From editor@telecom-digest.org Tue Jun 1 15:09:09 2004 Received: (from ptownson@localhost) by massis.lcs.mit.edu (8.11.6p3/8.11.3) id i51J99J16316; Tue, 1 Jun 2004 15:09:09 -0400 (EDT) Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 15:09:09 -0400 (EDT) From: editor@telecom-digest.org Message-Id: <200406011909.i51J99J16316@massis.lcs.mit.edu> X-Authentication-Warning: massis.lcs.mit.edu: ptownson set sender to editor@telecom-digest.org using -f To: ptownson Approved: patsnewlist Subject: TELECOM Digest V23 #271 TELECOM Digest Tue, 1 Jun 2004 15:09:00 EDT Volume 23 : Issue 271 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson Data Mining: Federal Efforts Cover a Wide Range of Uses (Monty Solomon) California PUC Gives Protections to Wireless Consumers (Monty Solomon) U.S. Lawmaker Seeks Hearings on Cellphone Directory (Monty Solomon) Pay Cablers Fear DVD Burn/HBO, Showtime Seek Limits on Digital (M Solomon) Many Wireless Networks Lack Security (Monty Solomon) U.S. Steps Up Push Against Online Casinos by Seizing Cash (Monty Solomon) Something Wiki This Way Comes (Monty Solomon) A&E "Ike before D-Day" Telecast (Telecom Note) (Lisa Hancock) Memories of Illinois Bell in Better Times (Lisa Hancock) Re: Consumer Advocates Tell FCC That VoIP Telephone Customers (Wesrock) Re: DSL vs. Cable Modem? (Robert A. Fink, M. D.) Re: Taking my Cell Phone to Switzerland? (Joseph) Re: Wake-Me-Up From AT&T (jmeissen@aracnet.com) Re: Wake-Me-Up From AT&T (jdj) AT Commands? (jdj) Re: Have You Signed up for Directory Assistance Yet? (Michael A. Desmon) 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: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 11:11:51 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: Data Mining: Federal Efforts Cover a Wide Range of Uses Excerpt from Recent GAO Reports and Testimony Data Mining: Federal Efforts Cover a Wide Range of Uses. GAO-04-548, May 4. http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-04-548 Highlights - http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d04548high.pdf Both the government and the private sector are increasingly using "data mining"--that is, the application of database technology and techniques (such as statistical analysis and modeling) to uncover hidden patterns and subtle relationships in data and to infer rules that allow for the prediction of future results. As has been widely reported, many federal data mining efforts involve the use of personal information that is mined from databases maintained by public as well as private sector organizations. GAO was asked to survey data mining systems and activities in federal agencies. Specifically, GAO was asked to identify planned and operational federal data mining efforts and describe their characteristics. Federal agencies are using data mining for a variety of purposes, ranging from improving service or performance to analyzing and detecting terrorist patterns and activities. Our survey of 128 federal departments and agencies on their use of data mining shows that 52 agencies are using or are planning to use data mining. These departments and agencies reported 199 data mining efforts, of which 68 are planned and 131 are operational. Of the most common uses, the Department of Defense reported the largest number of efforts aimed at improving service or performance, managing human resources, and analyzing intelligence and detecting terrorist activities. The Department of Education reported the largest number of efforts aimed at detecting fraud, waste, and abuse. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration reported the largest number of efforts aimed at analyzing scientific and research information. For detecting criminal activities or patterns, however, efforts are spread relatively evenly among the agencies that reported having such efforts. In addition, out of all 199 data mining efforts identified, 122 used personal information. For these efforts, the primary purposes were improving service or performance; detecting fraud, waste, and abuse; analyzing scientific and research information; managing human resources; detecting criminal activities or patterns; and analyzing intelligence and detecting terrorist activities. Agencies also identified efforts to mine data from the private sector and data from other federal agencies, both of which could include personal information. Of 54 efforts to mine data from the private sector (such as credit reports or credit card transactions), 36 involve personal information. Of 77 efforts to mine data from other federal agencies, 46 involve personal information (including student loan application data, bank account numbers, credit card information, and taxpayer identification numbers). http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d04548.pdf [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: To mostly eliminate Data Mining and other similar spy tactics, you need to use software which looks for that sort of thing and destroys the cookies involved. One example is 'Ad-Aware', another is 'Spy-Bot Smash and Destroy' and a third is from Grisoft, it's AVG program. These three wonderful programs are all available on the net for free, and you would be amazed at the number of things they root out and offer to destroy or quarentine. I have AVG run nightly here, scanning my machines looking for trouble. AVG also looks through my kernel and shell on boot up, looking for things it does not like, while Ad-Aware examines all incoming files and cookies looking for things. Ad-Aware is forever blocking incoming spy cookies sent by Yahoo on behalf of 'Avenue A', allegedly an advertising service which rather than admit to spying piously claims it is 'trying to help focus advertising sent to me.' The internet sure has changed a lot in the past several months. PAT] ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 31 May 2004 23:06:04 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: [Calif] PUC Gives Protections to Wireless Consumers The compromise bill of rights upsets carriers and disappoints the governor and advocates. By James S. Granelli, Times Staff Writer A divided state Public Utilities Commission on Thursday approved the nation's first "bill of rights" to protect wireless and other telephone customers from deceptive marketing and billing. Concluding a four-year process, the PUC voted 3 to 2 on a compromise proposal meant to assuage the objections of the largely unfettered wireless industry. But it left consumer advocates dissatisfied, wireless companies upset and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger disappointed. Among other things, the rules provide a 30-day trial period allowing customers to test products and calling plans and to return them without paying penalties. The rules also require clearly organized billing, specific disclosures, and writing that is unambiguous and in a minimum 10-point type size. Deceptive, untrue and misleading marketing is prohibited. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-puc28may28,1,1798145.story http://www.freepress.net/news/article.php?id=3670 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 31 May 2004 23:10:17 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: U.S. Lawmaker Seeks Hearings on Cellphone Directory By Jube Shiver Jr., Times Staff Writer WASHINGTON - Citing unanswered privacy questions about a controversial directory being developed by the mobile phone industry, Rep. Joseph R. Pitts (R-Pa.) on Thursday called for congressional hearings into the matter. The Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Assn. is assembling a cellphone directory that would list as many as 75% of the nation's 163 million mobile phone users. Privacy advocates worry that the directory will make mobile phone users vulnerable to telemarketers and e-mail spam. One carrier, Verizon Wireless, has refused to participate in the project. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-pitts28may28,1,4582882.story http://www.freepress.net/news/article.php?id=3673 ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 00:12:52 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: Pay Cablers Fear DVD Burn / HBO, Showtime Seek Limits on Digital Starz! Has Different Point of View By John Motavalli An attempt by the cable, pay TV, consumer electronics and movie industries to reach a plug-and-play agreement with the Federal Communications Commission on consumer recording of rapidly growing on-demand programming is in tatters. A major split has developed that pits unlikely allies-the two largest pay TV services, HBO and Showtime-against the No. 3 pay TV operator, Starz! Encore, most cable operators and the consumer electronics industry. The term plug-and-play de-scribes the FCC's goal of allowing consumers to plug their cables directly into their digital TV sets without using a cable set-top box. To receive two-way services such as video-on-demand, pay-per-view or interactive program guides, consumers would still need a box, however, and that's where the trouble begins. In a statement last year, the FCC said it "encouraged the cable and consumer electronics industries to consult with interested parties and affected industries as the two-way negotiations progress." While home recording of a program one time for personal use has been legal since the 1980s, the issue has moved to the forefront again because in the digital age it is possible to make perfect copies every time. Now the emerging use of video-on-demand organizes content in a way that makes it even easier to access and in turn, record and copy. Existing rules allow a copy to be made once off pay TV. If the FCC does not make a new ruling, that applies to on-demand as well. While the FCC has left it to the industry to sort it out, absent an FCC ruling, the industry will not sort it out, insiders say; the consumer electronics manufacturers will not be forced to make equipment with the encoding mechanisms. Therefore the status quo will stand, with consumers being able to record on demand. Cable companies are already rolling out new set-top boxes that make it possible to record off pay TV or VOD with a digital video recorder or a VCR. The next generation of boxes is expected to also include the option to add a DVD burner, which would make permanent, perfect copies. http://www.tvweek.com/topstorys/053104pay.html ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 00:02:26 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: Many Wireless Networks Lack Security By MATTHEW FORDAHL AP Technology Writer SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- With a laptop perched in the passenger seat of his Toyota 4Runner and a special antenna on the roof, Mike Outmesguine ventured off to sniff out wireless networks between Los Angeles and San Francisco. He got a big whiff of insecurity. While his 800-mile drive confirmed that the number of wireless networks is growing explosively, he also found that only a third used basic encryption -- a key security measure. In fact, in nearly 40 percent of the networks not a single change had been made to the gear's wide-open default settings. "They took it out of the box, powered it up, and it worked. And they left it alone," said Outmesguine, who owns a technical services company. He frequently goes out on such "wardrives" in search of insecure networks. And while Outmesguine says he doesn't try to break in, others aren't so benign. While Wi-Fi is hot, security is not. Even the makers of Wi-Fi routers, access points and other gadgets privately say that as many as 80 percent of home users don't bother to enable basic encryption or other protections against connection theft, eavesdropping and network invasion. - http://finance.lycos.com/home/news/story.asp?story=41729431 ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 00:36:55 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: U.S. Steps Up Push Against Online Casinos by Seizing Cash By MATT RICHTEL May 31, 2004 Federal law enforcement officials routinely seize money they suspect is connected to activities like money laundering, terrorism or drug smuggling. But in early April, United States marshals seized $3.2 million from Discovery Communications, the television and media company, in an aggressive effort to crack down on a new target, Internet gambling. The money initially belonged to Tropical Paradise, a Costa Rica-based Internet casino operation, which in October paid Discovery for television spots to advertise an online poker room, ParadisePoker.com. According to court documents, the government seized the money and told Discovery, which is based in Silver Spring, Md., that it could be party to an illegal activity by broadcasting such advertisements. Federal prosecutors contend that online gambling sites are illegal, but the offshore casinos fall outside their jurisdiction. So for nearly a year, the government has been trying to curb the sites' activities by investigating and pressuring American companies that provide services to offshore gambling sites on the theory that they are "aiding and abetting" the operations. Until now, the effort has largely involved seeking information from American companies, including major broadcasters, Web portals and industry consultants. The seizure of money significantly escalates the government's attack. http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/31/technology/31gambling.html ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 1 Jun 2004 01:57:31 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: Something Wiki This Way Comes INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Something Wiki This Way Comes They're Web sites anyone can edit -- and they could transform Corporate America When software developer Nicholas Pisarro Jr. saw his first wiki late last year, he knew it was unlike any Web site he had ever seen. On the site, a free online encyclopedia called Wikipedia, thousands of volunteers had written a breathtaking 500,000 articles in 50 languages since 2001 -- all thanks to the defining feature of wikis. To contribute, all they had to do to was click on an "edit this page" button and start typing. Now, Pisarro has wikis transforming the way people work at the company he founded, software maker Aperture Technologies Inc. Two dozen of the Stamford (Conn.) company's 100 employees use them to brainstorm, track projects, write and edit documentation, and coordinate marketing. That has eliminated countless meetings, conference calls, and back-and-forth e-mails. Says Pisarro: "Wikis allow this collaboration much better than anything else, so we get things done faster." The amazing thing is that wikis work at all. Created in 1995 by Oregon programmer Ward Cunningham, who named them for the "Wiki-Wiki," or "quick" shuttle buses at Honolulu Airport, wikis are special Web sites on which anyone can post material without knowing arcane programming languages. Likewise, anyone can edit them. This can lead to mischief: Jokers have posted images of male anatomy on Wikipedia. But graffiti is usually gone within minutes, because the previous version of a page can be restored with a click. In sensitive corporate situations, access can be controlled, too. http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/04_23/b3886138.htm http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/04_23/b3886140.htm Wikis' Winning Ways Web sites that allow members to share info and collaborate are catching on fast. Here's a tour of key examples http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/04_23/b3886141.htm ------------------------------ From: hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com (Lisa Hancock) Subject: A&E "Ike before D-Day" Telecast (Telecom Note) Date: 1 Jun 2004 09:36:16 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com The cable channel A&E broadcast a drama of Eisenhower and his activities on getting ready for D-Day. I thought it was excellent -- it was historically accurate and underplayed. There was one little telecom prop error. When the order came to go, they showed someone manipulating the keys of a WE 555 switchboard. The operating was turning and tapping the talking key as if to send a signal which was not the function of this key (it was to talk on a cord circuit). Also, the 555 didn't come out until 1950. One vital characteristic about Ike was that he could take the tremendous pressure of his job. He put in 14-16 hour days, every day. While the telecase implied how hard he was working, I think it could've been emphasized more. While stories about D-Day emphasize the heroics of the beach landing and the flamboyant personalities of the generals, one vital aspect of the success was the attention paid to detail. We take for granted our computers, spreadsheets, email, faxes, easy telephone, comfortable offices, etc. None of that existed back then. D-Day was much, much more than landing men on a beach and moving inland. It was about softening up the defenses as much as possible (which required tremendous planning and coordination), planning the inland attack (again, tremendous detail about holding key bridges and the like), and keeping the men well supplied initially and afterward. All those men had to be fed. All the planes and ships had to be fueled. ------------------------------ From: hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com (Lisa Hancock) Subject: Memories of Illinois Bell in Better Times Date: 1 Jun 2004 09:59:18 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com TELECOM Digest Editor wrote: > How does the old song phrase it? "Things to painful to remember, we simply > choose to forget" ... who wrote or popularized that song? Anyone remember? I don't know who wrote it, but Barbara Streisand popularized it in the movie, "The Way They Were", starring her and Robert Redford. She played a passionate communist activist. The song has remained very popular, but no remembers the movie. > a/c was a relatively new invention which arrived in most business > places only in the early to middle 1960's) Having reliable air conditioning was necessary for ESS. In the initial ESS prototype trial (Morris IL?), the switch itself was extremely reliable with almost no downtime. However, there was downtime in service due to a/c failures (per Bell Labs history). > Across the street and up a block from the c.o. was a Pixley > and Ehlers Cafeteria. In the 1960's there were as many Pixley and Ehlers > cafeterias downtown as there are McDonald's and Burger Kings today, > almost every block or two. Sounds just like the beloved Horn & Hardart restaurant chain in Philadelphia and New York. They were noted for the popular "Automat" machines that served food, but they also had waitress service and cafeterias. Changing times, consumer tastes, abusive behavior by the "down and out", and changed management all contributed to killing off the chain. I suspect every city had popular chains of quick eateries, some bare- bone lunch counters. Phila had a "Dewey's" and "White TOWER" (not White Castle) lunch counters as well as Linton's and a more upscale Stouffer's. Department stores downtown also had nice restaurants. Changing times and economics did most of them in. The New York branch of Horn & Hardart closed its restaurants and became a big Burger King franchiser instead. Sad from my point of view, but regretfully a better business decision. Woolworth's had big lunch counters in many of its stores. One of them was the focus of the early civil rights movement. The late comedian Alan King once asked if the organizers ever ate at one of them, and if so, why they were targeting them as a desirable place to integrate. I remember when the TV show "Saturday Night Live" did the satire of Greek run hamburger counters "Cheeburger! Cheeburger! Chip! No Coke, Pepsi!" While that was running, I happened to be having lunch in a real place like that, and the countermen said things just like on the show. When they said "No Coke, Pepsi!", all the strangers in line started giggling to each other--life imitates art. > Tech comes back from his supper break about an hour later. He said he > did walk in the frames, "and by golly, the man was telling the truth. > The number he gave me earlier was correct." "What we did was tell the > Business Office on Monday; they slapped his wrist is all, told him not > to make obscene phone calls in the future. I know we never did hear > any more about it from him or the Business Office." Today, the phone company has Call-Trace, *57, which traces a number even if marked private, and reports it to the call abuse bureau. But for reasons I don't understand, they do not publicize this function. I suspect people block their outgoing calls so it doesn't show up on caller-ID and then make abusive calls since they think they can't be caught. The phone company makes it tough to pursue abuse, they want a long pattern of calls (registered at $2 a pop-the fee to use *57) before they'll do anything. [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Not only did Woolworth have lunch counters but Walgreen had lunch counters also, and in a couple of larger cities at least (Chicago comes to mind) large cafeterias as well. There were two in Chicago; one at the State and Randolph location and one at the State and Madison location two blocks away. The two Woolworth stores downtown (also two or three blocks apart from each other had cafeterias instead of the lunch counters prevalent in the outlying Woolworth stores. Of course we also used to have *eighteen* movie theatres in the downtown area; the last time I was in Chicago there was only *one* theatre downtown, period. We had two Stouffer restaurants downtown also, both as you stated were more upscale eating/drinking places. PAT] ------------------------------ From: Wesrock@aol.com Date: Mon, 31 May 2004 20:09:13 EDT Subject: Re: Consumer Advocates Tell FCC That VoIP Telephone Customers In a message dated Mon, 31 May 2004 08:55:21 -0400, Jack Decker writes: > It seems to me that Mr. Wilber is reaching pretty far for an analogy > here. The major difference I see is that auto emissions is something > that affects everyone, not just the owner of the vehicle. In fact the > vehicle owner often doesn't care if their vehicle is more "dirty" than > the vehicles of others. On the other hand, if 911 service is not > available on VoIP, that affects only the VoIP customer and his or her > family, not the entire neighborhood (unless you are the sort of > socialist that feels that everyone has some duty to have working 911 > service in case their neighbors need to use it. Emergency responders have been very vocal in seeking automated 911 locations for cellphones because their job is made more effective and less bloody if they have an idea where the caller in located, especially as the cell caller may have no idea of his or her location or is insufficiently coherent to give it. Most of us expect landline telephones to give the location, even if the caller is incapacitated or hangs up. The one time I had occasion to call 911 (from my landline telephone) was when my car was on fire and I managed to get it to my driveway. The PSAP dispatcher read my address to me to confirm this was where the fire was at. In a message dated Mon, 31 May 2004 08:12:11 GMT, DevilsPGD writes: > Will reliability suffer? Likely, there's of other factors involved, > many of which are not set up to provide the uptime of a telco. I recall that when the first commercial Western Electric ESS went into service the objective was not more than one outage of not more than 15 minutes over a period of 20 years. The objective was not met when it was actually turned up for the public to use, of course, but it is indicative of the view -- at least at that time -- of telcos toward uptime (if that term was even in use then). Wes Leatherock wesrock@aol.com ------------------------------ From: Robert A. Fink, M. D. Subject: Re: DSL vs. Cable Modem? Date: Mon, 31 May 2004 10:54:52 -0700 Organization: Robert A. Fink, M. D., FACS, P. C. Reply-To: rafink@attglobal.net Gary Novosielski wrote: > Fred Atkinson wrote: >> I'm not so sure that DSL is a cost effective alternative to >> DSL. > Umm, neither am I. > In fact I'm not so sure it's an "alternative" at all. > Having just recently made the move to Broadband, I can tell you that it is worth it. I debated cable vs. DSL and finally decided on cable. The main reason for the choice (of cable) was the fact that our local DSL carrier (SBC/Yahoo) has some pretty nasty billing practices (they give you less than 25 days to pay your phone bill and then start hassling you over the phone). I set up Comcast cable, and through a simple wireless network, have all of our home computers connected, and all is working just fine. Best, Robert A. Fink, M.D., FACS, P. C. 2500 Milvia Street Suite 222 Berkeley, California 94704-2636 USA Telephone: 510-849-2555 FAX: 510-849-2557 "Ex Tristitia Virtus" ------------------------------ From: Joseph Subject: Re: Taking my Cell Phone to Switzerland? Date: Mon, 31 May 2004 11:10:31 -0700 Organization: Posted via Supernews, http://www.supernews.com Reply-To: JoeOfSeattle@yahoo.NONOcom On Sun, 30 May 2004 00:07:30 -0500, Steven J Sobol wrote: > I believe there are some other manufacturers that make 900/1800/1900 > phones -- perhaps SonyEricsson or Siemens do. But I use CDMA, so I > couldn't quote chapter and verse on this point. All the major mobile phone manufacturers make "tri-band" phones that will work with 900/1800 and 1900 Mhz. Manufacturers who do include Sony-Ericsson, Siemens, Motorola, Nokia, Bosch and others. There are even some "quad band" devices out there as well. The Handspring Treo 600 and a Motorola model among others are quad-band and will do GSM 850/900/1800 and 1900. Some manufacturers make a "modified" world phone that will do 850/1800 and 1900. Those are really targeted at Central and South America where 1800 is also used. remove NONO from .NONOcom to reply ------------------------------ From: jmeissen@aracnet.com Subject: Re: Wake-Me-Up From AT&T Date: 31 May 2004 20:20:12 GMT Organization: http://extra.newsguy.com In article , Norm wrote: > The other morning I got a literal wakeup call from someone at AT&T > long-distance about an overdue bill. After getting assurance, and > because my credit-card# had recently changed, I provided the > information -- then realized I *assumed* he was talking about the same > phone number I was using. Nope, it was another phone number that I'd > dropped AT&T as the long-distance telco on. Now I wanted to know wny > there was a long-distance charge where AT&T wasn't the carrier. > "Because your telco of choice couldn't handle the traffic and you're > billed for the overflow and wouldn't you rather have AT&T? Why pay > two long-distance telcos?" Really now! When I finally got to AT&T > billing she sounded amazed -- "They actually told you that?" Oh, me. > This is not your mothers telco. Are you really sure it was AT&T? It's a common tactic of identity thieves to call and pretend to be someone you might have an account with to get credit card details from you. In this case a scam would be particularly easy, as all they'd need is your name and a phone number. What sort of authentication did you get from them? Rule-of-thumb: Never provide any financial or authentication data to someone who calls you. Always tell them that you'll call back, and use a number that's been officially published. John Meissen jmeissen@aracnet.com ------------------------------ From: jdj Subject: Re: Wake-Me-Up From AT&T Date: Mon, 31 May 2004 21:01:48 -0700 Organization: Posted via Supernews, http://www.supernews.com On Sun, 30 May 2004 11:44:01 -0400, Norm wrote: > The other morning I got a literal wakeup call from someone at AT&T > long-distance about an overdue bill. More revenue enhancement techniques. They have been getting more aggressive about it since at least last October. Add that to slamming -- hard and soft, billing for calls not made, billing noncustomers, sending noncustomers to collection, etc., adn. It's called fraud in some places. Wonder why regulators have not noticed yet? ------------------------------ From: jdj Subject: AT| Commands Date: Mon, 31 May 2004 21:03:13 -0700 Organization: Posted via Supernews, http://www.supernews.com Where can I find a list of "AT|" commands? ------------------------------ Reply-To: From: Michael A. Desmon Subject: Re: Have You Signed up for Directory Assistance Yet? Date: Mon, 31 May 2004 16:43:06 -0400 On Wed, 26 May 2004 22:51:15 EDT, Pat wrote: > Sign up on our page for same at http://www.easy411.com/telecomdigest. Oh, > you can also check on line from day to day to see how much of the service > you have used and what your monthly/quarterly bill is going to be. Let > me know how well it works for you. I own a VoIP provider and tested their DA service with a couple colleagues. Jon Spector went out of his way to set up a test account for us and I set my friends (who are in different states) loose to make some test calls. We all agreed that the service is great. The listings are accurate (and we gave them some really obscure ones) and the operators are quick, and we replaced our current DA provider with Easy411. With features like speed dialing available, it doesn't make sense to pay twice as much for the same service. I also use the service on my cell phone and have the number stored into the phone's phonebook as 411. I would definately recommend them and would be happy to speak with anybody privately if they're unsure or have questions at the email address below. Mike Desmon President Clearpath Communications mdesmon(at)clearpath1.com [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: I am glad the service appears to be good for you, and I hope more Digest readers will sign up for it. 65 cents per call is rather cheap (yes, I know, it was totally free for years and years, prior to Judge Greene doing his thing. But since we now have to pay *something* for DA, why not get it as inexpensive as possible. Part of divestiture was supposed to open DA for 'competition' as well as long distance and local service. The telcos have sort of grudgingly opened LD and local service after all these years, but just try asking your local telco when '411' will also be aliased to your choice of providers. They're going to hang on to that source of revenue as long as they can. For now, the best that can be offered is a ten digit number (877 EASY 411) to get the cheaper, non-rip off rates, and you have to presubscribe to the service at http://www.easy411.com/telecomdigest subscribing up to five numbers you wish to have available, then use speed dialing into 877-EASY411 on your cell phone or other landline or VOIP phone to reach it. When you register your phone number(s) you also provide them with a credit card to charge once every month or so for the 65 cents times however many calls you made that month. It is *realtime* DA, and much better than just either the (usually free) web lookup sites or the (1.25 plus) live services Bell offers. PAT] ------------------------------ TELECOM Digest is an electronic journal devoted mostly but not exclusively to telecommunications topics. It is circulated anywhere there is email, in addition to various telecom forums on a variety of networks such as Compuserve and America On Line, Yahoo Groups, and other forums. It is also gatewayed to Usenet where it appears as the moderated newsgroup 'comp.dcom.telecom'. TELECOM Digest is a not-for-profit, mostly non-commercial educational service offered to the Internet by Patrick Townson. All the contents of the Digest are compilation-copyrighted. You may reprint articles in some other media on an occasional basis, but please attribute my work and that of the original author. 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End of TELECOM Digest V23 #271 ******************************