telecom Update. They join the
distinguished group of companies whose generous support allows us to
continue publishing Canada's most widely read telecom newsletter at no
charge to subscribers.

** Sponsors have no influence on the editorial content of 
   Telecom Update, which is solely the responsibility of 
   Angus TeleManagement Group.

============================================================

HOW TO SUBMIT ITEMS FOR TELECOM UPDATE

E-mail ianangus@angustel.ca and jriddell@angustel.ca

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HOW TO SUBSCRIBE (OR UNSUBSCRIBE)

TELECOM UPDATE is provided in electronic form only. There 
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2. The e-mail edition is distributed free of charge.
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COPYRIGHT AND CONDITIONS OF USE: All contents copyright 2005 Angus
TeleManagement Group Inc. All rights reserved. For further
information, including permission to reprint or reproduce, please
e-mail jriddell@angustel.ca.

The information and data included has been obtained from sources which
we believe to be reliable, but Angus TeleManagement makes no
warranties or representations whatsoever regarding accuracy,
completeness, or adequacy.  Opinions expressed are based on
interpretation of available information, and are subject to change. If
expert advice on the subject matter is required, the services of a
competent professional should be obtained.

============================================================

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

Subject: Our New Classified Advertisements Area
Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2005 16:37:09 EST
From: ptownson@massis.lcs.mit.edu (TELECOM Digest Editor)


Starting officially on December 1, but open now for you to review and
make postings in at no charge are the TELECOM Digest Classifieds, also
known as Operator Pat's Bulletin Board.

You'll find it at http://telecom-digest.org/classified.html You can
post or respond to telecom-related postings by others relating to
items for sale, (want to buy) and/or Help Wanted (and Looking for
Work). It works like any other newspaper classified ads section and it
is free until December 1, then a voluntary donation will be requested
of one dollar per line/month, using the PayPal logo. Feel free to
buy/sell/seek employment in this new section each day. You control how
long the ad stays up, just like with newspapers. If the item is sold
or no longer available, please use the provision to erase it.

I hope this will be a useful feature.

PAT

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

From: asdf <asdf@asdf.com>
Subject: Auto Call Forward
Date: Thu, 24 Nov 2005 19:38:32 -0500
Organization: Optimum Online


I know of a feature that when you want incoming calls forwarded
to let's say your cellular you can reconfigure the office phone.
However you have to be onsite to do so. But what if you can't get to
the phone. Is there a way of doing this remotely or is there some kind of
auto call forward feature so that if line goes down the system
automatically forwards incoming calls to the cellular.


[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: You did not say what is your telco in
your community, but many/most telcos offer a version of 'remote call
forwarding' which allows you to call into a specified number and then
enter a password followed by _the number you wish to forward_ and give
it the usual *72/*73 commands at that point. To prevent others from
forwarding (or turning off the forwarding) against your will it is
passworded. The number you dial into may or may not be on the same
exchange as your number, but it is on the _same switch or ESS
machine._ The number you dial into is sort of a 'terminal' (like a
central office technican would use in the office) to deal with your
phone remotely. But it is very limited in its command set; you can do
*72 or *73 (whatever code turns on and off call forwarding) and not
much else. I used to have that on my Illinois Bell line in
Chicago. The idea is that people leave home, _then_ discover they
forgot to forward their phone. I think when I lived in Chicago I
dialed something like 312-334-9995 or similar, but no where close to
my own number. After a ring or two and a click it answered by asking
for 'my number' (and then upon entering same) it asked for 'password'
and upon getting that it asked for 'command?' I could enter *72 or *73
(which in Chicago in those days was turn on/off call fowarding) and in
the case of *72 the number to which calls were to be forwarded,
ten-digit format. It then quoted back audibly what it had done, asked
for approval, and disconnected.  Other 'star commands' (*60 *67, *71,
*77, etc) were ignored.

I do not think it was called 'remote call forwarding' since that is
the name of the service set up to automatically forward your calls to
some long distance point. Perhaps it was 'remote forwarding' (without
the word 'call'). You would have to ask around. If you have two actual
phone lines and numbers (not just a virtual number like 'call waiting')
I think you can now purchase ( http://sandman.com for example) a gizmo
to do the same thing. A teeny little box with a plug in for each of
the modular cords (for your two lines); you call in on one of the
lines and use it to manipulate what you want the other line to do. I
suggest you write to mike@sandman.com to get more specifics on this.
Maybe when you write to Mr. Sandman you could cut and paste your
inquiry and my response so he has a better idea what you want.  PAT]   

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

Subject: Cellular-News for Friday 25th November 2005
Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2005 07:39:58 -0600
From: Cellular-News <dailydigest@cellular-news-mail.com>


Cellular-News - http://www.cellular-news.com

[[3G News]]

3G Operator Selects QoS Platform
http://www.cellular-news.com/story/14975.php

CommProve has won a contract to monitor the 3G network deployed by
Italy's WIND. The operator will integrate CommProve's GSP (General
Statistical Package) into its network to deliver continuous
performance measurements, information that will enable t...

3G Coverage for Salzburg
http://www.cellular-news.com/story/14978.php

mobilkom austria has announced the launch of a full-coverage
high-speed mobile network in Salzburg. Coverage for 98.22% of
Salzburg's population will be achieved with the help of an intelligent
combination of 3G transmission technologies UMTS and EDG...

[[Financial News]]

Ericsson Acquires Australian Systems Integration Co TUSC
http://www.cellular-news.com/story/14965.php

Sweden's Telefon AB LM Ericsson Thursday said it has bought TUSC, an
Australian company with around 80 employees, specialized in systems
integration for telecommunications, utilities and enterprises. ...

Swiss Cabinet Aims To Clear Path For Swisscom Sale
http://www.cellular-news.com/story/14966.php

The Swiss cabinet aims to clear the path for a sale of its majority
stake in telecommunication company Swisscom. ...

ABN, Goldman Sachs, UBS Win Telstra Sale Mandate
http://www.cellular-news.com/story/14968.php

Unveiling one of the world's most prestigious investment banking
mandates, the Australian government said Thursday ABN AMRO, UBS, and
Goldman Sachs will coordinate next year's A$34 billion (US$25 billion)
privatization of Telstra Corp.

TELUS To Merge Wireless, Wireline Segments
http://www.cellular-news.com/story/14969.php

TELUS Corp. plans to merge its wireless and wireline segments into a
single operating structure that incorporates the company's
customer-facing business units, technology infrastructure and
operations and shared services. ...

PRESS: Russia's MTS may get control of Kyrgyzstan's Bitel soon 
http://www.cellular-news.com/story/14970.php

Russia's largest mobile operator Mobile TeleSystems (MTS) may get
control over Kyrgyzstan's Bitel mobile operator by the end of this
year, three sources close to the deal said, quoted by Vedomosti
business daily Thursday. ...

FOCUS:France Telecom's 06 Guidance In Question
http://www.cellular-news.com/story/14971.php

France Telecom may have to cut its medium-term revenue guidance, not
because its growth strategy is flawed, but because its guidance is out
of line with expectations. ...

Russian mobile stocks weak this year but still attractive
http://www.cellular-news.com/story/14972.php

The stocks of Russia's leading mobile operators MTS and
VimpelCom have underperformed the broader market so far this year and
are unlikely to provide investors extraordinary returns anytime soon,
analysts said. ...

China's Huawei sees Russian sales up, at $310 mln this year 
http://www.cellular-news.com/story/14973.php

China's telecommunications equipment producer Huawei expects its sales
in Russia to rise to U.S. $310 million this year, compared with $262
million in 2004, the director of the company's Moscow
office said Thursday at a meeting of the antimonopoly ...

[[Handsets News]]

DoCoMo Develops Child-Friendly Handset
http://www.cellular-news.com/story/14976.php

Japan's DoCoMo says that it has developed a child-friendly 3G mobile
phone, the FOMA SA800i. In addition, DoCoMo has established the Kids'
Advisory Board of people with expertise in children's issues, who will
advise the company on the development of...

[[Network Contracts News]]

Nokia Gets $141 Million Contract From Bharat Sanchar Nigam
http://www.cellular-news.com/story/14967.php

Finnish telecommunications equipment maker Nokia Corp. Thursday said
it has received a contract worth around $141 million from Indian
telecommunications company Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. for a GSM/EDGE
and GPRS network expansion project in North Indi...

Alcatel Wins Russian GSM Contract
http://www.cellular-news.com/story/14974.php

Alcatel has signed a contract with the Russian regional operator,
SMARTS to extend SMARTS GSM/GPRS network in the Povolzhie
region. Thanks to the implementation of this project, SMARTS will be
able to optimize its existing mobile infrastructure, to d...

[[Reports News]]

Operators Must Build Trust With MNCs to Secure Future Revenues
http://www.cellular-news.com/story/14977.php

Mobile operators are failing to address the pain points for
multinational companies (MNCs), according to a recent survey by Ovum
and the Enterprise VPN User Association (EVUA). As a result, they risk
losing out to System Integrators (SI) and fixed op...

[[Statistics News]]

MTN Reports 20 Million Subscribers
http://www.cellular-news.com/story/14979.php

South Africa's MTN Group has reported that it now has over 20 million
subscribers. The company also reported that its revenue increased by
25.2% toUS$2.6 billion, excluding the revenue contributed by the new
acquisitions, revenue increased by 22.3%. ...

[[Technology News]]

Successful pilot test of integrating mobile and IP telephony in Denmark
http://www.cellular-news.com/story/14980.php

The first phase of TeliaSonera's pilot test of the UMA concept in
Denmark, which combines mobile and IP calls in one and the same
solution, have been executed with excellent results, and will now
proceed to the next phase ....

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

From: Stop Fraud <thankyou@x.com>
Subject: Bidfraud Website "Grand Opening" -- Read Inside for capabilities
Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2005 12:48:33 GMT
Organization: Road Runner


After 1000 plus hours in development - Bidfraud.com is "breathing."

http://www.bidfraud.com

Features:

Capable of archiving ebay auction transactions locally on our server.
This is important, as ebay deletes transactions every few months.  It
is as simple as entering an ebay item number when creating a report.

Example of archived ebay page:

http://www.bidfraud.com/cachedpages/6113839605/alouette-amusement/6113839605.html

The above archived page, while it still exists at bidfraud.com, no 
longer exists at ebay.com .

Report templates contain an area to write a narrative as well as an
interface to upload as many as 10 images/files (word & excel, etc.)
The use of pictures as well as other supporting documents will help to
substantiate & validate a claim.

Example of report with pictures:

http://www.bidfraud.com/example.php

Easy search interface capable of finding a suspect by user name, email
or item number at various sites.

Simple private messaging, including a chat system are provided.

Registration is Free.

Easy to use interface.

If you wish to advertise on the site, it is free, but space is
limited.  Please use contact page on www.bidfraud.com to make a
request.

Example of ad layout/dimensions:

http://www.bidfraud.com/ads.htm

Next time you leave negative feedback at ebay or any other site,
please reference them to bidfraud.

Thank you. 

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

From: jmeissen@aracnet.com
Subject: Re: Showdown with USA Over Internet Control
Date: 25 Nov 2005 05:00:30 GMT
Organization: http://extra.newsguy.com


In article <telecom24.532.9@telecom-digest.org>,
TELECOM Digest Editor wrote:

> [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: ICANN _does_ deal with the DNS Roots
> and the top level domains, but part of that dealing includes the fact
> that _all registrars_ must go through ICANN and are forced to require
> of all web sites that they sign a contract turning final control of
> their web sites over to ICANN. You, as a web site owner must agree
> that ICANN's word is final and that disputes are to be settled by
> an arbitrator ICANN chooses. 

Wow.

I'm afraid you're overstating things a bit.

ICANN's arbitration authority is over the domain name. Period. It
has nothing to do with the content hosted at any site. They have
no control over any website (other than their own), simply the
name by which it's referenced.

> I would suggest that as soon as it is administratively convenient to
> do so, they begin amending their contracts which all of us have to
> sign firmly denouncing and repudiating spam/scam/phishing and all that
> stuff. 

90% (or more) of the sort of email you are referring to originates
from virus infected home computers or compromised servers. You can
blow all the hot air and pass all the legislation you want, but
there's not a lot that it will accomplish regarding stopping it.

And the phishing sites that the mails connect you to, and that collect
the information, are typically unauthorized processes running on
similarly infected or compromised systems. Or sites running on hosting
company servers that typically only last a day or so before their
nature is discovered and they're shut down.

You might as well ask ICANN to outlaw computer viruses. It's
essentially the same thing, and would be about as effective.


John Meissen                                 jmeissen@aracnet.com


[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: I would not ask, nor expect them to
'outlaw' viruses or spam. I would ask them to specify plainly with
no hesitation where they stand on that stuff, and at least attempt
to punish those sites where spam/scam/phishing seem to be the
total reason for their existence. Just as they now do not hesitate
to kill those domain names which may or do violate laws on trademarks
(for example ICANN will close your site in a minute if you assume a
name which is intended to capitalize (or make money) from a 'recognized'
business (just try for example to start a site called 
'redcrosscharity.com' or 'disneeworld.org' or such. (Note my obvious
typing errors; that is how a scammer intending to confuse people into
giving money might do it. Believe me you, if those somehow slipped
past the registar and Red Cross or Disney complained to ICANN about
it, those names would be gone, instanter. 

My favorite real life example was the black lady who started a social
issues web site to discuss the accomplishments of black Americans. Her
mistake was in taking the domain name African-Americans on Line or
AAOL.org. She meant well by it, but when aol.com found out about it
she was dead meat. (The real) aol.com could not get her to change
_her_ name so they went to ICANN, got her placed in arbitration and
let ICANN do her in instead. She woke up one day and found her domain
name missing from root. She appealed to her ISP, which passed the buck
to the registrar, which in turn bucked it up the line to ICANN; they
told her flat out that (anything)AOL or AOL(anything) was reserved,
could not be used, etc, and that ended the discussion. I am only 
suggesting that ICANN should take that firm stance with 'certain'
sites and after due dilegence and investigation 'excommunicate' those
guys in the same way. And if the ISP, who is the closest to the action
won't purge itself of that nuisance, then dump him also. Let it work
its way down from ICANN through the registrar level to the ISP, and
so on. If ICANN started making a lot of noise on the problems of the
net these days -- really raising hell Mother Jones style -- it _would_
make a difference. All be gone today, tomorrow, or next week or next
year?; probably not. But if ISPs (the closest ones to the action as we
know) understood with no doubt in their mind that their own status
was in jeopardy if they permitted that customer to remain on board,
things would be begin to change radically.

It would be a lot like now, where individual netters decide to cut
off entire blocks of IP numbers pissing off a large number of users
in order to pressure someone down the line to sacrifice some nuisance
on their system, but unlike now, where the pissed off users (coming
 from either direction) simply route around the troubled spot, it
would carry a lot more weight if ICANN went down the line and started
blitzing one ISP after another until they all woke up, and did so with
the legal authority of those contracts they are so fond of making us
all sign. And if the ISP closest to the action stalled or would not
cooperate, then maybe we need to decide what to do about you as the
_registrar_ and find someone who can obey rules instead. 

But ICANN is _not about_ to amend their contracts, now or in the
future, to either pronounce spam/scam to be a scourge or take any
action against it. That would be contrary to what Vint Cerf and
Esther Dyson envision the net to be.  PAT]

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

From: asok101@hotmail.com
Subject: Re: Showdown with USA Over Internet Control
Date: 25 Nov 2005 10:49:47 -0800
Organization: http://groups.google.com


Andy Sullivan wrote:

> By Andy Sullivan

> The United States is headed for a showdown with much of the rest of
> the world over control of the Internet. President Bush says he doesn't
> care.

> Countries like China, Brazil and Iran don't like the fact that the
> world's only superpower oversees the system that guides traffic across
> the global computer network, and have pushed for an international body
> to take over that role.

The actual specifications for directing internet connections are
somewhat simple and therefore US claiming control over it is
ridiculous.  Just like telephone connections are not controlled any
more by one entity, we sure can decentralize internet control. In the
meanwhile the open-source community can try to comeup with some kind
of protocols which will give the user the ability to choose internet
control the way they want it. If many people start using these new
ways what can USA do ? We have already seen the power of p2p
protocols!!!  It is the content that is important in the internet. How
to get to that content is not that difficult and should not fall under
the power of any greedy entity.


[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: I quite agree that method would be
best. We do not see one giant telco running telecom. We see many
telcos doing their thing; what prevents any of them from disconnecting
all the others (of which they disapprove)? The simple fact that the
users would not permit it. People have grown accustomed to calling all
over the world and won't have it any other way. So whether they like
to or not, the telcos all cooperate with each other. Why don't we hear
the same wimpering about telco that we now hear all the time about
internet, i.e. 'we must have one governor lest another governor is 
likely to squelch speech and thoughts.' Well, the hell you say! That
nonsense comes from the same people who are likely in the next minute
to tell us how they would 'route around' whatever ills behooved
them. If every country in the world had its own 'internet governor'
then the governors would damn well cooperate with one another or be
put out of office (however each country decided to do that.) I
wouldn't even really object to ICANN as the 'default' governor in 
the USA as long as we all were free to move to other domains outside
its reach if we wished to do so. What I do object to is the loose and
freewheeling way ICANN runs things except when one of their larger
constituents bosses _them_ around.  Remember, Vint Cerf back in 1994
did make a perfectly glowing speech about the 'new internet' which was
on the way, so we know where he stands on the nuisances.  PAT]

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

From: DevilsPGD <spam_narf_spam@crazyhat.net>
Subject: Re: Voicepulse Owns Your Number
Date: Thu, 24 Nov 2005 19:46:24 -0700
Organization: Disorganized


In message <telecom24.533.6@telecom-digest.org> Steve Sobol
<sjsobol@JustThe.net> wrote:

> Michael D. Sullivan wrote:

>> Fred, you can file a complaint with the FCC 

> Which will be ignored, since the FCC doesn't regulate VoIP.

They do regulate the PSTN network though, so although they might not
regulate the VoIP side of things, but they might help you transfer a
PSTN number from one PSTN carrier to another PSTN carrier.

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

From: harold@hallikainen.com 
Subject: Re: Voicepulse Owns Your Number
Date: 25 Nov 2005 09:49:19 -0800
Organization: http://groups.google.com


Except, of course, for VoIP and E911. See
http://www.hallikainen.com/FccRules/2006/9/

Harold

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

Date: 25 Nov 2005 02:42:45 -0000
From: John Levine <johnl@iecc.com>
Subject: Re: GAIT vrs. GSM and Other Cell Phones
Organization: I.E.C.C., Trumansburg NY USA


> I guess my question would be, are you familiar with this GAIT thing
> as a 'transitional' thing between GSM and other types of cell service
> and do you have any experience with it?

It's just what Cingular said, the phone does GSM, TDMA, and AMPS.  The
SIM is just for GSM, so for TDMA and AMPS they need to know the ESN of
the phone.  I didn't realize that they'd turn on TDMA service on a GSM
account.  I'll call them tomorrow and see if they'll enable my wife's
phone for TDMA as well.


R's,

John


[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: The Cingular lady would not commit to
it either way, except to say to me that 'in rural areas, still in
transition' they more or less had to do it or wind up writing off a
lot of their customer base. I know that when I first got the Nokia
6010, because of my geographic location (southeast side of town and
relatively close to a GSM tower [but not _all_ that close] I was able
to use GSM with no hassles. But, the first time I got in the taxicab
and had Jeff (our taxi driver here in town) take me out to the 'west
side' (west Main Street, sort of around Austins, our notorious 'hard
acid rock', semi-gay bar) the phone quit working on GSM and instead told me
it could not find a tower. When I took the 6310-i in that same
direction (but before reporting my ESN, IME and 'serial number' to 
Cingular) the phone did 'seamlessly slide over' to the proper band to
use and instead of getting no signal at all, I got the jingle and 'we
do not recognize your number' message. When I got back home, the phone
tried 'seamlessly' swapping back and forth and I sometimes got out,
but when the GSM tower was booked up, I would get that jingle tone as
the phone tried work on the nearest TDMA tower it could find. Before I
knew this, I was ready to throw in the towel and send the new 'gate'
phone  back in the mail.  When the Cingular lady told me 'even with a
GSM phone and a SIM card, it is a good idea to call us anyway and turn
in your ESN in order to get _full coverage_ with your phone, then I
understood what she meant. Before, I just thought she was being nosy
by telling me I should always call to report the ESN.   PAT]

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

Date: Thu, 24 Nov 2005 22:22:42 -0600
From: Chris Williams <cbw@netins.net>
Organization: Software Consulting & Design
Subject: Re: Los Angeles Numbering, 1940s


Hi Tim,

What a surprise to be reading along in comp.dcom.telecom and see
someone mention California Drip and Tinkle. I grew up in Monrovia also
(MSH '65). I can remember back in very early 1950s we had an AE-40 and
to call my aunt and uncle in Highland Park we had to get the long
distance operator by dialing 110. When were you in Monrovia?

Regards,

Chris Williams

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

Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2005 18:51:15 EST
From: Dan Lanciani <ddl@danlan.com>
Subject: Re: Old Teletype Machine


That reminds me ... I have a model 26 if anyone is interested.  Located
in Gloucester, MA. Shipping is probably prohibitive ...

Dan Lanciani
ddl@danlan.*com

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


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